ECC's Programme Focus

The focus of the programmes is empowerment of the people holding an ecumenical vision and enabling the enablers at various levels of the Church and Society.

In furtherance of this focus, ECC conducts seminars, conferences, dialogues, symposia, studies, and courses with a view to:

• help further an inclusive and democratic culture in India ;

• foster an ecumenical vision and consciousness to uphold the principles of justice, peace and the integrity of creation; and

• sensitize the people on contemporary concerns and enable them to participate in the creation of a just society.

M.A.Thomas Memorial Lecture

ECC organizes Annual Lecture Series in honour of the founder of the Centre, Rev. Dr. M. A. Thomas on current issues/concerns

Doctoral Scholarships Programme

Doctoral Scholarships in Ecumenical Theology and Inter-faith Concerns, in collaboration with the Senate of Serampore University and the Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram respectively.

Indian School of Ecumenical Theology (ISET)]

Indian School of Ecumenical Theology , as a full-fledged programme unit ECC with its own dean and staff. ISET organizes regional institutes in collaboration with other ACISCA Centres/Regional study centres in different linguistic areas for imparting wider ecumenical concerns in fulfilling the mission of the Church

Neighbourhood Programmes

Neighbourhood programmes aimed at the weaker sections of the Community

ECC Neighbourhood Interactive Forum (ENIF)

ECC provides a space for the immediate neighbours of the ECC to come together for interaction and reflection

Bangalore Inter-Theologate Seminar (BITS)

ECC provides an opportunity for Teachers and students from 11 Bangalore- based seminaries affiliated to the Catholic Church, Senate of Serampore and The Asia Theological Association purported to enrich ecumenical discourse in wider perspective

Journal and Publication

Theology for Our Times (annual journal) is a publication of the Centre on contemporary issues and ECC News, apart from occasional monographs and books

Resource Persons

In addition to the staff of ECC, resource persons from theological colleges, social institutes and other movements across religious backgrounds are invited to take classes in various courses/seminars. About 100 scholars extend their support to the ministry of the Centre.

Focus on Environmental Concerns

The Centre is deeply involved in horticultural operations, environmental management and preservation of flora and fauna.

Since the emergence of eco-theology/spirituality, eco-friendly issues attained serious consideration in all its activities. To encourage the use of alternative forms of medicine, a herbal garden has been set up in the ECC campus.

Academic Matters on Environment

The Centre organizes eco-friendly meditation services as part of its scheduled programmes. Worship/meditation services are conducted occasionally in the open air under a tree or at the lawn. Eco-pilgrimage on the campus usually end with a meditation walk along the lake path on the campus. The liturgical act creates a sense of ecological awareness in the mind of all who participate in it. The ecological sign boards and posters erected on the campus illustrate this particular concern in a more vivid way.

From an Environmental Perspective

ECC campus provides an environment where listening to the chirping of birds and watching the blooming of flowers add a new dimension to the cosmic experience. In order to facilitate this, ECC takes particular care to preserve natural forest groves which give protection to a variety of flora and fauna. There are 45 species of birds listed on the campus. The fruit trees such as coconuts, sappota and mangoes give a healthy look on the ambience of the campus.

Organic farming and manuring are being followed in the estate along with drip irrigation. Introduction of solar water heaters and solar lights have added a new dimension to the adoption of alternative forms of eco-friendly technology in the environment management. For its water requirement, the Centre depends on bore wells. Recycling of sewage water has been introduced with some measure of success. The compound wall of the campus built with stone slabs is indeed eco-friendly in its total settings.

The rose garden and the vineyard sum up the aesthetic sense that is being generated in the mind of the community. All attempts and experiments are educational in character, and they create an eco-friendly awareness. These attempts speak of the need to preserve bio-diversity in the order of creation and it unequivocally advocates a message that biodiversity has a past and present and that we should ensure its future too. And we believe that the inter-dependence between the human and the other living beings enables us to look beyond the admiration of the nature to the adoration of the Ultimate.