Origin and Vision of ITA

ITA, which has pledged to promote theologizing in the Indian context, was the fruit of a commitment by a group of theologians. It was founded in 1976 by J. Constantine Manalel, a Carmelite priest in India.1 _{The forum sprouted from a number of roots or sources, initiated by} Manalel, who gave it an umbrella name, “Theology Centre,” which consisted of various movements between 1950-80, such as “All Kerala Students’ League” (1952),2 _{“All Kerala}

1 _{ITA, "Society and Church: Challenges in Theologizing in Indian Society (The Final Statement of the ITA Meeting} 2003)," in Society and Church: Challenges to Theologizing in India Today, ed. Victor Machado (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2004), no. 13; Jacob Parappally, "Indian Theological Association," ibid., 228.

2 _{Jeevadhara Theology Centre, "Kerala Catholic Students' League," http://jeevadhara.org/milestones.html#one. The} initial purpose of the use of the word “Catholic” was to spread it in all the dioceses of Kerala and not to restrict it. They had weekly meetings in circles and groups to foster critical and creative thinking, and to initiate social activities among students of different faith affiliations.

Teachers Guild” (1954),3 _{“Theology Course for Laity” (1961),}4 _{“Jeevadhara” (1971),}5 _and “Jeevadhara Theological Society” (1974).6 _{As the number of theologians in the editorial board of} Jeevadhara increased, thought was given to starting an association for the Indian theologians. This resulted in the foundation of ITA.

ITA is an open forum of Catholic theologians of India that envisions a subaltern theology coping with the Indian/Asian context embodying the struggles and hopes of the people. ITA offers a platform for Indian theologians for creative thinking and discourse. It fosters research in spheres of religion and society by involving scholars, social activists, thinkers, and religious leaders of all faiths with the goal of realizing the “fullness of life” (Jn 10:10) on the journey towards the reign of God. The following are the main objectives of ITA:

1. To be a forum for the theologians to meet and discuss current theological issues in its general context. 2. To promote the development of an Indian Christian Theology.

3. To foster research in matters of religion and society.

4. To assist and encourage theologians, in their endeavours without any motive of profit. 5. To promote and realize these objectives, the Association will be free:

6. To prepare and publish books for the general public and theological institutions and centres. 7. To stimulate publication of cultural, philosophical and theological books, written within the Indian

context.

8. To do all such other lawful acts and deeds as are essential or conducive to the attainment of the objectives of the society.

9. And which intend to apply their profits, if any, or other income in promoting their objects and prohibit the payment of any dividend or distribution of any income or profits among their members.7

3 _{“All Kerala Catholic Teachers’ Guild” pioneered the guilds of that sort in India. The monthly conferences in} regional levels and seminars on the state level were conducted to improve the qualities of the teachers. Cf. Jeevadhara Theological Centre, "Kerala Catholic Teachers Guild," http://jeevadhara.org/milestones.html#two. 4 _{A theology course for laity who have secured a post-graduate degree was organized in 1961 by the Jeevadhara}

Theology Centre. It was a four-year course, dedicating one full month a year in summer. Cf. Jeevadhara Theology Centre, "Theology Course for Laity," http://jeevadhara.org/milestones.html#two.

5 _{Jeevadhara is a theological review which was started in 1971 in two editions: English and Malayalam. It deals} with the new trends in theology. Its moto is a new heaven and a new earth. Cf. Jeevadhara Journal, "Jeevadhara Journal," http://jeevadhara.org/journal.php.

6 _{J. Constantine Manalel, "Original Vision of the Indian Theological Association," in Theologizing in Context:}

Statements of the Indian Theological Association, ed. Jacob Parappally (Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2002),

3; Cf. Parappally, "Indian Theological Association," 228. Jeevadhara Theological Society was made up of the editorial members of Jeevadhara, which eventually resulted in the erection of the Indian Theological Association. 7 _{See Indian Theological Association, "Constitution," http://www.itanet.in/constitution.html; Cf. also Parappally,} "Indian Theological Association," 228.

In the words of the founder of ITA, Constantine Manalel, the original vision of the ITA could be sketched as follows:

1. The theologians’ task extends to the whole country and not confined to the Church. It is a responsibility of the theologians in the process of nation building and to build the bridges of love, hope, and peace in the world.

2. ITA as a fraternity must be solely governed by mutual consent and not by external laws.

3. Freedom of thought and expression could be maintained when ITA is not under the auspices of the CBCI. The prophetic mission of theologians and the authority of the hierarchy, though both necessary, often don’t go together.

4. Extend support and strength to the theologians who have been unjustly harassed by the Roman congregations.

5. Theological praxis is the primary concern, not thinking alone.8 ITA tries to attain these goals founded on a three-fold contextual dialogue:

1. Meeting of Religions 2. Solidarity with the Poor

3. Eco-Beings: We are innately indebted to the whole universe.9

8 _{Manalel, 6-9.}

9 _{Indian Theological Association, "History," http://www.itanet.in/history.html. To engage themselves in the social} and religious problems with faith in God and commitment to all people, ITA members profess a triple remembrance: 1) Divine origin: We are of God; 2) Human solidarity: We are all of one and the same human fellowship irrespective of caste, color, creed, gender and race; 3) Reconciliation between religions and secular ideologies.