Social Concerns:
The
Programme Department of ECC mainly concentrates on social concerns to encourage
harmonious living and peaceful coexistence of people who belong to various
faiths and ideologies. Conferences, Seminars and consultations on topics with
contemporary relevance such as development education, conflict resolution,
communication, human rights, ecology and faith, peace and reconciliation and
concerns of the differently-abled etc. are the main activities of this
Department.
Indian School of Ecumenical Theology (ISET):
The Indian School of Ecumenical Theology
(ISET) was established in 1988 as a unit of ECC, in order to give a theological
basis through the wide ranging programmes. The general objective of ISET is “to
evolve and share a Common Faith Vision as a sign of our commitment to the Reign
of God and our Journey in Solidarity with Cosmic Community towards its
fulfilment. ISET organizes regional institutes in collaboration with other
centers and organizations in different linguistic areas for imparting wider
ecumenical concerns in fulfilling the mission of God.
This ecumenical vision involves three major thrusts: inter-church, inter-religious and cosmic which together constitute the total ecumenical process.”
Keeping the above objectives in mind, the ISET aims at:
·
Taking
the total context of the world as “the text” and “the context” of
theologizing:
·
Involving
all churches and the human community in the process of theologizing:
·
Discovering
and promoting the rich diversity and heritage of all Christians and religious
traditions; and
·
Fostering
unity of humankind and all creation by analyzing the divisive and destructive
forces at work in the world, by exposing their root causes and proposing ways
of healing and reconciliation and peace with justice.
The syllabus of various
courses embodies the above objectives.
Bangalore Inter-Theologate Seminar (BITS):
ECC provides an opportunity for teachers and students from 23 Bangalore- based seminaries affiliated to the Catholic Church, Senate of Serampore University, The Asia Theological Association and other affiliations to enrich ecumenical discourse in a wider perspective.
International Institute of Horticulture
Management (IIHM) is an initiative of the Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) and
is located in its campus in Whitefield, Bangalore. IIHM is a
manifestation of ECC’s commitment to ecology and the preservation of planet
Earth. It also aims at educating young men and women in scientific management
of horticulture crops and thereby increase production manifold. This
training programme is organized at a time when the Nation has set a target of
doubling its horticultural production within the next 10 years.
International Institute of Horticulture Management (IIHM):
IIHM offers short intensive
Horticulture Management courses both theoretical and practical. The courses specifically
address the following areas:
·
Technology related to growing fruits
and vegetables.
·
Vegetable gardening
·
Element of Floriculture and cut
flowers
·
Gardening -Indoor and outdoor
·
Medicinal and Aromatic plants
·
Spice crops
·
Commercial crops
·
Application of biotechnology in
horticulture
·
Irrigation and fertigation
technology
·
Protected cultivation of vegetables
and flowers (greenhouse)
·
Machinery for horticultural
production
·
Contract farming and linkages
·
Dry land crops and management
·
Sericulture and economics
·
Management of successful farms
·
Financing by NABARD and Banks
·
Lecture classes are
followed by field visits both within the campus and to premium farms/plantations.
The course is residential and each batch of the course will
have an intake of 30 participants.
ENIF:
The ECC Neighbourhood Interactive Forum
(ENIF) was initiated in 2007 to create a platform for the residents in the neighbourhood
of the ECC to come together periodically for mutual fellowship and interaction.
It provides an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern in the neighbourhood
and to explore and implement need-based community development programmes in the
neighbourhood. All residents Associations in Whitefield come together in ECC
and get involved with the vision of the Centre.
Research:
Doctoral Research Scholarships in
Ecumenical Theology and Inter-faith Concerns are offered to eligible candidates
undertaking research under the Senate of Serampore University and the
Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram.
Internship:
Students, Pastors, Research Scholars are encouraged
to Apply for a period of Internship/Sabbatical. The Director, ECC may be
contacted.
Balwadi:
ECC
initiated a Balwadi in 1978 in the neighbouring village at Nellorhalli. The
school now has 34 children. It works from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to
3.0 p.m. Storytelling, teaching songs, alphabets and numerals, games, are the
main activities. Regular parent-teacher discussions are arranged to educate the
parents of their responsibility in moulding the future of the young children.
The school has the contact between the people of the village and us. This
programme has been well accepted in the respective communities and their
participation in it is really encouraging. The main objective of the Balwadi is
to enable the children of the migrant workers in and around Nalloorhalli
village to get an opportunity to go to school; to enable poor children of the
Nalloorhalli village to secure the benefit of education; to inculcate values of
life and principles of hygiene in young minds: to strengthen the Community
Development programmes through medical camps, educational programmes; awareness
creation programmes, etc.