SENATE CENTRE FOR EXTENSION AND PASTORAL THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH (SCEPTRE)
Extension Theological Education programme of the Senate of Serampore College is committed to promoting theological education by extension to enable the local congregations to strengthen leadership, teaching ministry, and empower men and women of God in their churches and Christian vocation. In general, the Extension programme is not designed to be a professional degree, thereby not being taken as a qualification for ordination into the church’s ministry. However, we acknowledge with gratitude that many pastors and missionaries and other full-time Christian workers are doing extension courses to improve their theological knowledge and perspective. Again, the Senate’s Extension programmes are not meant for residential studies.
The Senate of Serampore College, in its meeting in 1989, resolved to start the course of Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip.CS) as an extension programme. It approved the rules and regulations which was prepared before and forwarded to the Council of Serampore College for implementing the programme with effect from the 1989 academic session. This course was designed to be completed with a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years. It is also resolved that as Diploma in Christian Studies is introduced, the B.Th external programme shall be abolished from the 1990 academic year. Permission was also given to affiliated Colleges to offer Dip.CS provided they follow Regulations and Study material prepared by the Senate.
The following year, the Senate approved the proposal to institute a new programme leading to a Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS). The recommendation was sent to the Council in February 1989 for approval. Senate resolved that BCS studies will be commenced from the academic year of 1990. And in 2012, Master of Christian Studies was also introduced. To run these courses, two flats were bought at Kolkata; and Senate Centre for Extension and Pastoral Theological Research (SCEPTRE) was inaugurated in 2001. SCEPTRE is the Programme Centre of the Senate of Serampore College for promoting theological education through extension. The main objective of the SCEPTRE is to make theological education available to people who do not get the opportunity to go for residential theological education due to various reasons.
The courses being offered are:
- Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip.C.S)
- Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S)
New Syllabus 2019 onwards Ι Old Syllabus till 2018 Ι B. Th. upgrader (Old Syllabus till 2018)
- Master of Christian Studies (M.C.S)
Diploma of Christian Studies (Dip. C. S)
The Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip.C.S.) is offered by the Senate of Serampore College (University) for private study. The responsibility for administering the programme is with the Executive Committee under the overall supervision of the Senate of Serampore College.
The Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip.C.S) is offered by the Senate of Serampore College (University) as Extension Study programme. The course is designed to provide a specifically Christian perspective for the study of Christianity, to show the essential unity as well as diversity of the Christian faith, to study the history of Christianity in India and in South Asia as an integral part of the social realities, to interpret Christian faith in its struggles to meet the contemporary challenges to be relevant and contextual, and to promote inter-faith harmony for peaceful co-existence among various religious communities.
Bachelor of Christian Studies (B. C. S)
The Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S) is offered by the Senate of Serampore College (University) for private study. The responsibility for administering the programme is with the Executive Committee under the overall supervision of the Senate of Serampore College.
The laity are the presence of the church in the world. They are called to commend their faith particularly in their secular professions or vocations in which they are involved and participate in the process of social change. In order to equip the laity with proper theological knowledge so that they can witness more effectively to the Gospel of Christ in various capacities and under different circumstances the Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) course is introduced as an extension programme of the Senate of Serampore College (University). It is designed to provide the laity from different walks of life with academic skills for an in-depth understanding of Christian faith, history, doctrines and practical dimensions of ministry to interact with their neighbours and colleagues in their common quest for meaning in life.
Master of Christian Studies (MCS)
Master of Christian Studies (M. C. S.) is a post-B.C.S/B.D program, primarily meant for laity and Christian ministers who wish to continue theological studies through external programs. It is designed to provide Christian professionals, Church workers and laity with in-depth theological knowledge to facilitate the lay leadership in the church and society. It is a post graduate professional degree course for the laity who cannot enroll for a postgraduate regular course like M. Th. MCS is not equivalent to M. Th, neither will be accepted for teaching in theological Seminaries. M. C. S. is a three year program in which first two years the candidates study the courses and write the examinations while the third year is given for the project work/thesis which is compulsory.
Online application Form for the Candidate, Click here
Important date for Exam Registration, Click here to get details.
Fees structure of Extension Programme from 2019, View Details.
Address:
Dean, SCEPTRE
Shrachi Centre
74B, A. J. C. Bose Road, Kolkata – 700016
Ph.: (033) 22177868 / 40061805
Email: deansceptre@gmail.com
Dean for Extension Programme
Rev. Dr. Rodinmawia Ralte
B.sc. (Hons), B.D., M.Th. , D.Th (Religion)