Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches

Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches (STBC) is a Baptist Christian denomination in the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu in India. The churches are part of the Telugu Christian community of Southern India. Its language is Telugu. It is affiliated to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA),[3] the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) World Council of Churches (WCC) and Christian Conference of Asic. The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches consists of 3,680 churches and 10,50,000 baptized members.[2]

The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
AbbreviationSTBC
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCalvinist
ScriptureBible
PolityCongregational
GovernanceGeneral Council
StructureField Associations, Regional Associations, General Council, Executive Committee of the General Council, Board of Education, Board of Medical Work, Board on Life and Work of the Church, Samavesam Property Committee, SEDP Committee, Programme Committee, Registration Committee, Nomination Committee, Elected Officers, Appointed Officers
General SecretaryRev. Dr. J.M. Franklin
Associate SecretaryG. Judson Mathew
Director for EvangelismRev. J. Yesurathnam
G.D.D. DiwakarFunctional Advisor
Associations
RegionAndhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana
LanguageTelugu
Headquarters[C.A.M. High School Compound, [Nellore]], Andhra Pradesh
FounderAmerican Baptist Foreign Mission Society
Congregations3,680[2]
Members10,50,000 baptized[2]
MinistersRev. Dr. J.M. Franklin, General Secretary-Mr. G. Judson Mathew, Associate Secretary-Mr. T. Jagath Kumar, Treasurer-Mr. Chilaka Solomon Raju, Director, SEDP-Rev. J. Yesurathnam, Director for Evangelism-Rev. M. Kshetrapal, Promotional Secretary-Mr. P. Krupa Rao, Educational Secretary
Church buildings3,680
Primary schools14
Secondary schools14

History

American Baptists started missionary work in South India among Telugu-speaking people in 1836. In 1887 the existing churches were organized into the Convention of Telugu Baptist Churches. In 1962 the convention became the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, with a unanimously adopted constitution. It was registered in 1963.

Activities

Evangelism and the development of Christianity in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu States are at the heart of the STBC. It runs educational institutions, hospitals, health centres and one theological seminary, in Ramapatnam. There are five degree colleges, eight junior colleges, 14 high schools and 14 primary schools. The STBC has 4,500 Sunday schools with an enrollment of some 72,000 children.

The STBC strongly favours interdenominational cooperation through the regional Councils of Churches in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). It participates actively in the programme of retreat and training centres of the Councils of Churches, for the training of voluntary church workers. It is involved in the work of the Henry Martin Institute of Islamic Studies in Hyderabad and the Christian Medical College in Vellore. It supports the Student Christian Movement and the United Mission Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Arogyavaram.

Theological college

The STBC train Pastors to work in its affiliated Churches through Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Christian Theological College is an interdenominational theological college at Hyderabad is affiliated with the Serampore University, Kolkata.

Notes
  1. Chennai, Nellore, Nellore, Udayagiri, Allur, Kavali, Ramayapatnam.
  2. Ongole, Addanki, Donakonda, Podili, Kanigiri, Kandukur.
  3. Guntur, Bapatla, Vijayawada, Madhira, Sattenapalli, Narasaraopet, Gurazala, Vinukonda.
  4. Kurnool, Nandyal, Cumbum, Markapur.
  5. Secunderabad, Jangaon, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Hanumakonda.

References
  1. K. J. W. Jayakumar (Compiled), The Lights That Never Quench - Baptist Missionaries, Self published by the author, Nellore, 2008, p.132.
  2. http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/samavesam-of-telugu-baptist-churches
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Further reading
  • A. John Prabhakar (2016). "Preaching Contextually: A Case with Rural Dalits in India". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Ch. Vijaya Kumar (2016). "Educational services of the American Baptist Telugu Missionaries in Andhra Pradesh (International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research)". 5 (1(3)). ISSN 2277-7881. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • T. Punnaiah (2010). "My Memoir, Ministry and Message". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • K. J. W. Jayakumar (Compiled) (2008). "The Lights That Never Quench - Baptist Missionaries". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • R. Joseph (2003). "A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Mission)". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • R. Joseph, B. Suneel Bhanu (Compiled) (1993). "Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • American Baptist Historical Society (1968). "Foundations: A Baptist Journal of History and Theology". 11-12. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • David Downie (1924). "The Lone Star: A History of the Telugu Mission of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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