The contemporary challenges that the church in India faces in the context of religious awakening and cultural pluralism, the issues of poverty and justice, and the concerns raised by liberation movements call for a contextual and holistic approach to higher theological studies, paying also attention to our heritage. The M.Th. and D.Th degree programmes of NIIPGTS are creative responses to such issues in North India.
The perspective from which the programmes are envisaged underlines the following facets:
(a) The study of Asian languages, cultures, patterns of thought and behavior;
(b) The cultural, ideological and religious plurality of our societies;
(c) The legitimate aspirations of all people for justice, freedom, dignity and a life worthy of humanity
(d) The ecumenical dimension of all Christian thinking in relation to the unity of the Church, unity of faith, the integrity of creation, and sensitivity to all other dimensions of our life – local, regional and global.
The main objectives of the Programmes are:
- To train candidates for teaching in theological colleges.
- To promote the formation of well-equipped Christian teachers, leaders, communicators, writers and scholars.
- To equip candidates with adequate academic tools and skills for critical and methodological reflection as well as creative participation in the diversified ministries of the Church.
- To provide leadership for shaping the self-understanding and structures of the Church, which are relevant for fulfilling its God-given vocation in the world.
- To promote critical and creative research in specialized fields of knowledge related to the life, heritage and mission of the Church as well as contextual Christian faith, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge.
- To encourage independent and original research using integrated and inter- disciplinary approach in theological education.