M. Mani Chacko

Modayil Mani Chacko
Born 1955
Kerala
Education United Theological College, Bangalore/Senate of Serampore College (University), King's College London/University of London
Parent(s) Thankamma and M. C. Mani
Church Church of South India, Diocese of Madhya Kerala
Offices held
Pastor, Church of South India (1979-1990)
Professor, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai (1990-2006)
Director, Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore (2006-2011)
Title The Reverend Doctor

M. Mani Chacko (born 1955[1]) is the present General Secretary of the Bible Society of India who was installed on September 13, 2011 at the CSI-St. Mark's Cathedral, Bangalore by the Bible Society of India Trust Association led by its President Navamani Elia Peter in the presence of a host of clergy, G. Dyvasirvadam, John S. Sadananda, G. D. V. Prasad, Robert R. Cunville, Joseph Mar Thoma, Ignatius Paul Pinto and others.[2]

Studies

Mani Chacko had his initial ministerial formation from 1975 to 1979[3] at the United Theological College, Bangalore, affiliated to the nation's first[4] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University), under the Principalship of Joshua Russell Chandran where he studied a graduate course, Bachelor of Divinity. After a brief pastoral ministry, Chacko returned to the Seminary and registered for a postgraduate course, Master of Theology which he studied from 1981-1983[3] specialising in Old Testament under E. C. John working out a dissertation entitled The theological understanding of the land in Deuteronomy.[5] Both the graduate and post-graduate degrees were awarded by the University in successive convocations during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan. Chacko underwent research studies in Old Testament at the King's College London and returned to India in 1990. While at the London University, Chacko studied under the Old Testament Scholar, Ronald E. Clements and later published his thesis in book form in 2002 with the title, Liberation And Service Of God.[6]

Ecclesiastical career

Chennai

From 1990 onwards, Chacko began to teach Old Testament at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai. At one point of time, Victor Premasagar also began teaching at the Seminary as Professor Emeritus thereby increasing the research potential of the Seminary. In 2001,[7] Chacko was appointed as Principal of the Seminary, a post which he held until 2006 when he moved over to the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore to take up its Directorship.

Bangalore

Following the change of helm at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore in 2006, Chacko succeeded M. J. Joseph and served up to 2011 as its Director.

In 2011, the Bible Society of India General Secretary, B. K. Pramanik resigned on attaining superannuation resulting in the appointment of Mani Chacko as the General Secretary.

Other offices
Preceded by
B. K. Pramanik
1985-2011
General Secretary,
Bible Society of India
Bangalore

2011-
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Other offices
Preceded by
M. J. Joseph
1997[8]-2006
Director,
Ecumenical Christian Centre
Bangalore

2006-2011
Succeeded by
Cherian Thomas
2011-Present
Academic offices
Preceded by
D. W. Jesudoss
1992-2001
Principal,
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai

2001-2006[7]
Succeeded by
S. W. Meshack
2006-2011[9]

References

Notes
  1. Xavier Tete on Mani Chacko in Anand Amaladass, Indian Christian Thinkers, Volume 2, Satya Nilayam Publications, Chennai, 2005, p.301.
  2. E. Leelavathi Manasseh, Nicholas G. Parmar, Installation Service of the new General Secretary, Sowing Circle, Volume 27, Numbers 3 and 4, July–December 2011, pp.8-11.
  3. 1 2 K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997, Bangalore, 1997. Past students of the college diploma course, p.54; Postgraduate course, p.118.
  4. UNESCO Structures of University Education in India, 1952
  5. M. C. Chacko, The theological understanding of the land in Deuteronomy in Thesis Titles, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bangalore, 1991.
  6. Modayil Mani Chacko, Liberation And Service Of God, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002.
  7. 1 2 George Anthony, Bible Society of India elects Rev. Dr. Mani Chacko as new general secretary in Christian Today.
  8. John C. England, Asian Christian Theologies: Asia region, 7th-20th centuries ; South Asia ; Austral Asia, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002, p.318.
  9. Martin Luther Christian University
Further reading
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