Association of Theologically Trained Women of India

Infobox_University
name =Association of Theologically Trained Women of India
native_name =ATTWI


motto =
established =1979
type =Fostering theological empowerment of women. "(A Society registered under the Government of India.)"
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faculty =
president =Rev. Nirmala
secretary =
dean =
head_label =
head =
students =
undergrad =
postgrad =
doctoral =
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city =
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country = India
campus =
coor =
affiliations =Senate of Serampore College (University), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)
website =

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 [ATTWI Handbook [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=SgN0HAAACAAJ&dq=association+of+theologically+trained+women+of+india+handbook] ] .

History

In the year 1977, Shanti Solomon and D. Hoeffer, a German missionary pioneered a conference for theologically trained women in Chennai with a three-fold purpose [ibid.] :
* 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.

Subsequently, another conference was organised in 1978 in Chennai. Thereafter in 1979, an "ad hoc" committee [ibid.] was constituted to draft a constitution for forming an association.

ATTWI became a reality in 1979.

essions, venue & topical sessions over the years [ibid.]

* 1979 (20-22 February), Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai, "Theologically Trained Women in India - Dare, Share and Act".
* 1981 (3-6 February), Jeevan Jyothi Retreat Centre, Hyderabad, "Theologically Trained Women of India - Called to Serve".
* 1983 (26-30 May), Queen Victoria Girls Inter College, Agra, "New Dimensions in the ministry".
* 1985 (17-20 January), Charal Mount, Kerala, "Feminist Theology in the West and Indian Church's Response".
* 1987 (26-30 September), UMT College, Calcutta, "Christian Home - the Nursery for Christian Concepts".
* 1990 (8-11 February), Animation Centre, Bishop's House, Nagercoil, "New Dawn for Women".
* 1992 (23-26 October), Mecosabagh Girls Hostel, Nagpur, "Theology - A Faith Experience".
* 1997 (21-24 January), Operation Mobilisation Retreat Centre, Secunderabad, "Theology - Praxis".
* 2002 (31 October - 2 November), Bosco Institute for Research and Development of Youth (BIRDY), Hyderabad, "Towards a new community - a violence free society".
* 2006 (3-5 May), Serampore College, Serampore, "Empowered by God - Women transcend barriers".

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 [ibid.] .

Appraisal

* Wati A. Longchar, Consultant, World Council of Churches: cquote|... 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. [Wati A. Longchar, The Ecumenical Theological Education in Asia and the Pacific, Ministerial Formation 101, July 2003, page 6. [http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p5/Ministerial_formation/mf101.pdf] ]

Publications

* Feminist Hermeneutics, Lalrinawmi Ralte, Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002 [Feminist Hermeneutics, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002. [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=jBuUAAAACAAJ&dq=Feminist+Hermeneutics+Evangeline] ] , ISBN:8172147104.

Executive Committees over the years [ATTWI Handbook]

1979
* President - Vanitha Nallathambi
* Vice-President - Nalini Arles
* Secretary - Katakshamma Paul Raj
* Treasurer - K. K. George
* Members - Shanti Solanki, Basanthi, Merian Mary, Principal UTC, President of AICCW, Executive Secretary of Asian Church Womens Conference

1981
* President - Saroja Moses Sangha
* Vice-President - Florence Deenadayalan
* Secretary - Sumathi Williams
* Treasurer - Susy David
* Members - Smitha Pramanik, Shantha Kumari, Vatsala Christian

1983
* President - K. K. George
* Vice-President - Christina Lall
* Secretary - Sarojini Prasad Rao
* Treasurer - Grace Bai Joseph
* Members - Nihar Nalini Chatriya, Smitha Rathod, Vimala Kantharao

1985
* President - K. K. George
* Vice-President - Christina Lall
* Secretary - Sarojini Prasad Rao
* Treasurer - Grace Bai Joseph
* Members - Nihar Nalini Chatriya, Vimala Kantharao, Sumathi Williams, Hannah Joseph, K. David, Saroja Sangha, Navamani Elia Peter, Mathai Zachariah

1987
* President - Padmasani Gallup
* Vice-President - S. A. Benjamin
* Secretary - E. Joseph
* Treasurer - S. Devapalana
* Members - S. Pramanik, Jessie Ranjan, Shanti Kumari, K. K. George, Bage

1990
* President - Navamani Elia Peter
* Vice-President - Nirmala Vasantha Kumar
* Secretary - Rajakumari Joseph
* Treasurer - Ratnavathi Babu Rao
* Members - Rachel Matthew, Manoj Manjari Kumari, Grace M. Joseph, Padmasani Gallup, Narendra John

1992
* President - Navamani Elia Peter
* Vice-President - Vijayamma Prasad
* Secretary - Florence Deenadayalan
* Treasurer - Shanta George
* Members - Suguna Devasundaram, Manoj Manjari, Awala Longkumer, Sennangshila Benjamin, P. C. Laltlani, Vidya Benjamin, Ratnavathi Babu Rao, Nirmala Susai, Shyamala Baby, Kunjamma Philip

1997
* President - Jessie Nesakumar
* Vice-President - B. V. Subbamma
* Secretary - Soumini Jayan
* Treasurer - Sabitha Swaraj
* Members - Shyamala Sukumar, Margaret Prabhu, Ida Swamidas, Anne Bhosle, Sunitha Noronha, Ashwathy John

2002
* President - Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar
* Vice-President - Annamma Thariyan
* Secretary - Pankaja Manilal
* Treasurer - Ratnavathi Babu Rao
* Members - B. Subhashini, Shanti Tilak, Basanthi, Christina Lall, Thankamma Varkey, Anna Mary

2006
* President - Nirmala Vasantha Kumar
* Vice-President - Susan George Matthew
* Secretary - Limatula Longkumer
* Treasurer - Krupaveni Prakasha Rao
* Members - Susan Thomas, Leela Rajanandam, Ivaleen Ammanna, Kanthamani Christopher Raj, Lovely Mukherjee, Rualzamawii, Ravi Tiwari

References

;Notes

;Further reading
* cite journal
author=Kenneth Gill
title= Count Us Equal: The Ministry of Women in the Church of South India
year=1990
volume=
issue=
url = http://books.google.co.in/books?id=tCJrGwAACAAJ&dq=Count+Us+Equal:+The+Ministry+of+Women+in+the+Church+of+South+India
format=
* cite journal
author=Lalrinawmi Ralte & Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar
title= Feminist Hermeneutics
year=2002
volume=
issue=
url = http://www.winaindia.com/feminist_hermeneutics.htm

* cite journal
author=Sunil Kumar Chatterjee
title=Hannah Marshman - The first woman missionary in India
year=2006
volume=
issue=
url =

External links

* [http://www.womenutc.com/ Women's Studies Department of UTC]
* [http://uelci-india.org/womendesk.htm Women's Desk of the UELCI]