Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture (ARRC)Isaac Mar Philoxenos, Address of the President, Senate of Serampore College (University), 2016. is a federated faculty established in 2016, which comprises four institutions, namely, Andhra Christian Theological College,CSI Life, Volume XIV, Issue 10, October 2016, p.32. Calvin Institute of Theology, Henry Martyn InstituteHenry Martyn Institute, "Master of Theology course registrations" and, Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College - all based in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad offering post graduate level Master of Theology courses with specializations in Sacred scripture and Religion.

The ARRC is affiliatedSenate of Serampore College (University), List of Affiliated Colleges. to the nation's firstSankar Ray, Hindu Business Line, 11 April 2008 Almost a century later, the charter was endorsed officially under the Bengal Govt Act IV of 1918. Internet, accessed 30 November 2008. University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which a University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recognised by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal. with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

Registrars 2016–2017 The Rev. T. Swami Raju, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore) 2017–2019 The Rev. M. M. Abraham, MMTSC,Henry Martyn Institute, ARRC Announcement for M. Th. courses. Ph.D. (Jamia) 2019–2022 The Rev. T. Swami Raju, AELC, D. Th. (Serampore) 2022–2025 The Rev. T. Packiam Samuel, CSI, Ph.D. (Oxford Brookes) 2025–Present The Rev. Y. D. Jayaker, CMBCI, D. Th. (Serampore)

History Theological colleges The first theological colleges established in Hyderabad and Secunderabad is the Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College founded in 1920 in Shamshabad locality. The rest of the seminaries were founded elsewhere and relocated later to the twin cities. St. John's Regional Seminary was founded in 1926 and relocated in 1965. Though the Andhra Christian Theological College was founded in 1964 in Rajahmundry, it moved to Secunderabad only in 1973. The Calvin Institute of Theology is a recent addition which was established in 2009 and relocated later. As for the Henry Martyn Institute, it was only an institution offering post graduate diploma courses under its seal, which also relocated to Hyderabad in 1972.

Scholars Among these theological colleges, St. John’s Regional Seminary and Andhra Christian Theological College had faculty with the highest academic qualificationsKretzmann Commission in Europe, North America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent in Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Hamburg, Cape Town, Chicago, Serampore, Papal Seminary, Wisconsin, Lancaster, McCormick, Syracuse, Eastern, Hartford, Duke, Union, PIB Rome, Gregorian, Urban and other distinguished schools of theological education.

Efforts to initiate postgraduate level courses However, though the faculty were qualified enough, the institutions where they taught were eligible to only offer graduate level courses. Efforts were made by successive faculty of the Andhra Christian Theological College beginningSouvenir of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad, 1990. during the tenure of the New Testament Scholar, The Rev. S. Joseph coinciding with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the College in 1989 to start postgraduate level courses. After nearly a decade and half, efforts were renewed by the Old Testament Scholar Trio, beginning with The Rev. N. V. Luther Paul, D. Th. (Serampore) (2006-2010) followed by The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) (2010-2014) and The Rev. T. Matthews Emmanuel, D. Th. (Serampore) (2014-2017).

Creation of special purpose entity Meanwhile, with the addition of Calvin Institute of Theology that was established in 2009, efforts fructified, but this time in confederation with other institutions, the postgraduate courses were finally initiated with the creation of the Special-purpose entity consisting of Andhra Christian Theological College, the Henry Martyn Institute, and the Calvin Institute of Theology during the tenures of The Rev. T. Matthews Emmanuel, D. Th. (Serampore), The Rev. Packiam T. Samuel, Ph. D., (Oxford Brookes) and The Rev. Gopalswamy Jacob, Ph. D., (Apeldoorn) respectively, together forming the Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture (ARRC) in 2016 for which the Senate of Serampore College (University) granted affiliation beginning with the academic year 2016.

Academics As per the affiliation norms of the Senate of Serampore College (University), the federated faculty is authorized to offer courses in Master of Theology in three disciplines, namely, the Old Testament, the New Testament and Religions (Hinduism and Islam).NCCI Review, Volume CXXXVI, Number 10, November 2016, p.73. +Course offerings at the Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture Course NameSpecializationDuration Mode Academic requirementAcademic Authority Master of TheologyOld Testament2 yearsResidential57.4 to 52.5% Serampore, "Qualifying marks for eligibility to Master of Theology". marks in Bachelor of DivinitySeramporeMaster of TheologyNew Testament2 yearsResidential57.4 to 52.5% marks in Bachelor of DivinitySeramporeMaster of TheologyReligions2 yearsResidential57.4 to 52.5% marks in Bachelor of DivinitySeramporeMaster of TheologyChristian Ministry2 yearsResidential57.4 to 52.5% marks in Bachelor of DivinitySeramporeMaster of TheologyHistory of Christianity2 yearsResidential57.4 to 52.5% marks in Bachelor of DivinitySerampore

Faculty The faculty in the three specializations offered by the ARRC include, +ARRC Faculty hailing from Andhra Christian Theological College, Calvin Institute of Theology, Henry Martyn Institute and Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College. DisciplineFaculty Name GenderHostInstitution HighestDegree Alma materUniversityOld TestamentGopalswamy JacobSerampore, Faculty list of Calvin Institute of Theology.MCITPh. D.Theological University, ApeldoornApeldoornOld TestamentG. Vara PrasadMACTCD. Th.United Theological College, BangaloreSeramporeNew TestamentK. Suraj KumarMMBCBCPh. D.University of Cape Town, South AfricaCape TownNew TestamentA. J. YesuMCITD. Th.SeramporeNew TestamentV. Manikya RaoMACTCD. Th.SATHRI, BangaloreSeramporeReligionsT. Swamy RajuMACTCD. Th.SATHRI, BangaloreSeramporeReligionsM. M. AbrahamHenry Martyn Institute, Faculty profile.MHMIPh. D.Jamia Milia IslamiaJamia Milia IslamiaReligionsPackiam T. SamuelMHMIPh. D.Westminster College, OxfordOxford BrookesReligionsS. S. Waheedullah Hussaini MultaniMHMIPh. D.Osmania University, HyderabadOsmaniaChristian MinistryA. John PrabhakarMACTCD. Th.SATHRI, BangaloreSeramporeHistory of ChristianityI. P. AsheervadamMMBCBCD. Th.SATHRI, BangaloreSeramporeHistory of ChristianityN. V. Grace BhanuFACTCPh. D.University Newsletter, Volume XVI, Number 4, January-March 2015, p.23.ANU, NamburuNagarjunaHistory of ChristianityY. D. JayakerMMBCBCD. Th.FFRRC, KottayamSerampore

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