Association of Theologically Trained Women of India
Association of Theologically Trained Women of India | |
| Formation | February 20, 1979 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Ms. Shanti R. Solomon and Rev. Herbert E. Hoefer, LCMS |
| Founded at | Madras (Tamil Nadu) |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Legal status | Registered Society |
| Purpose | Fostering theological empowerment of women |
Professional title | The Association of Theologically Trained Women of India |
| Location | |
| Origins | Ordination of women in Christianity |
Region served | India |
| Fields |
|
Membership (2024) | 500+ |
Official language | English |
President | Ms. Jessica Richard |
Vice President | Ms. Dakerlin Mukhim |
Secretary | Rev. Sofia Christabel, CSI |
Treasurer | Dr. Laila Vijayan, CSI |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | https://attwi.in/ |
| Presidents |
|---|
|
The Association of Theologically Trained Women of India (ATTWI) is an association of Indian women theologians which was constituted in 1979 in Chennai.
It is an ecumenical organisation with more than 500 members.[1]
History
In 1977, Shanti Solomon and D. Hoeffer, a German missionary pioneered a conference for theologically trained women in Chennai with a three-fold purpose:[1]
- to help the theologically trained women to explore ways and extend responsible participation in the total life and mission of the Church.
- to focus the attention of Churches on the presence of theologically trained women among them and to recognise their potential.
- to encourage theologically trained women to organise themselves into an all-India association to develop strategies for meeting their needs.
Another conference was organised in 1978 in Chennai. In 1979, an ad hoc committee[1] was constituted to draft a constitution for forming an association. ATTWI became a reality in 1979.
Sessions, venue and topics
| Session | Year | Venue | Topic[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1979 (20–22 February) | Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) | Theologically Trained Women in India - Dare, Share and Act |
| II | 1981 (3–6 February) | Jeevan Jyothi Retreat Centre, Hyderabad (Undivided Andhra Pradesh) | Theologically Trained Women of India - Called to Serve |
| III | 1983 (26–30 May) | Queen Victoria Girls Inter College, Agra (Uttar Pradesh) | New Dimensions in the ministry |
| IV | 1985 (17–20 January) | Charal Mount, Charalkunnu (Kerala) | Feminist Theology in the West and Indian Church's Response |
| V | 1987 (26–30 September) | UMT College, Calcutta (West Bengal) | Christian Home - the Nursery for Christian Concepts |
| VI | 1990 (8–11 February) | Animation Centre, Bishop's House, Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu) | New Dawn for Women |
| VII | 1992 (23–26 October) | Mecosabagh Girls Hostel, Nagpur (Maharashtra) | Theology - A Faith Experience |
| VIII | 1997 (21–24 January) | Operation Mobilisation Retreat Centre, Secunderabad (Undivided Andhra Pradesh) | Theology - Praxis |
| IX | 2002 (31 October - 2 November) | Bosco Institute for Research and Development of Youth (BIRDY), Hyderabad (Undivided Andhra Pradesh) | Towards a new community - a violence free society |
| X | 2006 (3–5 May) | Serampore College, Serampore (West Bengal) | Empowered by God - Women transcend barriers |
| XI | 2009 (October) | ||
| XII | 2014 (July) | Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad (Telangana) | |
| XIII | 2020 (January) | CSI Synod Centre, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) | |
| XIV | 2024 (21-22 May) | CSI LITE Centre, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) | Reimaging our potential |
Membership
Membership to ATTWI is presently restricted to those who hold a degree in theology offered by the Senate of Serampore College (University) or such other theological degrees recognised by the Senate.[1]
Notable people
- B. V. Subbamma, AELC (1925-2009)
- Elizabeth Paul, CSI (1927-2001)
- Navamani Elia Peter, MCI (1933-)
- Lalitha Krupa Rao, CBCNC (1942-2013)
- Marathakavalli David, CSI (1950-2011)
- Graham Basanti, JELC (1950-)
- R. L. Hnuni, BCM (1953-)
- Pushpa Lalitha, CSI (1956-)
- Rajula Annie Watson, CSI (1960-)
- Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, ALC (1963-)
Appraisal
- Wati A. Longchar, Consultant, World Council of Churches:
... ATTWI is an inter-denominational organisation which strives to uplift women and girl child, deal with issues pertaining to women and girl child rights, have dialogue with the concerned organisations, and make representation on their behalf and by doing so help the society to develop a healthier community by creating awareness.[2]
Publications
- Feminist Hermeneutics, Lalrinawmi Ralte, Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002,[3] ISBN 81-7214-710-4.
Executive Committees
The executive committees:[4]
| Term | President | Vice-President | Secretary | Treasurer | Executive Committee Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-1981 | Vanitha Nallathambi | Nalini Arles | Katakshamma Paul Raj | Annamma K. K. George | Shanti Solanki |
| Graham Basanti | |||||
| Merian Mary | |||||
| Principal UTC | |||||
| President of AICCW | |||||
| Executive Secretary of Asian Church Women's Conference | |||||
| 1981-1983 | Saroja Moses Sangha | Florence Deenadayalan | Sumathi Williams | Susy David | Smitha Pramanik |
| Shantha Kumari | |||||
| Vatsala Christian | |||||
| 1983-1985 | Annamma K. K. George | Christina Lall | Sarojini Prasad Rao | Grace Bai Joseph | Nihar Nalini Chatriya |
| Smitha Rathod | |||||
| Vimala Kantharao | |||||
| 1985-1987 | Annamma K. K. George | Christina Lall | Sarojini Prasad Rao | Grace Bai Joseph | Nihar Nalini Chatriya |
| Vimala Kantharao | |||||
| Sumathi Williams | |||||
| Hannah Joseph | |||||
| Sarala David | |||||
| Saroja Sangha | |||||
| Navamani Elia Peter | |||||
| Mathai Zachariah | |||||
| 1987-1990 | Padmasani J. Gallup | S. A. Benjamin | E. Joseph | S. Devapalana | Smitha Pramanik |
| Jessie Ranjan | |||||
| Shanti Kumari | |||||
| Annamma K. K. George | |||||
| M. Bage | |||||
| 1990-1992 | Navamani Elia Peter | Nirmala Vasantha Kumar | Rajakumari Joseph | Ratnavathi Babu Rao | Rachel Matthew |
| Manoj Manjari Kumari | |||||
| Grace M. Joseph | |||||
| Padmasani J. Gallup | |||||
| Narendra John | |||||
| 1992-1997 | Navamani Elia Peter | Vijayamma Prasad | Florence Deenadayalan | Shanta George | Suguna Devasundaram |
| Manoj Manjari | |||||
| Awala Longkumer | |||||
| Sennangshila Benjamin | |||||
| P. C. Laltlani | |||||
| Vidya Benjamin | |||||
| Ratnavathi Babu Rao | |||||
| Nirmala Susai | |||||
| Shyamala Baby | |||||
| Kunjamma Philip | |||||
| 1997-2002 | Jessie Nesakumar | B. V. Subbamma | Soumini Jayan | Sabitha Swaraj | Shyamala Sukumar |
| Margaret Prabhu | |||||
| Ida Swamidas | |||||
| Anne Bhosle | |||||
| Sunitha Noronha | |||||
| Ashwathy John | |||||
| 2002-2006 | Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar | Annamma Thariyan | Pankaja Manilal | Ratnavathi Babu Rao | B. Subhashini |
| Shanti Tilak | |||||
| Graham Basanti | |||||
| Christina Lall | |||||
| Thankamma Varkey | |||||
| Anna Mary | |||||
| 2006-2009 | Nirmala Vasantha Kumar | Susan George Matthew | Limatula Longkumer | Krupaveni Prakasha Rao | Susan Thomas |
| Leela Rajanandam | |||||
| Ivaleen Ammanna | |||||
| Kanthamani Christopher Raj | |||||
| Lovely Mukherjee | |||||
| Rualzamawii | |||||
| Ravi Tiwari | |||||
| 2009-2014 | Priscilla Reuben | ||||
| 2014-2020 | Syamala Sukumar | ||||
| 2020-2024 | Jyothi Sundar | ||||
| 2024-Present | Jessica Richard | Dakerlin Mukhim | Sofia Christabel | Laila Vijayan | Shantha Kumari |
| Minitha | |||||
| Elizabeth Giri | |||||
| Vedakani | |||||
| Elizabeth Aharone |
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e ATTWI Handbook
- ^ Wati A. Longchar, "The Ecumenical Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific", Ministerial Formation; 101, July 2003, page 6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Feminist Hermeneutics, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002
- ^ ATTWI Handbook
- Further reading
- Gill, Kenneth (1990). Count Us Equal: The Ministry of Women in the Church of South India. Bangalore: Association of Theologically Trained Women in India. p. 216.
- Ralte, Lalrinawmi; Anderson Rajkumar, Evangeline (2002). Feminist Hermeneutics. New Delhi: ISPCK. p. 164. ISBN 9788172147105.
- Chatterjee, Sunil Kumar (2006). Hannah Marshman - The first woman missionary in India. Hooghly: S. K. Chatterjee. p. 106.
- Richard, Jessica (2012). "Association of Theologically Trained Women in India". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.
- Athyal, Jesudas M. (2012). "Annamma, George". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.
- Richard, Jessica (2012). "Women's Studies". In Hedlund, Roger E.; Athyal, Jesudas M.; Kalapati, Joshua; Richard, Jessica (eds.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198073857.
External links
- Women's Studies Department of UTC
- Women's Desk of the UELCI