B. V. Subbamma

Infobox clergy
name = B. V. Subbamma

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birth_date =
birth_place = Bodipalem, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh
death_date =
death_place =
church = Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
other_names =
education =
* Andhra-Christian College, Guntur
* St. Joseph's College of Education, Guntur
* New York Theological Seminary, New York
* Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad
* Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena
* Wittenberg University, Springfield
ordained =20 February 1999 [Worldwide Faith News, "Historic Move as AELC Ordains". Internet, accessed 5 October 2008. [http://www.wfn.org/1999/03/msg00016.html] ]
writings =

* New Patterns for Discipling Hindus, William Carey Library, Pasadena, 1970 [New Patterns for Discipline Hindus, William Carey Library, Pasadena, 1970. Google Books. Internet, accessed 5 October 2008. [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=dogFAAAACAAJ&dq=New+Patterns+for+Discipling+Hindus] ] .
* Christ Confronts India: Indigenous Expression of Christianity in India, CSI Diocesan Press, Chennai, 1973 [Christ Confronts India: Indigenous Expression of Christianity in India, CSI Diocesan Press, Chennai, 1973. Google Books. Internet, accessed 5 October 2008. [http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lu4JGQAACAAJ&dq=Christ+Confronts+India:++Indigenous+Expression+of+Christianity+in+India] ] .
* Women in Mission: Experiment through Christian Ashrams, "Studia Missionalia", Gregorian University, Rome, 2000 [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Internet, accessed 5 October 2008. [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1152138] ]
congregations =
offices_held =

* Director, Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training School, Rajahmundry
* Director, Christian Ashrams of the AELC
title = Reverend Doctor
spouse =
children =
parents =
footnotes =

B. V. Subbamma is an Indigenous Scholar and an Indian Theologian ["Cf. Wikipedia article D. S. Amalorpavadass"] and a member of the Association of Theologically Trained Women of India [See Wikipedia article Association of Theologically Trained Women of India] . She speaks Telugu and English.

History

Subbamma was born to Smt. Bathineni Seshamma [Dedication Page in The Life History of B. V. Subbamma, 2001, p. 3] and Sri Bathineni Veeraiah [Maria Benny, Life and Service of Rev. B. V. Subbamma in Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology, Published by B. V. Subbamma, 2005. P. 16] in Bodipalem in Guntur District. She studied at the the Lutheran Boarding School in Peddanandipadu ["Ibid.", p. 17] and then at the Andhra-Christian College, Guntur for pre-university studies. Sri N. T. Rama Rao was a contemporary of Dr. Subbamma.

Subbamma studied the degrees of Bachelor of Arts "(1947)" [B. V. Subbamma, New Patterns for Discipling Hindus, William Carey Library, Pasadena, 1970. "Author's introduction".] and Bachelor of Education through the Andhra-Christian College and St. Joseph's College of Education in Guntur after which she served as a Teacher in one of the Lutheran Schools around Guntur.

The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church sent her for higher studies to the New York Theological Seminary [B. V. Subbamma, "op. cit."] , New York where she studied M.A. in Education during the academic year 1957-1958 [B. V. Subbamma, Christ Confronts India, Intdigenous Expression of Christianity in India, Diocesan Press, 1973. p. 63.] . After returning to India, she also pursued Bachelor of Divinity as an external candidate through the Andhra Christian Theological College then located in Rajahmundry and completed it by 1968. The thesis submitted to the Senate of Serampore College (University) in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the B. D. degree was entitled "Mission of the Church in Andhra Pradesh" [B. V. Subbamma, New Patterns for Discipling Hindus, p. 188.] .

Subbamma was then sent by her Church to North America in the academic year 19691970 [B. V. Subbamma, Christ Confronts India, p. 49] where she pursued M. A. in Missions from the Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. In the continuing academic year 1970-1971 ["Ibid."] , she enrolled at the Wittenberg University, Springfield to pursue a Ph. D. in Missions.

Contribution

Subbamma's course of work was pre-determined by her B. D. thesis submitted to the Senate of Serampore College (University) entitled "Mission of the Church in Andhra Pradesh" [B. V. Subbamma, New Patterns for Discipling Hindus.] .

Victor Premasagar, then a faculty member at the Andhra Christian Theological College in Rajahmundry notes that Subbamma was one who boldly experimented in expression of Christian faith and practice through the rich Indian cultural ethos [Victor Premasagar, Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology, Published by B. V. Subbamma, 2005. "pp. 12-15"] and having a passion to proclaim the Gospel using indigenous forms of story-telling through burra katha and singing songs by bhajans [Maria Benny, "op. cit., p. 17".] .

Bible Women Programme

Soon after returning from the New York Theological Seminary, her Church assigned her the Principalship of the Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training School located in the 45-acre [B. V. Subbamma, Christ Confronts India.] Lutheran Seminary Campus in Rajahmundry [With the Kretzmann's Commission Report being tabled in the 1960's, the Lutheran Seminary was shut down to pave way for the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College in the campus.] . Victor Premasagar observes that this Propaedeutic Bible Training School trained many young women in Bible courses [Victor Premasagar, "op. cit."] .

Christian Ashrams

Subbamma initiated Ashrams in the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and set up the first Ashram in the Bible Training School in Rajahmundry [Maria Benny, "op. cit."] . Victor Premasagar who also lived in Rajahmundry during that time says that the Church was practically caught by surprise [Victor Premasagar, "op. cit."] looking at the families of inquirers who came in bullock carts and set their own kitchens under the shade of the trees akin to jathara's [Victor Premasagar, Christian Jathra - A Cultural Adaptation in South Indian Churchman, May 1990, "pp. 3-4". Cited by Ch. Vasantha Rao, Jathara - A Festival of Christian Witness, The Liturgy and Literature Committee, Medak, 1997.] and begin a day-long programme of burra katha, bhajan and messages by the faculty of ACTC and then her own story of conversion. Subbamma touched many people with the power of the Gospel inculcating deep devotion and passion for the Lord [Victor Premasagar, Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology.] .

Features of the Ashrams initiated by Subbamma as noted by Victor Premasagar ["Ibid."] :
* No permanent structures or residences for the Ashram programmes were built. Several persons had earlier built Ashrams in Tirupatur, Tamil Nadu, Satal Ashram in Uttar Pradesh and other places. Subbamma had the courage to transform such age-old static structures into dyanamic programmes which could be conducted anywhere with people themselves coming and participating.
* The Ashrams were self-supporting and indigenous in all its practices and worship patterns.
* They were organised for devout women who brought their husband and children also to the Ashram programmes. It was not the usual Christian programme. Men folk were also attracted to participate in such ashram meetings and learned about Christ.
* The Ashrams encouraged Indian symbols and postures in worship and liturgy. Subbamma also used to be sensitive and did not disturb the regular Sunday worship as per the Lutheran liturgy.

Honours

India's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) conferred upon Subbamma a Doctor of Divinity, "honoris causa" in the year 1994.

Retirement

Subbamma retired in the year 1985 but continued to render services through the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI), Chennai.

ee also

* Rev. Fr. Dr. D. S. Amalorpavadass
* Bishop Victor Premasagar

References

;Notes;Further reading
* cite journal
author=Dane Winstead Fowlkes
title=Developing a Church Planting Movement in India, A Ph.D. thesis submitted to the University of the Free State, South Africa.
year=November 2004
volume=
issue=
url =http://etd.uovs.ac.za/ETD-db//theses/available/etd-08222005-105223/unrestricted/FOWLKESDW.pdf
* cite journal
author=Daniel Sinclair
title=A Vision of the Possible: Pioneer Church Planting in Teams, Authentic.
year=2006
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=7yYerk5RVpgC&pg=PA287&dq=b.v.subbamma&sig=ACfU3U2312cFMaIWXdku26fSoYEaOZjgww
* cite journal
author=Stephen Hoke
title=World Mission: An Analysis of the World Christian Movement Part 1 : The Biblical Historical Foundation, William Carey Library
year=1994
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=qcZr4V10rNMC&pg=PT285&dq=b.v.subbamma&sig=ACfU3U3KnomgZEg0uWWiajBZS7BMczhXmQ
* cite journal
author=Ruth A. Tucker, Walter L. Liefeld
title=Daughters of the Church: Women and Ministry from New Testament Times to the Present, Zondervan.
year=1987
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Z6e5yCGh1JsC&pg=PA357&dq=b.v.subbamma&sig=ACfU3U1eTjIjaj4MeSvfMYqUrJ7hBU1qxA
* cite journal
author=Kathleen D. Nicholls
title=Asian Arts and Christian Hope, Select Books
year=1983
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=X8wrAAAAMAAJ&dq=b.v.subbamma
* cite journal
author=Peter L. Schmitthenner
title=Telugu Resurgence: C.P. Brown and Cultural Consolidation in Nineteenth-century South India, Manohar.
year=2001
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=vY0OAAAAYAAJ&q=b.v.subbamma&dq=b.v.subbamma&lr=&pgis=1
* cite journal
author=Paul C. Enyart
title=Friends in Central America, William Carey Library
year=1970
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PIxaAAAAMAAJ&q=b.v.subbamma&dq=b.v.subbamma&lr=&pgis=1
* cite journal
author=C. P. Thangaraj
title=Whither Indian Christianity, Christian Literature Society.
year=1990
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=17kbAAAAIAAJ&q=b.v.subbamma&dq=b.v.subbamma&lr=&pgis=1
* cite journal
author=H. S. Wilson (Ed.)
title=The Church on the Move: A Quest to affirm the Biblical Faith, Christian Literature Society
year=1988
volume=
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=S-wrAAAAMAAJ&q=b.v.subbamma&dq=b.v.subbamma&lr=&pgis=1