From the Secretary’s Desk
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It gives me great joy to welcome you to the webpage of the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC). The BTESSC stands as a significant instrument in fostering theological education in India and beyond, with a commitment to academic excellence, ministerial formation, and ecumenical collaboration.
In a rapidly changing world marked by complex social, cultural, and religious realities, theological education is called to be both rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and responsive to the contextual challenges of our time. The BTESSC seeks to nurture such an engagement by equipping students, teachers, and church leaders for faithful and creative participation in God’s mission of justice, reconciliation, and community building.
Through its various programmes—faculty development initiatives, consultations and seminars, scholarships, exchange programmes, and collaborative ventures—the BTESSC strives to strengthen the life and witness of the Church by empowering theological institutions and their members. Our continued partnerships with national and international ecumenical bodies further enrich this shared endeavour.
We remain grateful to all our affiliated institutions, partners, and well-wishers who contribute to this common vision. I invite you to explore the resources and opportunities offered through this platform and to join us in our ongoing commitment to theological education and ministry.
May God continue to guide and strengthen us in our shared calling.
Rev. Prof. Elungkiebe Zeliang, Dr. theol., Ph.D.
Secretary, BTESSC
Historical Overview
The Board of Theological Education (BTE) was constituted by the National Christian Council of Indian, now called the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), in 1955. The main objective of the Board was to act as a corporate body of theological institutions, providing opportunities for consultation and cooperation in training ministers and laity for the total ministry of the churches in India. In view of the expansion of theological education, joint consultations of the Board and the Senate of Serampore College were held in Bangalore in 1969 and Yeotmal in 1972. These consultations recommended the establishment of a single national structure for theological education in India. Accordingly, the Senate constituted the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC) in 1975.
In the late 1980s, the BTESSC and the Senate felt the need to establish an advanced theological research centre in India. Accordingly, a national consultation was held in 1987, with the participation of several related Mission Boards from abroad. Subsequently, the BTESSC and the Senate established the South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI) at Bangalore in 1989 to oversee the doctoral programme. In 1999, SATHRI was de-centralized and permitted a few Senate-affiliated colleges to run doctoral programmes. In 2010, the BTESSC and the SSC moved the SATHRI/Research office from Bangalore to the present location in Serampore.
The BTESSC/Board works closely with the SSC but maintains its distinct identity. The Board’s office-bearers are comprised of the President of the SSC, the Secretary of the BTESSC, and the Treasurer of the SSC. The Board comprises the officers, Senate members, deans, principals, heads of institutions, three representatives from churches, two educationists, three theological educators, six student representatives, two Council members, and the General Secretary of NCCI. The Board meets once a year alongside the Senate meetings and the Serampore College Convocation, which usually takes place in November, to conduct its business. The Board serves as an advisory body and makes recommendations to the Senate. It also administers the financial grant of the Solidarity Fund Trust (SFT) and oversees the programmes of the Board of Theological Text Book Programme of South Asia (BTTBPSA).
Vision and Mission
- BTE-SSC believes that the Triune God has offered the possibility of renewal of life and hope for the entire creation in and through Jesus Christ, and that as an instrument of God, the Church is called to be involved in God’s mission of liberation, reconciliation and community building among all peoples through varied forms of ministry.
- Set in the midst of people of other faiths and ideologies as well as situations of life-negating forces, BTE-SSC is called upon to equip the whole people of God to respond to the contextual challenges critically and creatively by being faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- In light of this faith and self-understanding, BTESSC seeks to equip ministers, leaders, scholars and the whole people of God to be committed to creative discernment of and active participation in God’s liberative mission in the world at large by providing programmes of theological study and ministerial formation at various levels through affiliated colleges, seminaries and institutions.
Functions of the BTESSC
- Reflection and pioneering on new methods and styles in theological education in relation to the needs of the country and of the Churches.
- Production of theological literature in general and Theological Text Books in regional languages through the Board for Theological Text Book programme of South Asia (BTTBPSA).
- Promotion of the welfare of theological teachers and students.
- Development of ecumenical co-operation among theological institutions and their libraries.
- Promotion of the relationship between Churches, Theological Institutions and Study Centres.
- Recommendation of names of persons to be considered by the Senate for nomination to be appointed as Senators, Officers, Chairpersons and members of different Committees.
Office Bearers
Chairperson : Rev. Dr. C.I. David Joy
Secretary: Rev. Dr. Elungkiebe Zeliang
Treasurer : Rev. R. Lalnunzira
ERCM/Working Committee Members (2026-2028)
Rev. Dr. C.I. David Joy
Chairperson (President, SSC)
Rev. Dr. Elungkiebe Zeliang
Convener (Secretary BTESSC)
Rev. Dr. Selvam Robertson
Registrar, SSC
Dr. Aswathy John
Dean, Research/SATHRI
Dr. Mrs. Nayanbala Das
Council Nominee
Dr. N.G. Prasuna
GLTC, Chennai
Rev. Dr. Tapas Ghosh
ABS, Allahabad
Rev.Dr. Y.T. Vinayaraj
CISRS, Bangalore
Rev.Dr. Finney Alexander
CMC, Vellore
HG Dr. Mar Theophilus Kuriakose
MJSOC Rev. Dr. Dexter Maben
Karnataka, CSI
Rev. Dr. Chakme Ch. Marak
GBC, Tura
BTESSC Activities
Faculty Institute
One of the objectives of the BTESSC is “to assist member institutions to strengthen their faculties through staff institutes.” In keeping with this objective, the BTESSC initiated the Faculty Institute for the Senate-affiliated colleges in 2023. The faculty of the SSC is classified into five clusters–Biblical cluster, Theology cluster, Christian ministry cluster, History-Mission cluster, and Religion cluster. A week-long Faculty Institute is organized for different clusters on a rotational basis each February at Serampore. The Faculty Institute for the Biblical cluster was held in 2023, followed by the Theology cluster in 2024, Christian ministry in 2025, and the History-Mission cluster in 2026. The next Faculty Institute will be organized for the Religions cluster.
Consultations & Seminars
One of the functions of the Committee for Ecumenical Relations and Church Ministries (ERCM), the Working Committee of the BTESSC, is “to organize consultations, seminars and conferences on relevant theological issues in order to stimulate creative theological thinking in the member institutions.” Accordingly, the BTESSC organizes various consultations, workshops, and seminars on relevant theological and social issues. These programmes are conducted either independently or in collaboration with international ecumenical partners and/or national Christian organizations. Some of the international ecumenical partners are Evangelische Mission Weltweit, Germany; Christian Conference of Asia; and Foundation for Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific. Regular national partner organizations include the National Council of Churches in India, Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, Ecumenical Christian Centre, and others. Several programmes are held in different parts of the country each year, and in most cases, the seminar papers are published for wider circulation.
Faculty Exchange Programme
One of the key objectives of the BTESSC is to promote “ecumenical co-operation among theological institutions and their libraries.” In the same vein, the ERCM, the Working Committee of the BTESSC, is entrusted, “to encourage co-operation and collaboration in theological education in the region, including arrangements for the exchange of theological teachers and students.” In keeping with these objectives and directives, all affiliated colleges/seminaries are encouraged to actively consider participating in faculty and student exchange programmes. Such initiatives foster mutual learning, strengthen academic partnerships, and enrich the broader theological community.
Colleges may either inform the BTESSC Secretary of their interest or directly coordinate with sister institutions to initiate such exchange programmes. Under the faculty exchange programme, the BTESSC covers travel expenses for faculty members, while the host institute provides accommodation, meals, and local hospitality. The BTESSC remains ready to assist by facilitating contacts and supporting the organization of these exchanges.
Consultation with Church Leaders
Another key objective of the BTESSC is the “promotion of the relationship between churches, theological institutions and study centres.” In keeping with this objective, the BTESSC occasionally organize consultations with church leaders, particularly on matters such as syllabus revision for the Senate theological programmes. In addition, it conducts workshops and seminars on theological as well as contemporary socio-political, economic, and ecological issues for church leaders and faculty members of theological colleges, in order to foster theological consensus on these matters. Such workshops and seminars are significant not only for a critical evaluation of pressing social realities but also for strengthening the relationship between the churches and theological academia.
Scholarship Grants
The BTESSC receives annual financial grants from the Solidarity Fund Trust (SFT) for the promotion of theological education and related programmes. Approximately half of the amount is distributed as scholarships to students under the Senate of Serampore College. Upon receipt of the grant, the BTESSC notifies affiliated colleges and invites applications from eligible students. The Working Committee of the BTESSC then scrutinizes the applications and awards scholarships to deserving students enrolled in the BTh, BD, MTh, and DTh programmes. The scholarships are provided to promote theological education among individuals from diverse social and economic backgrounds.
Grants for Innovative Programme
The BTESSC also utilizes the Solidarity Fund Trust grant to provide occasional grants to affiliated colleges/seminaries for innovative programmes in the college. These may include seminars on pressing issues, training programme, and other academic initiatives. Occasionally, requests for library development are also considered. Subject to the availability of funds, the BTESSC notifies colleges and invites applications for such grants.
BTTBPSA Seminars and Grants
The Board for Theological Text Book Programme of South Asia (BTTBPSA) was originally initiated by the BTESSC. Although it is now an autonomous body, it maintains a close relationship with the BTESSC. The primary functions of the BTTBPSA include organizing workshops, seminars, and consultations, as well as producing and publishing theological textbooks, thereby promoting theological education and strengthening church leadership.
There is a pressing need to develop and promote theological literature in regional languages for the benefit of students as well as lay leaders of the Church in South Asia. Recognizing this need, BTTBPSA, as a gesture of encouragement, occasionally provides limited financial grant to regional Christian literature committees to support the publication of their literature. Interested regional Christian literature committees may apply for such a grant. Applications may be submitted to the Secretary, BTESSC (who also serves as the Secretary of BTTBPSA).
Publications
Latest Publication
Publication List
Scholarship Forms
BTh Scholarship
BD Scholarship
MTh Scholarship
Dalit Scholarship
Contact Address
Rev. Prof. Elungkiebe Zeliang, Dr.theol., Ph.D.
Secretary, BTESSC
Shrachi Centre, 74B, A.J.C. Bose Road
Kolkata – 700 016,
West Bengal, INDIA
033 2217 7868/4006 1805
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.btessc.com/
