The Concordia Theological Seminary Nagercoil welcomed its new Principal, Rev. Dr. P. R Selvaraj, during its Ninety-Ninth academic year commencement service on June 25th, 2023. The IELC President, Rev. Dr. Priestly Balasingh, installed the principal in his office in the name of our triune God. The occasion was graced by distinguished leaders from three synods, the seminary governing board, pastors, and believers from the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church and other denominations.
Dr. Selvaraj walks into this office with a breadth of teaching, administrative and pastoral experience. He has served the seminary in different capacities for the past fifteen years. As a scholar in religious studies, he was the lead professor in teaching courses on the world’s religions and religious landscape in India. In an administrative capacity, he served as the Bursar of the seminary for several years, and his most recent assignment was to serve as the Academic dean of this institution, which he did for over seven years. Before joining the faculty, Professor Selvaraj served for over eight years in various parishes in the Trivandrum Synod.
Principal Selvaraj is deeply committed to the cause of Lutheran theological education in India. In his inaugural address, he noted the importance of inculcating sound theology, pastoral skills and contextual awareness in students as they are formed as pastoral leaders.
As the seminary prepares to celebrate its one hundred years of ministry in 2024, the Lutheran church and the seminary community wish Principal Selvaraj God’s blessings as he works alongside a team of committed faculty and IELC leadership to continue the legacy of forming shepherds who will humbly proclaim God’s unconditional love and mercy through the ministry of Word and Sacraments in the vast expanse of India’s spiritual landscape. Click here to learn more about Dr. Selvaraj.
Principal Selvaraj was preceded by Dr. Christu Das, who retired as Seminary’s Principal in May 2023.