Faculty Pool
Dr Balu Savarikannu
Principal
COTR Theological Seminary
Visakhapatnam, AP
Education:
- Ph.D. in Old Testament, Asia Graduate School of Theology, Manila, Philippines, 2019
- M.Th. in Old Testament, South Asian Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2012
- M.A. in Theological Studies, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2009
- B.Th., Bethel Bible Institute, Danishpet, Tamilnadu, India, 2006
Bio
Dr Balu Savarikannu teaches Old Testament, Biblical Hebrew, Advanced Homilitics, and Christian Leadership. He supervises students for their master’s thesis at various seminaries, including COTR, SAIACS, and STPC. He has published a number of articles on Biblical Laments and Prophets. His PhD research was on the polyphonic voices of Lamentations. Earlier, he was a cross-cultural missionary in Bihar, and he spent his early days as a school teacher.
Dr Balu is married to Margaret and they have two sons. Margaret is currently pursuing her PhD in theology at the Asia Graduate School of Theology, Manila, Philippines.
Mrs Hema Joshua
Co-founder of Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion (MCISR)
Trustee-Secretary, Faculty Member, MCISR
Education:
- Doing Ph.D. in Theology at SAIACS, Bangalore under the University of Mysore, India 2023 onwards
- UGC-NET in Comparative Religion, 2011
- M.Phil. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2010
- M.A. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2008
- B.Ed., University of Madras, Chennai, India, 1990
- BSc. In Zoology, Bharathydasan University, Trichy, India 1989
Bio
Mrs Hema Joshua is the co-founder of MCISR and THEOn [Theology Online] with her husband Dr Joshua Iyadurai. She has taught subjects related to Christian Studies at the University of Madras and teaches Christian Home at SAIACS. She currently doing her PhD at SAIACS under the University of Mysore on children spirituality and child theology. Hema and her husband were missionaries with UESI in the 1990s in Haryana.
Mrs Hema and Dr Joshua live in Chennai, and they have three daughters.
Dr Immanuel Ebenezar
Guest Lecturer
Department of Christian Studies
University of Madras
Chennai, India
Education:
- Ph.D. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India 2019
UGC-NET in Comparative Religion, 2011
- M.Phil. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India 2004
- M.A. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India 2003
- B.Th., Senate of Serampore College, Serampore, India 1999
Bio
Dr Immanuel Ebenezar, since 2011, teaches subjects relating to Christian Studies & Christian Scripture at the Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, earlier as a UGC Project Fellow, Teaching cum Research Fellow and now as a Guest Lecturer. He comes with a wide range of experience. He was IASACT fellow. He has worked as Lecturer in Southern Asia Christian College, Chennai. He also served as an editorial assistant for the International Missiological journal – Dharma Deepika and for the publication of the Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity. He has published several articles in international journals, contributed book chapters, and authored study materials for MA/BA in Christian Studies offered by the Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras. He has presented a number of papers at international and national seminars on Pentecostalism, lived religion, folk religion, and inter-religious exchange among people of various religious traditions as ethnographer. Now he also serves as a Lay Pastor in an AG church in Chennai.
Dr Ebenezar is married to Ms. Suriya, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Queen Mary’s College, Chennai.
Dr Joshua Iyadurai
Professor of Theology and Social Sciences
Founder and Director
MCISR and THEOn, Chennai
Education:
- Ph.D. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2008
- M.Phil. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2002
- M.A. in Philosophy and Religion, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, 1999
- B.D. Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, 1996
- B.Th., Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, 1990
Bio
Dr Joshua Iyadurai is the Founder and Director of Marina Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Religion and THEOn [Theology Online]. He taught theology online at the University of Roehampton, London. He serves as a Guest Faculty at the Department of Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai. He is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Advanced Theological Studies, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science (SHUATS), Allahabad; and South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS), Bangalore. He has published several articles in international journals and authored two books titled Social Research Methods: For Students and Scholars of Theology and Religious Studies and Transformative Religious Experience: A Phenomenological Understanding of Religious Conversion. He is currently working on a book: Grounded Theory for Grounded Theologies.
He lives in Chennai with his wife, Hema, and they have three daughters.
Dr Jules Gomes
Independent Theological Educator
Journalist
Vatican.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Old Testament, University of Cambridge, UK, 2003
- M.Th. in Old Testament, United Theological College, Bangalore, India
- B.D. Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, 1993
- B.A. University of Bombay, Bombay, India, 1986
Bio
The Revd. Dr. Jules Gomes, (BA, BD, MTh, PhD), completed his doctorate in Old Testament from the University of Cambridge. Currently, a journalist reporting on Vatican and European news, he is the author of five books and several academic articles. He taught at the United Theological College, the London School of Theology, and Liverpool Hope University, apart from lecturing at Catholic seminaries. Dr. Gomes was canon theologian and artistic director at Liverpool Cathedral and later canon theologian at the Isle of Man Cathedral. Ordained as a presbyter by the Church of North India, Gomes served Coordinating Chaplain to the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, the University of Greenwich, Trinity College of Music. He writes regularly for The Stream and Souls and Liberty, and has also written for The Conservative Woman, Frontpage Mag, and The Times of Israel.
Dr. Gomes is married to Kshitija Gomes, a lecturer, writer, and former radio producer and they live in Rome with their cat Beau and a bevy of stray cats.
Dr Paul Ebenezer
Faculty in Missions and Intercultural Studies
Chennai
Education:
- Ph.D. in Sociology-History, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2014
- UGC-NET in Comparative Religion, 2009
- M.Phil. in Sociology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, 2005
- M.A. in Sociology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India, 2002
- M.Th. in Missiology, Hindustan Bible Institute & College, Chennai, India, 2003
- B.D. Bharath Bible College, Hyderabad, India, 2000
- M.A Philosophy, Culture, and Religion, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India, 2022
Bio
Dr. P. Paul Ebenezar teaches subjects related to Missiology, Sociology, Pastoral Psychology, and Christian Counseling. He supervises master’s and doctoral thesis students, guiding them through their research endeavors. He has published several articles on Missions and Intercultural Studies and authored a book titled “From Massachusetts to Madras: A History of American Advent Mission in India.” He regularly contributes through paper presentations and writing. Dr. Ebenezar is an ordained pastor at the Advent Christian Church in Chennai.
He is married to Christiana Evangeline and they have two children.
Dr S. Raja Singh
Assistant Director
MCC Boyd Tandon School of Business
Chennai
Education:
- Ph.D. in Business Administration, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India, 2010
- MBA – Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, 1999
- M.E. in Thermal Science, Anna University Chennai, India, 1993
- B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Anna University Chennai, India, 1987
Bio
Dr Raja Singh serves as the Assistant Director of MCC Boyd Tandon School of Business, Chennai, which he developed it from a conceptual level. He comes with four decades of rich experience from the corporate sector and higher education in business studies and published several articles and delivered lectures at several conferences and workshops. Dr Raja Singh has been teaching courses related to engineering and business studies. His PhD was on Business Administration (Quality Assessment in Higher Education).
He lives in Chennai.
Dr Reji Samuel
Independent Theological Educator
Education:
- Ph.D. in Sociology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India, 2011
- M.A. in Philosophy and Religion, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, 1999
- M.Th. in Theology, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai, India, 1998
- B.D. Serampore College, Serampore, India, 1993
- BTh. Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, 1990
Bio
Dr Reji Samuel is a theological educator with an interdisciplinary interest. With his master’s degree in theology, he went on to do PhD in Sociology and the topic was: “Cultural Dynamics of Religious Conversion in Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu.” He served as Dean of management course at Christian Institute of Management, Chennai; Dean of Indian School of Ecumenical Theology at Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore; and Dean of Dr. A. K. Tharian chair at Inter-Church Service Association, Chennai. He has taught courses related to theology and religion at Gospel for Asia theological seminary, ACTS Academy and COTR and published several articles.
Dr Reji is married to Anupama who serves as a schoolteacher and coordinator. They have one daughter who works as a social worker in Bangalore.
Dr Sijo Jacob
Vice Principal
Logos College of Theology
Kattaikonam – Kerala
Education:
- Ph.D. in Christian Studies (Missiology), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, India, 2024
- M.A. in Christian Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2014
- M.Th. in Missiology, Gospel for Asia Biblical Seminary, Kerala, India, 2006
- M.Div. Gospel for Asia Biblical Seminary, Kerala, India, 2002
Bio
Dr. Sijo Jacob teaches Christian Leadership, Cultural Anthropology, Biblical Theology of Mission, Christian Education, Advanced Homiletics and Mission and Evangelism. He also supervises students for their Master’s thesis at Logos College of Advanced Studies. He has published three articles and a book. His area of expertise is in the field of mission and ministry. His PhD research was on the postcolonial appraisal of Lesslie Newbigin’s theology of mission. Earlier he worked as a cross cultural missionary in Chattisgarh and Gujarat.
Dr. Sijo is married to Lincy Rajan and they have a daughter and a son. Lincy is a teacher in a Private School.
Dr Thomas John
Principal
MITS, Nagpur
Education
- D.Th. in Spiritual Theology/Counseling, St. Peters Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, India, 2014
- M.Th. in Spiritual Theology/Counseling, St. Peters Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, India, 2010
- M.Th. in Pastoral Theology and Counseling, South Asian Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2008
- B.D., United Theological College, Bangalore, India, 1993
- B.Th., Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, 1990
Bio
Dr Thomas John heads the Department of Pastoral Theology and Counselling, besides being the principal of MITS. He has been teaching courses on counseling, pastoral theology, spirituality, and other courses beyond his specialization at various seminaries in India. He has published several articles on spirituality. Dr Thomas John comes with rich ministry experience at the grassroots level; he has served with Operation Mobilization, Youth for Christ, and Young Men Christian Association.
Dr Vikas Anand Ram
Independent Theological educator
Dehradun
Education:
- Ph.D. in Missions, South Asian Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2020
- M.A. in Sociology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India, 2007
- M.Th. in New Testament, South Asian Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2005
- M.A. in Christianity, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India, 2003
- B.Sc., Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 1999
Bio
Dr Vikas Anand Ram is a theological educator, researcher, and social worker. His PhD was on persecution and resilience and his research interest includes, religious violence, religious freedom, and religious conversion. He has been teaching courses related to missiology/intercultural studies. Over fifteen years, he has been serving God in various domains of ministry such as Church, Para-Church, biblical teaching, and both formal and non-formal theological training.