Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS) celebrated its 30th anniversary under the theme “Invigorating Heritage” on December 15.
In view of the ongoing pandemic, the number of invitees were limited to families of the founding members, board of governors, life patrons, pioneer teachers and staffs, land donors, representative secretaries from Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) headquarters and sister school Shalom Seminary.
Alongside the elderly leader, Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh, then president of NBCC when OTS was founded, highlighted on how the pioneering leaderships were brought together and how Bade villagers generously donated the prime land on which the institution sits today. Further, Rev. Nuh challenged the OTS community to be mindful of the importance of imagining and crafting contextually relevant theologies.
This idea of relevancy that must be indispensably rooted in the living realities of its people, the context in which they learn and serve, was further poignantly emphasized by the chair of the board of governors, Pheluopfelie Kesiez, in his exhortation on the imagination of the future of the institution.
The two-hour ceremony was blessed by melodious singings from students and brief but profound introspective papers read by the founding principal and emeritus professor Rev. Dr. Wati Aier and the first academic dean and current general secretary of NBCC Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho.
Further highlights of the evening were the various recognitions accorded to the pioneer leaders, teachers and staffs. Amongst them are: The Oriental Theological Seminary Foundation Honor accorded to Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh by instituting a faculty chair in his name on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the seminary; the Commission Honor to Rev. Dr. Pongsing Konyak; the Patronage Honor to late N. Bendang Longkumer, Rev. S. Thong, Er. Obang Longchari and Er. Njilo Kemp; Pioneer Honor to Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, professor Alongla P. Aier, Fr. Joe Ngamkhuchung and Rev. Dr. Koshy P. Varughese, late Sentiyanger Jamir, Bendang Pongen and Rev. J. Thungjamo Lotha; and the Honor for Land accorded to Bade Village for benevolently donating land owned by the community to the seminary and to Ciekhwuprü Swuro, Kedutsolo Wetsah, late Khalo Khutso, Khwelhizü Kapfo, late Lhiwetso Thopi, Mesenyi Wetsah, Neitshüsolo Thopi, Shevotso H. Keyho, Thepupra Yosa, late Zewelhi Medo, Zhielo Khutso, and late Züvehü Tamo for selflessly donating personal land.