About Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute in 94, Purasawalkam High Road, Kilpauk,, Chennai

It was at the second meeting of the All India Lutheran Conference held in 1912 that efforts were initiated to establish a higher standard theological institution to train pastors and others for serving in all the Lutheran Churches in India. This project, however, could not be pursued due to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. In 1923, the then secretary of the TELC attended the first meeting of the Lutheran World Convocation held at Eisenach, and stressed the urgent need for establishing the proposed Lutheran Theological College in Madras (Chennai). The same need was presented to mission supporters in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the United States of America. In July 1927, the first step was taken to establish a Lutheran Theological College in Madras (Chennai) for the Tamil area. In the mean time, the Federation of Lutheran Churches in India was formed in 1925 (now known as UELCI). The Leipzig Mission offered its Kilpauk property in Madras to run Gurukul as a common theological college to serve all the Lutheran Churches in India. Accordingly, in July 1953, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute was established in Madras to impart higher theological education for the efficient training of ministers, teachers, and other Christian leaders among the Christian churches. It was registered under the Society Registration Act of 1860 on 18 June 1962 to function as a full-fledged theological institution, affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College (University), West Bengal.

History1Later, in response to new thrusts in ecumenical relations, and in order to make Gurukul a Centre for praxis-oriented continuing theological education programmes, the academic programmes of Gurukul were transferred to the United Theological College, Bangalore and Serampore College, Serampore, in the year 1971. The need was then felt that new directions should be sought to make theological education in India relevant. Realising the distinctive role Gurukul could play in this regard, Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.), Master of Theology (MTh.) and the Doctoral of Theology programmes in 1985, 1989 and 1998 correspondingly, with an overall thrust to impart “A Bold Theological Vision” to theological education in India.

It is significant to note that the word “Gurukul” is peculiarly Indian. It is a Tamil form of the Sanskrit word, ‘guru’ (teacher) ‘kulam’ (family). That is, in the Vedic system of education, the students used to live with the teacher as a family. This intimate relationship between the teacher and the student is a feature of Gurukul even today.

Management

Gurukul Lutheran Theological College is governed by the Gurukul College Council, which consists of members from all the member churches of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, and also from the CSI, CNI and Marthoma Church, which meets annually and the Executive committee meets twice a year. The Director and the Principal look after the administration of the college implementing the overall programmes of the college affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College and the continuing theological education programmes under the Centre for Applied Theology to serve the needs of the churches.

Programmes

History2Gurukul offers Graduate, postgraduate and Doctoral level programmes recognised by the Senate of Serampore College. The Bachelor of Divinity degreecourse is of four years duration. The graduate studies programme tries to integrate courses that are stipulated by the Senate of Serampore College and other special courses in order to make the study of theology holistic and contextual. The Master of Theology degree course is of two years duration, and at present Gurukul offers M.Th. studies in Christian Theology, Religion, Old Testament, New Testament, History of Christianity, Women’s Studies, Communication Studies and Missiology. We are proposing to restart Christian Counselling under Christian Ministry department in future. The Doctor of Theology (D.Th.) a three year residential programme oriented towards research. At present, Gurukul offers D.Th, in Christian Theology, Religion, Old Testament, Communication Studies and History of Christianity.

The Faculty
Gurukul takes pride in the fact that it has a highly competent and ecumenical faculty, deeply committed to explore new dimensions of Christian faith and values. At present we have 20 full time and eight part time faculty members and two international visiting faculty members from Lutheran Churches, Church of South India, Church of North India, Marthoma Church, Orthodox churches, and Roman Catholic Church.
Council.