About us

History

The Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture in Kerala is a pioneering ecumenical venture among the theological fraternity under the Senate of Serampore College. FFRRC was founded as a joint programme of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam and the Kerala United Theological Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram, sponsored by the Orthodox Church, the Mar Thoma Church and the Dioceses of the Church of South India in Kerala.

In the mid 1970’s, the theological fraternity in Kerala explored the possibility of setting up a Post-graduate Theological Faculty in Kerala. The first meeting of an exploratory committee, consisting of delegates from the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary (Vadavathoor), Mar Thoma Theological Seminary (Kottayam), Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kottayam), and Kerala United Theological Seminary (Trivandrum) was held at the Sophia Centre, Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam on July 30, 1977.  Dr. T. V. Philip, then Director of the Senate also attended the deliberations.  In 1979, Formal application for affiliation signed by Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios (Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary), Rev. Dr. V. P. Thomas (Principal, Mar Thoma Theological Seminary) and Rev. Dr. Jacob Verghese (Principal, K. U. T. Seminary) was submitted to the Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College. The Evaluation Commission appointed by the Committee on Academic Affairs visited the Seminaries in November 1979 and submitted its report to the CAA. The Evaluation Commission Report was presented to the Senate meeting held on February 1, 1980, at Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary.  The Senate of the Serampore College recognized FFRRC as a Post Graduate Centre for theological education and granted affiliation at the M. Th.  level and permitted FFRRC to begin Master of Theology courses in the branches of Old Testament, New Testament and Christian Theology from the academic year 1980-81. The FFRRC was formally inaugurated on July 3, 1980, on the St. Thomas Day. His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan was the first Chairman, along with Rev Dr. V. P. Thomas and Rev. Dr. Jacob Verghese who served as the co-chairmen and Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph as the Registrar.

In the academic year 1988-89, FFRRC began offering M.Th. degree course in History of Christianity and in 1997-98 in Religions. FFRRC introduced two other M.Th. courses, on Early Teachers of Faith (Patristic Studies) and Liturgical Theology within the branch of Christian Theology from the academic year 1999-2000. In the academic year 2004 FFRRC began M.Th. Pastoral Counselling and in 2014 Mission Studies.

From 1986 FFRRC had been a doctoral centre until the formation of the South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI) in 1989 which since then had been functioning as the only doctoral centre under Serampore University till the decision to reorganize SATHRI and restart regional centres for Doctoral studies in 1999. The Senate of Serampore College which met on 5 February 1999 recognized FFRRC as a Regional  Doctoral Centre under SATHRI and granted permission to begin doctoral programme in the branches of Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Theology and History of Christianity. In 2010 the Senate of Serampore College granted permission to begin D.Th. programme in Pastoral Counselling.

FFRRC also provide opportunity to undertake Non-Degree Research Programme and encourage scholars to enroll in this programme. The General Body of FFRRC which met on 30 June 1999 decided to start the Non-Degree Research Programme and encourage scholars to be enrolled in this programme. FFRRC is a significant ecumenical venture to provide facilities for higher theological learning and theological research and promoting theological education leading to Post-graduate and Doctorial Degrees and also for Non-Degree Research programmes.