God in Dirty Places: Season 2
It is indeed great joy to have thirty-one eminent young theologians be a part of this journey. With the overwhelming response from readers, we have come up with yet another plan to keep young theologians busy and creatively critical.
The title “God in dirty places” as you know, comes as an experience that many have encountered. The pandemic has brought God-talk and Spirituality not just to our bedstead but also to our restrooms. In our dirtiness we experience God. This draws God into spaces where God was not allowed. The shitty and dirty places once considered inhospitable (taboo) to God is now open for God to dwell. While the privileged experience God differently, the so-called ‘less-privileged’ experience God in and through their struggle for life. The person who works as a commercial sex worker or a woman abused during this lockdown or a person in the jail or anyone else who are in situations that the society has deemed as ‘dirty’ experience God differently. There are other people who experience God in places that are not meant for talking about God like in the restroom, court, etc and so on. It is only we the humans who created such discriminative binary-norms. The binaries of pure and profane to God did not exist until humans intervened and bifurcated practices, pains, experiences into purity and pollution. Therefore, this series of reflections aims to bring down such binaries and allow people to experience God in their own spaces of dirtiness yet participate in worship with the same spiritual connection to be renewed in spirit.
Since this is a continuation of the previous season, it carries the same overarching title, in which, the writers were in a quest to understand and relate ‘dirty’, ‘God’ and personal experiential spaces, and to reflect upon them theologically. ‘Just as I am, dirty, yet accepted by God and feel connected with God.’
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God in Quarantine Centers - Zavi-i NisaZavi-i Nisa is an Angami Naga from Kohima, Nagaland. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from Eastern Theological College and United Theological College respectively. Currently, she is serving as the Assistant professor of New Testament studies at Oriental Theological Seminary under the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Dimapur, Nagaland. Her captivities include reading, music and cooking.
W. Jebasingh Samuvel is a passionate Christian artist, an independent film maker and an ordained minister of Jaffna Diocese, Church of South India in Sri Lanka. He migrated to Sri Lanka in 2017 and currently serves as a presbyter in CSI Church, Colombo.
Ngalaton completed her B. D from Bishop College (Kolkata) and M.Th in Christian Ethics from United Theological College (Bengaluru). Currently, she is working as the Chaplin at Tangkhul Christian Fellowship, Bengaluru.
Biswarup Chatterjee earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bishop’s College, Kolkata in 2018. He serves as a Deacon with the Church of North India, Diocese of Barrackpore in the Krishnagar Pastorate. His area of interest lies in pastoral ministry and Bible-Studies.
Elishiba hails from Sikkim and belongs to the Church of North India - Diocese of Eastern Himalaya. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Divinity from Bishop’s College, Kolkata.
Divya Nissi has finished her B.tech., from VIT, Vellore and MBA from London School of Business and Finance. She is currently working as a Social Enterprise Manager for Oasis India and manages their social enterprises. She is passionate about social businesses or ethically run businesses.
Blessy Sudarsan has completed Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Law and is currently preparing for the BAR exam and will soon be perusing her masters in constitutional and administration laws. She is also a trained musician and a theatre artist. She wishes to explore possibilities of bridging gaps between profession, passion (hobbies) and spirituality.
Merin Mathew is a Clergy of the Mar Thoma Church and a Faculty in the department of Theology and Ethics at Dharma JyothiVidyaPeeth, Faridabad.
Emmanuel is an ordained minister of the Church of South India - Diocese of Madras. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity from the United Theological College Bangalore.
God at the Border - WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR
Suzanne is a writer, author of a fiction novel, and a music lover-singer-songwriter. She loves to engage with religious, political, cultural themes and issues. Since her diagnosis in 2018, she has played an active role in Lupus awareness, and organised the first Lupus awareness walk in the state of Karnataka (Bangalore).She currently works as a Content Marketer at a tech start-up.
Vishwanth finished his Bachelor of Divinity studies in Madras Theological Seminary and College, Kilpauk, Chennai. Currently pursuing his Master of Theology in Christian Theology Department at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute. He comes from Methodist Tamil Church, Chennai.
Inatoli is an indigenous woman from Nagaland. She identifies herself as a liberation theologian and counts the dismantling of heteronormative patriarchy as essential to the project of emancipation.
Sofia completed her bachelor of Divinity from the United Theological College, Bangalore. She is currently deputed to the United Basel Mission Ministries, Mumbai through Karnataka Southern Diocese.
Inkali is a Sumi Naga fromZhekiye village, Zunheboto, Nagaland. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity from Bishop's College, Kolkata, and her Master of Theology in the departmentof Missiology from United Theological College, Bangalore. She is presently preparing for her further studies.
Pulak is an ordained minister of Church of North India, working in Diocese of Amritsar since past more than ten years. Presently he is doing Doctoral studies at Bishop’s College, Kolkata in the branch of Religion.
Wapangyingla hails from Nagaland. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in the department of Christian Ministry from Clark Theological College, Mokakchung. She served as a Youth pastor at Aonokpu Baptist Church and later interned with the National Council of Churches in India, Nagpur. She taught as a lecturer at the Gossner Theological College, Ranchi. Presently she serves at the Senate of Serampore College office.
Edith hails from Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh. She belongs to Church of North India Jabalpur Diocese. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity from Bishop’s college, Kolkata. She worked as an Administrative Assistant in CNI. Presently, She is pursuing Master of Theology in the department of Christian Education from United Theological College, Bangalore.
Matt is currently working as the Asia Regional Director, Saving Moses - A Global Humanitarian Charity.
Alifina belongs to Meitei community from Manipur. She completed her B.D from Eastern Theological College, Jorhat and Master of Theology from United Theological College, Bangalore. She taught for two years in Calvin Institute of Theology, Hyderabad in the department of Old Testament. Currently, she is preparing for her doctoral studies.
Manju completed her Bachelor of Divinity from Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram (2008-2012) and Master of Theology in Social Analysis from Tamilnadu Theological Seminary (2012-14). At present she is working with Student Christian Movement of India, Bangalore as the Executive Secretary for Gender and Social Justice Desk.
Isaac is a commissioned minister of Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church. He completed Bachelor of Science (Maths) in Loyola College, Chennai. He then earned the Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai. He served as a candidate in TELC Christ Church, Coimbatore and is currently serving as Communication Secretary in UELCI, Chennai.
Raj hails from Bangalore. He has worked in various companies such as POSIFLEX, HCL and POS Solutions as Assistant General Manager, Service. Currently he is planning to start a new company with aspirations of providing jobs to the needy.
Ashish is an ordained minister in the Church of North India, diocese of Lucknow. He is currently pursuing his Doctoral programme in United Theological College, Bangalore, India in the department of Mission and Ecumenics.
Lempang is a Tribal Naga of Phom tribe from Dimapur Nagaland. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Bishops’ College Kolkata, West Bengal. Presently he is pursuing his Master of Theology 2 nd year in the department of Religion under North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS) jointly federated by the Bishops’ College Kolkata and Serampore College, Serampore, West Bengal. His keen interests are music, reading, cooking, fitness goals etc.
Silo is an Ordained Minister of Church of South India- Diocese of Krishna Godavari. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity from United Theological College.
Samkupar hails from Shillong, Meghalaya. He is probationary pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Shillong. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from John Roberts Theological College, Shillong, and is completing his M.Th. in Christian Theology from NIIPGTS.
God in the Mess Hall -Evangeline
Evangelin is an ordained minister of the Church of South India - Diocese of Madras. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai.
Bhupathi Vadiga hails from Khammam, Telangana. Currently serves as an assistant pastor at Christian Witness Church, Gudimalla, Telangana. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity from the United Theological College, Bangalore. His study is a testimony of the struggles he went through, especially when he lost his parents. He is a talented musician, composer, writer (Telegu), photographer, artist and a Dalit thinker.
God in the Cemetery -Philip Richard
Philip is an ordained minister of CSI Diocese of Madras. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Madurai and Master of Theology in the Department of Christian Theology from Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai. He has a rich experience of serving rural congregations of Madras Diocese and presently serves the congregation of Cuddalore Port Pastorate.
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