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{{short description|Indian theologian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox clergy
| child =
| honorific_prefix = The Reverend Doctor
| name =B. V. Subbamma, [[Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church|AELC]]
| native_name = బతినేని వెంకట సుబ్బమ్మ
| native_name_lang =[[Telugu language]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Doctor of Divinity|D. D. ''Honoris Causa'']] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])<ref>[[Senate of Serampore College (University)]], ''List of the Recipients of the Degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa)'', 1994.[http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/hall-of-fame/doctor-of-divinity/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611041044/http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/hall-of-fame/doctor-of-divinity/ |date=11 June 2014 }}</ref>
| image = 
| image_size = 
| alt =
| caption = 
| pronunciation =
| birth_name = Bathineni Venkata Subbamma
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|07|01|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Bodipalem in [[Guntur District]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| home_town =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2009|01|12|1925|07|01}}
| death_place = [[Guntur]], [[Guntur District]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| death_cause =
| residence =
| nationality = [[India]]n
| other_names =
| citizenship =
| education = [[Bachelor of Arts|B. A.]] ([[Andhra University|Andhra]]), [[Bachelor of Education|B. Ed.]] (Andhra), [[Master of Arts|M. A.]] ([[New York State University|New York]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Arts|M. A.]] ([[Fuller Theological Seminary|Fuller]]), [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph. D.]] ([[Wittenberg University|Wittenberg]])
| alma_mater = [[Andhra Christian College|Andhra Christian College, Guntur]] (India), St. Joseph's College of Education, Guntur (India), [[New York State University|New York State University, New York City]] (United States), [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], Rajahmundry (India), [[Fuller Theological Seminary|Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena]] (United States), [[Hamma Divinity School|Hamma Divinity School, Springfield]] (United States)
| occupation = Missiologist
| years_active = 1950-2005
| parents = Smt. Bathineni Seshamma (Mother)
| relatives = 
| website = 
| religion = [[Christianity]]
| church = [[Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church]]
| ordained = 1999
| writings =
| congregations = Rajahmundry
| offices_held = Principal, AELC-[[Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training School]], [[Rajahmundry]], Senator, [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]], [[Serampore]], Trustee, LWF-Institute for Ecumenical Research, [[Strasbourg]]<ref>''Yearbook 1979'', Lutheran Church in America, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 1979, p.66.[https://books.google.com/books?id=3YoXAQAAMAAJ&q=ecumenical+institute+strasbourg+subbamma&dq=ecumenical+institute+strasbourg+subbamma&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqusG-yOrfAhWbiHAKHVjNCPMQ6AEIKjAA]</ref>
| title = The Reverend Doctor
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}
'''B. V. Subbamma''' also known as '''Bathineni Venkata Subbamma''' (1 July 1925 – 12 January 2009) was an Indian theologian and scholar. Noted for founding Christian ashrams, she was widely recognized for her analysis of Christianity from a cultural perspective. She was one of the first women in India to attain theological training and was one of the inaugural women pastors ordained by the [[Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church]] (AELC) in 1999 at AELC-St. Matthews West Parish, Guntur.

==Biography==
Venkata Subbamma Bathineni was born on 1 July 1925<ref name="date of birth and death">{{cite news|title=In Memoriam The Rev. Dr. Bathineni Venkata Subbamma|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIH/2009/01/13&PageLabel=4&ForceGif=true&EntityId=Ad00417&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T|access-date=11 December 2015|work=The Times of India|date=13 January 2009|location=Mumbai, India}}</ref> in Bodipalem in the [[Guntur District]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], India to a family of traditional [[Hindus]].<ref name=":0">[https://wicas.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/documents/bathineni_subbamma_venkata_0.pdf Women on the move – Her Story.] Published by the LWF</ref> After studying at a missionary school in Bodipalem, she went to the Government High School of Pedanadipadu. During her education, she resisted converting to [[Christianity]] because she believed that the Christian faith was only for outcastes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHNDiVr_AEoC&pg=PT275|title=Daily Devotions for Women: Inspiration from the Lives of Classic Christian Women|last=Johnson|first=Jewell|date=2011-10-01|publisher=Barbour Publishing|isbn=9781607426141|pages=275|language=en}}</ref> She believed that "[[Jesus]] was the lowest of all the gods".<ref name=":0" /> However, Rajagopal Ayyangar, her [[Brahmin]] high school teacher, encouraged her to read the bible instead of taking a stand against it.<ref name=":0" /> After reading the bible and reflecting on it, in 1942, despite the staunch opposition from her Hindu family, she converted to Christianity.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=baptism>{{cite journal|last1=Subbamma|first1=B.V.|title=Smoothing the paths: A caste Hindu tells her story|journal=Voice of Bhakti|date=February 2005|volume=4|issue=1|url=http://www.bhaktivani.com/volume4/number1/smoothing.html|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=Bhaktivani|location=Kathmandu, Nepal}}</ref><ref name=conversion>{{cite journal|last1=Yee|first1=Edmond|title=Leaders in Ministry Series: Bathineni, Subbamma Veeravenkata|journal=Bridge|date=May 2011|volume=3|issue=5|url=http://asianlutherans.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Bridge_2011-5.136130835.pdf|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=Asian and Pacific Islander Community Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|location=Monterey Park, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429105131/http://asianlutherans.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Bridge_2011-5.136130835.pdf|archive-date=29 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Continuing her studies, Subbamma entered the [[Andhra-Christian College]]<ref name=college>{{cite news|title=130 years of excellence|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2014-12-12/130-years-of-excellence-120785|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=Hans India|date=12 December 2014|location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref> graduating with a BA in 1947.<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.kammavelugu.org/nortablecommas/religious/|title=Bathineni Venkata Subbamma|publisher=Kamma Velugu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109164604/http://www.kammavelugu.org/nortablecommas/religious/|archive-date=9 November 2015|access-date=11 December 2015}}</ref> She also earned a Bachelor of Education from St. Joseph's College of Education in Guntur<ref name=colleges>{{cite news|title=Hindu Guest to Speak at 2 Services|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3807158/hindu_guest_to_speak_at_2_services_the/|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=The Van Nuys News|date=5 June 1970|location=Van Nuys, California|page=24|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref> and began teaching school. After nearly a decade of teaching,<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> she enrolled in a master's program through the [[New York State University]]<ref name=colleges /> and graduated with her M.A. in Education in 1958.<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> She returned to India and served as principal for [[Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training School]]{{sfn|Tucker|Liefeld|2010|p=566}} for another decade before deciding to pursue theological training,<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> but continued to serve as principal at the school with 27 years of service.{{sfn|Hedlund|Athyal|Kalapati|Richard|2011}} She entered the [[Andhra Christian Theological College]] in [[Rajahmundry]],<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> an affiliate of the Senate of [[Serampore College]]<ref name=ACTC>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Andhra Christian Theological College|url=http://www.actchyd.com/|publisher=Andhra Christian Theological College|access-date=11 December 2015|location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref> earning a Bachelor of Divinity<ref name=colleges /> in 1968.<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> That same year in June, she founded a Christian [[ashram]] at Rajahmundry{{sfn|Subbamma|1975|p=767}} with the goal of helping women attain an education and become nurses, social activists and leaders.{{sfn|Bennema|Bhakiaraj|2011|p=228}} In 1969, she returned to the United States, completing a master's degree at the [[Fuller Theological Seminary]] in [[Pasadena, California]]<ref name=colleges /> in 1970 and then began studying for a PhD at the Hamma School of Theology at [[Wittenberg University]] in [[Springfield, Ohio]].<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> While she was in the U.S., she spoke at several Lutheran conferences.<ref name=colleges /><ref name="conference 1971">{{cite news|title=700 Registered for Lutheran Convention at Ashland College|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/profile/susun-wilkinson/clipnumber/23036/|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=News Journal|date=19 June 1971|location=Mansfield, Ohio|page=6|via = [[Newspaperarchive.com]]}} {{open access}}</ref>

After obtaining her theological training, Subbamma wrote extensively on colonialism, culturalism, Christianity{{sfn|Joy|Duggan|2012|p=6}}<ref name="colonialism, indigenous">{{cite journal|last1=Dena|first1=Lal|title=A Century of Christianity in Southern Manipur: Towards its Indigenisation|journal=Journal for North East India Studies Comment|date=2014|pages=9–15|url=http://www.jneis.com/ojs/index.php/jneisc/article/download/144/88|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=Association for North East India Studies|issn=2277-6869|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222141531/http://www.jneis.com/ojs/index.php/jneisc/article/download/144/88|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and women's opportunity.{{sfn|Bennema|Bhakiaraj|2011|p=228}}{{sfn|Tucker|Liefeld|2010|p=533}} She was recognized as "one of the most influential women leaders in the Third World Christian church", for her mission work and ministry.{{sfn|Tucker|Liefeld|2010|p=566}} She focused on introducing Christianity to Hindu women, believing that an indigenous approach brought understanding and integration of cultures.<ref name="Indian Theology">{{cite journal|last1=Richardson|first1=K. L.|title=The Church and Native Culture: A Telugu Lutheran Perspective|journal=Indian Journal of Theology|date=1993|volume=35|issue=2|pages=80–86|url=http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/ijt/35-2_080.pdf|access-date=12 December 2015|publisher=Serampore College Theology Department and Bishop's College|location=Kolkata, India}}</ref> From 1977-1984, Subbamma served on the Executive Committee of the [[Lutheran World Federation]] (LWF) in [[Geneva]]<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> and was an honored guest as a pioneer in missions at the LWF's 50th anniversary convention held in Hong Kong in 1997.<ref name="50th anniversary">{{cite news|title=Lutheran World Federation celebrates 50th anniversary of founding|url=http://archive.wfn.org/1997/08/msg00204.html|access-date=12 December 2015|publisher=Worldwide Faith News|date=30 August 1997|location=Washington, DC}}</ref> She served on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Ecumenical Research in [[Strasbourg]] and was a member of the Senate of [[Serampore University]], the first woman to hold a post on the university senate.<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> In 1994, Serampore University granted her an honorary [[Doctor of Divinity]] degree.<ref name="honorary Phd Divinity">{{cite web|title=List of the Recipients of the Degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa)|url=http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/hall-of-fame/doctor-of-divinity/|publisher=Senate of Serampore College|access-date=11 December 2015|location=West Bengal, India|date=1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611041044/http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/hall-of-fame/doctor-of-divinity/|archive-date=11 June 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Subbamma retired in 1985 but continued volunteering with the [[United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India]] (UELCI) of Chennai.<ref name="Bathineni Venkata Subbamma bio" /> On 20 February 1999, she was finally ordained into the ministry, when the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) allowed 17 women ordination. Of the 32 men and 17 women who were ordained, Subbamma was the oldest and was acknowledged to have been one of the first women who earned theological training in India.<ref name="ordination in 1999">{{cite news|last1=Imhoff|first1=Frank|title=Historic move as Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church ordains|url=http://archive.wfn.org/1999/03/msg00016.html|access-date=11 December 2015|publisher=Worldwide Faith News|date=1 March 1999|location=Washington, DC}}</ref>

She died on 12 January 2009 in Guntur.<ref name="date of birth and death" />

== Selected works ==
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=Bathineni Venkata|title=Open Doors: New Patterns of Church Growth Among Hindus in Andhra Pradesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XPrmNwAACAAJ|year=1970|publisher=Fuller Theological Seminary|location=Passadena, California}}
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=B V|title=Daughters of the Church: Women and ministry from New Testament times to the present|year=1970|publisher=William Carey Library|location=South Pasadena, California|isbn=978-0-878-08306-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=B V|title=Christ confronts India: indigenous expression of Christianity in India|year=1973|publisher=Diocesan Press|location=Madras, India|oclc=2001815}}
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=B V|title=Christian ashrams: Years (1968-1993)|year=1993|publisher=Navashakthi Press|location=India|isbn=978-0-889-46854-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/christianashrams00rals}}
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=B V|title=Vision and fulfillment|year=2000|publisher=Christian Ashrams|location=Tamil Nadu, India|oclc=608534564}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book|last1=Bennema|first1=Cornelis|last2=Bhakiaraj|first2=Paul Joshua|title=Indian and Christian: Changing Identities in Modern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJmgAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA228|year=2011|publisher=SAIACS Press & Oxford House Research|location=Oxford, England|isbn=978-81-87712-26-8}}
*{{cite book|last1=Hedlund|first1=Roger E|last2=Athyal|first2=Jesudas M|last3=Kalapati|first3=Joshua|last4=Richard|first4=Jessica|title=The Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford, England|isbn=978-0-198-07385-7}}
*{{cite book|last1=Joy|first1=David|last2=Duggan|first2=Joseph F.|title=Decolonizing the Body of Christ: Theology and Theory After Empire?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WSHHAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|year=2012|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-1-137-02103-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Subbamma|first=B. V.|editor1-last=Douglas|editor1-first=J. D.|title=Let the Earth Hear His Voice: International Congress on World Evangelization, Lausanne, Switzerland; Official Reference Volume; Papers and Responses|url=https://www.lausanne.org/docs/lau1docs/0765.pdf|year=1975|publisher=World Wide Publishing|location=Lausanne, Switzerland|chapter=Evangelization Among Women|pages=765–773|access-date=11 December 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092344/https://www.lausanne.org/docs/lau1docs/0765.pdf|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book|last1=Tucker|first1=Ruth A.|last2=Liefeld|first2=Walter L.|title=Daughters of the Church: Women and ministry from New Testament times to the present|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLEpikBpnwMC&pg=PT533|year=2010|publisher=Zondervan|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|isbn=978-0-310-87746-2}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Subbamma, B. V.}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Guntur district]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Fuller Theological Seminary alumni]]
[[Category:Wittenberg University alumni]]
[[Category:Protestant religious leaders]]
[[Category:20th-century Lutheran clergy]]
[[Category:Women religious writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Andhra University alumni]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian religious writers]]
[[Category:Women Christian clergy]]

B. V. Subbamma - Revision history

UpdateBot at 18:38, 29 March 2022