B. V. Subbamma

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Template:Infobox clergy 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[1] in Bodipalem in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India to a family of traditional Hindus.[2] 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.[3] She believed that "Jesus was the lowest of all the gods".[2] However, Rajagopal Ayyangar, her Brahmin high school teacher, encouraged her to read the bible instead of taking a stand against it.[2] After reading the bible and reflecting on it, in 1942, despite the staunch opposition from her Hindu family, she converted to Christianity.[3][4][5]

Continuing her studies, Subbamma entered the Andhra-Christian College[6] graduating with a BA in 1947.[7] She also earned a Bachelor of Education from St. Joseph's College of Education in Guntur[8] and began teaching school. After nearly a decade of teaching,[7] she enrolled in a master's program through the New York State University[8] and graduated with her M.A. in Education in 1958.[7] She returned to India and served as principal for Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training SchoolTemplate:Sfn for another decade before deciding to pursue theological training,[7] but continued to serve as principal at the school with 27 years of service.Template:Sfn She entered the Andhra Christian Theological College in Rajahmundry,[7] an affiliate of the Senate of Serampore College[9] earning a Bachelor of Divinity[8] in 1968.[7] That same year in June, she founded a Christian ashram at RajahmundryTemplate:Sfn with the goal of helping women attain an education and become nurses, social activists and leaders.Template:Sfn In 1969, she returned to the United States, completing a master's degree at the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California[8] in 1970 and then began studying for a PhD at the Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.[7] While she was in the U.S., she spoke at several Lutheran conferences.[8][10]

After obtaining her theological training, Subbamma wrote extensively on colonialism, culturalism, ChristianityTemplate:Sfn[11] and women's opportunity.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn She was recognized as "one of the most influential women leaders in the Third World Christian church", for her mission work and ministry.Template:Sfn She focused on introducing Christianity to Hindu women, believing that an indigenous approach brought understanding and integration of cultures.[12] From 1977-1984, Subbamma served on the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva[7] and was an honored guest as a pioneer in missions at the LWF's 50th anniversary convention held in Hong Kong in 1997.[13] 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.[7] In 1994, Serampore University granted her an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.[14]

Subbamma retired in 1985 but continued volunteering with the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) of Chennai.[7] 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.[15]

She died on 12 January 2009 in Guntur.[1]

Selected works

  • Open Doors: New Patterns of Church Growth Among Hindus in Andhra Pradesh{{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. Fuller Theological Seminary(1970)
  • Daughters of the Church: Women and ministry from New Testament times to the present{{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. William Carey Library(1970). ISBN 978-0-878-08306-0
  • Christ confronts India: indigenous expression of Christianity in India{{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. Diocesan Press(1973)
  • Christian ashrams: Years (1968-1993){{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. Navashakthi Press(1993). ISBN 978-0-889-46854-2
  • Vision and fulfillment{{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. Christian Ashrams(2000)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 In Memoriam The Rev. Dr. Bathineni Venkata Subbamma. The Times of India(13 January 2009). Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Women on the move – Her Story. Published by the LWF
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Daily Devotions for Women: Inspiration from the Lives of Classic Christian Women{{#if:Johnson|, Johnson}. Barbour Publishing(2011-10-01). ISBN 9781607426141
  4. ↑ Smoothing the paths: A caste Hindu tells her story. Voice of Bhakti({Template:Date).
  5. ↑ Leaders in Ministry Series: Bathineni, Subbamma Veeravenkata. Bridge({Template:Date).
  6. ↑ 130 years of excellence(12 December 2014). Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 Bathineni Venkata Subbamma. Kamma Velugu. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Hindu Guest to Speak at 2 Services(5 June 1970). Retrieved 11 December 2015. Template:Open access
  9. ↑ Welcome to Andhra Christian Theological College. Andhra Christian Theological College. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  10. ↑ 700 Registered for Lutheran Convention at Ashland College(19 June 1971). Retrieved 11 December 2015. Template:Open access
  11. ↑ A Century of Christianity in Southern Manipur: Towards its Indigenisation. Journal for North East India Studies Comment({Template:Date).
  12. ↑ The Church and Native Culture: A Telugu Lutheran Perspective. Indian Journal of Theology({Template:Date).
  13. ↑ Lutheran World Federation celebrates 50th anniversary of founding(30 August 1997). Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  14. ↑ List of the Recipients of the Degree of Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa). Senate of Serampore College(1994). Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  15. ↑ Historic move as Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church ordains(1 March 1999). Retrieved 11 December 2015.

Bibliography

  • Indian and Christian: Changing Identities in Modern India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. SAIACS Press & Oxford House Research(2011). ISBN 978-81-87712-26-8
  • The Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(2011). ISBN 978-0-198-07385-7
  • Decolonizing the Body of Christ: Theology and Theory After Empire?{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Palgrave Macmillan(2012). ISBN 978-1-137-02103-8
  • Let the Earth Hear His Voice: International Congress on World Evangelization, Lausanne, Switzerland; Official Reference Volume; Papers and Responses{{#if:Subbamma|, Subbamma}. World Wide Publishing(1975)
  • Daughters of the Church: Women and ministry from New Testament times to the present{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Zondervan(2010). ISBN 978-0-310-87746-2

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