SAIACS FACULTY

DR. IAN W. PAYNE
Principal, Head of Department of Theology, Educational
Consultant
BArch(Hons) University of Auckland (1979),
BD Melbourne College of Divinity (1988),
MTh(Hons) (Theology) SAIACS, Bangalore (1996),
PhD in Theology, University of Aberdeen (2003).

Dr Ian Payne was brought up in Kerala where his New Zealand parents George and Bettie Payne were Christian workers until 1967. Having worked as an architect, he decided to build people rather than buildings. This led to his return, with his wife Judith and three daughters to India in 1994 to study at SAIACS. He was a SAIACS faculty member for four years and then visited SAIACS annually teaching theology. Building on a study of Karl Barth, his PhD was on parallels between God’s love and human knowing. His research interests are epistemology, the Trinity and mission. Since 2003, he was Principal of Pathways Bible and Mission College in Auckland, New Zealand. He joined SAIACS as Professor of Theology and as Principal in 2008.

DR. ATUL Y. AGHAMKAR
Professor and Head of Department of Missiology
BD from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune (Serampore, 1977)
MTh (Missiology) SAIACS, Bangalore (1985)
PhD in Intercultural Studies from the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA (1995)

Rev. Dr. Atul Y. Aghamkar is from Pune, Maharashtra, where he and his wife Suman served with the Christian and Missionary Alliance of India from 1977 to 1990. Atul was instrumental in planting and pastoring churches in the cities of Pune and Nagpur. Having ministered in the urban context and exposed to the challenges and opportunities in Indian cities, Atul consciously moved into teaching ministry after completing his doctoral program in Urban Studies. He served at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune where he taught and headed the department of Missiology before joining SAIACS in 2001. Along with teaching Missiology and Urban Studies, Atul continues to research in the area of Hindus in the Diaspora.Publications

DR. F. HRANGKHUMA
Professor and Head of Department of History of Christianity
BD from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune (1971)
MTh in History from United Theological College, Bangalore (1976)
PhD in Intercultural Studies from the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA (1989)

After three years of pastoral ministry in Mizoram, Rev. Dr. Hrangkhuma taught at UBS for 20 years, 4 years at the Serampore College, Serampore, and served for three years as the General Secretary of the Baptist Church of Mizoram. He was instrumental in the founding of the Centre for Mission Studies at UBS with its two-degree programs – MDiv in Mission and MTh (Missiology), and started an MTh (Missiology) at Serampore College. He is a founding member of the Fellowship of Indian Missiologists, and its Vice President for several years. He has authored and edited several books including Introduction to Church History (TBT) and Christianity in India: Search for Liberation and Identity (ISPCK). He teaches Missiology and History, and is developing Tribal Studies at SAIACS. Publications

DR. CORNELIS BENNEMA
Professor and Head of Department of New Testament
PhD in New Testament from the London School of Theology, Brunel University, UK (2001)

Cor Bennema comes from the Netherlands, where he worked as an IT professional for five years. He did his theological studies at the London School of Theology (an associated institution of Brunel University) in London (UK). Between 1996 and 1999, he spent half of his time in India, including teaching at Allahabad Bible Seminary. In 2002, Cor started teaching at SAIACS. His research interests are John’s Gospel, Second Temple Judaism, pneumatology and biblical theology. Publications

DR. IDICHERIAN NINAN
PhD in NT, Coventry University, UK.

Dr Idicheria Ninan is a Professor in the New Testament department, and is the head of the Pastoral Theology and Counselling Department. He is an ordained minister of the Indian Pentecostal Church and has previously been the General Secretary of ICPF and Principal of IPC Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Kerala. He obtained his PhD in Pauline Christology from the University of Coventry, UK for research done at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford as a Langham scholar. Dr Idi as he is popularly known is married to Carol, an alumnus of SAIACS. They have two daughters Charis and Irene.

DR. HAVILAH DHARAMRAJ
Professor and Head of Department of Old Testament
MA in Christianity from SAIACS (2001)
PhD, University of Durham, UK (2006)

Following her Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Dr. Dharamraj taught Chemistry at the Plus Two level in various Bangalore schools before switching to theological studies.Havilah also has been selected to be part of the reviewing commitee that would work on the revision of the New International Version of the Bible.

DR. J. ARUN KUMAR
Professor and Head of Department of Religion
MA in Pastoral Theology and Counselling from SAIACS (1997)
PhD, University of Leeds, UK
BE (Civil), University of Bangalore

A structural engineer by training, Arun served with Indian Evangelical Mission as a missionary for nine years and presently is in training as SAIACS faculty.

DR. RAVI DAVID
Professor, Department of Pastoral Theology and Counselling
PhD, University of Auckland, NewZealand (2010)

Dr Ravi David is a professor in the Pastoral Theology and Counselling department.He has many years of experience working with UESI, SGM and has completed his PhD from the University of Auckland,New Zealand.His dissertation was on the pastoral care of Christian mission leaders in India.

MR. PAUL JOSHUA
Lecturer in Theology
B.D., University of London, UK
MTheol, University of Oxford, UK

In October 2009, Paul Joshua joined SAIACS as a full-time faculty. He is a Commended Worker from and serves in leadership at the Tamil Brethren Church. He served as the Director of the Chennai-based 'Mylapore Institute of Indigenous Studies' for several years. He has also served as an Associate Editor of 'Dharma Deepika' journal.

DR. VARUGHESE JOHN
RZIM Professor in Apologetics, Department of Theology
MA (Philosophy), Bangalore University (1994)
BD, UBS, Pune(1998)
PhD, University of Madras (2006)

Born to missionary parents from Kerala, he grew up in various rural and urban settings in Karnataka, where he grew in his awareness of human need and hunger for God. After finishing his MA in Philosophy from Bangalore University, he got his Bachelor of Divinity from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune. While at UBS, he became clear of his calling to teach. He along with his wife, Mary, served at Jubilee Memorial Bible College in Chennai for 12 years including a term as the academic dean.
He got his Ph.D in 2006 in Kierkegaard Studies through the Philosophy department of Madras Christian College, an autonomous college of the University of Madras. During his Ph.D program, he was a Fellow of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research. Prior to joining SAIACS, he was a Kierkegaard House Foundation Research Scholar at the Howard and Edna Hong Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf, Minnesota.
Varughese and Mary have two children—Ashish and Preetha.

MR. VIJAY S. PAULSON
Head of Department of Management
FIII – (Fellow of the Insurance Institutes of India) (1986)
AIII – (Associate of the Insurance Institutes of India) (1984)
MBA (The International University, Missouri) (1986)
MA (Hons.) SAIACS, Bangalore (2002)

Vijay S. Paulson worked in the banking industry for two years and later in the insurance industry for 17 years. Vijay served as Country Manager, Netherlands Antilles for seven years and later as CEO of an overseas insurance corporation.After his studies at SAIACS, Vijay served as Director, Haggai Institute and Director, CEO Center, SAIACS.
Vijay’s wife Emily is a SAIACS alumna. Vijay and Emily have two daughters, Christabelle and Stinabelle and a son, Johanell.

DR. SAGGU ABRAHAM
Academic Dean & Registrar
BTh, HBI, Chennai (1984),
B.D, UBS, Pune(1987),
MA(Philosophy), Osmania University (1993),
MTh(Old Testament), UTC, Bangalore(1991),
PhD in Christianity, SAIACS (Mysore University - 2004).

Dr. Saggu Abraham hails from Andhra Pradesh. After a brief period of pastoral ministry he had taught at Mennonite Brethren Bible Seminary, Shemshabad for two years. For about fifteen years he had been serving at South India Biblical Seminary, Bangarapet as teaching faculty, Registrar and Academic Dean. His Doctoral dissertation was in the area of Old Testament. His dissertation was on the Patriarchal Narratives (Gen. 12-5). He serves as Hon.Treasurer of Asia Theological Association-India. And he is the hon. treasurer of Society for Biblical Studies in India. He joined SAIACS in 2007 as Registrar and from 2010 he has been serving as Academic Dean.

DR. PRABHUSINGH VEDHAMANICKAM
Professor, Missions Department
PhD in Intercultural Studies, Asbury Seminary, Kentucky, USA

Dr. PrabhuSingh has served in Christian ministry for nearly two decades with various agencies like Evangelical Union and Ambassadors for Christ. At present, he is the professor for Missions and Anthropology in the Missions Department of Saiacs. He is also the Chair for International Alumni at Asbury. Apart from speaking in various churches and mission conferences in different parts of the world, he is also actively involved in training missionaries in the field of missiological anthropology. Dr.Singh and his wife Sheeba and daughter Prarthna live on the Saiacs campus, Bangalore.

DR. NIGEL AJAY KUMAR
Professor, Department of Theology
MA in Christianity from SAIACS (2000)
MTh in Theology from SAIACS (2005)
PhD, SAIACS

After completing his BA (Hons) in English from St. Stephens College, New Delhi, Nigel worked in Filmfare Magazine, Mumbai, for three years. He then did his MA in Christianity from SAIACS and went on to teach Journalism and Religious Education at Woodstock School, Mussoorie. He is currently enrolled in the SAIACS PhD degree programme in Theology. Upon the completion of his PhD, he will join the department of Theology.Nigel is married to Selena and they have a daughter, Taarika.

MR. BENSON OOMEN
Teaching Trainee, Department of Old Testament