Theological Education

• February 2006–July 2011: Doctor of Philosophy, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
• July 1997–April 1999: Master of Theology United Theological College, Bangalore, India
• July 1994 – April 1996: Bachelor of Divinity Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India
• July 1990 - April 1993: Bachelor of Theology Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India

Work Experience:

• April 2017 - December 2019: Associate Professor, Dept of Theology and Ethics
• Other Responsibilities:
  • Editor-in-Chief, UBS Journal since March 2016
  • Director, Research and Publications
• April 2014 - March 2017: Assistant Professor of Theology
• January 2001 - January 2006: Registrar –cum-Lecturer, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India. My responsibilities include; Administration of Academic Office and teaching contextual theologies including Dalit Theology, Tribal Theology, Liberation Theology and Indian Christian Theology.
• July 1999 - December 2000: Liaison Officer, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India. My responsibility was to establish and strengthen partnerships between the seminary and local churches across denominations within India.

Thesis Supervisions:

• BD/MDiv - both Senate of Serampore & ATA
• MTh – both Senate of Serampore & ATA
• DTh/DMin – Senate of Serampore
• PhD – Martin Luther Christian University

Voluntary Work:

• January 2020: Director, Bethesda Khankho Institute, Manipur, India
• November 2021: Member, Research and Ethics Committee, MLCU, Shillong
• March 2016 -December 2010: Senior Pastor, Kuki Worship Service Pune (KWSP)
• October 2012 - March 2013: Leader, Glasgow International Christian Fellowship. This is part of the Renfield St Stephen church’s outreach ministry among internationals in the city of Glasgow.
• January 2013 - June 2014: Secretary, Bethesda Khankho International (UK)(SCIO) registered with the Office of Scottish Charity Regulators, Charity Number SC04236.
• August 1999 – January 2006: Chaplain, Kuki Worship Service, Pune, India This congregation consist of mostly university students of Northeast India studying in the city of Pune.
• January 2005 – 2006: Founding President, Som-Inn, Pune, India. Derived from the people’s cultural tradition, Som-Inn is a residential learning centre for university students in the city of Pune where we provide support, mentorship and Christian discipleship for the residents. The aim of this project is to contextualize the Christian message of love in the people’s own cultural context while we prepare them for responsible global citizens.

Charity Initiatives: In 2009, founded a Charitable Organization called Bethesda-Khankho Foundation among Indigenous communities in Manipur, Northeast India with a vision to transform to transform. BKF has four main prjects including, Bethesda Som-In/Children Home, Bethesda Academy for Integral education, medical project among tribal communities and a Centre for Integrated studies specialised in Indigenous Studies. Ordination: Ordained by the Evangelical Churches Association (ECA), Evangelical Congregational Church of India (ECCI) on the 14th of March 2004. Publications:

1. Haokip, J & David Smith, eds., Voices from the Margin: Voices from the Margins Wisdom of Primal Peoples in the Era of World Christianity (Carlisle: Langham Literature, 2022).
2. Haokip, J & Haokip J. eds., Khankho a Kibulphu: Discovering Cultural Foundation (Imphal: Bethesda Khankho Foundation, 2017)
3. Haokip, J & K. Sungjemmeren Imchen, eds., Becoming a Missional Congregation in the Twenty-first Century Indian Context (Delhi: ISPCK, 2016)
4. Haokip, J. Colonisation, Identity and Search for Peace [A Transcribed text of and preliminary comments on Operations Against Kuki Tribes of Assam and Burma 1917-1919, A Colonial Document preserved at British Library, London, UK], Pune: Published by Author, 2015.
5. Haokip, J. 2014. Can God Save My Village? A Theological Study of Identity among the Tribal people of North East India with a Special Reference to the Kukis of Manipur (Carlisle, UK: Langham Monograph, 2014).
6. Haokip, J. 2011. Houbung Kithah Pat (Re-Visioning the Church for the Post-Centennial Witness for Christ), Lamphelpat, Imphal.

Articles in Books and Journals:

1. Haokip, J. ‘A Contextual Theology of Khankho’ in Haokip, J & David Smith, eds., Voices from the Margin: Voices from the Margins Wisdom of Primal Peoples in the Era of World Christianity (Carlisle: Langham Literature, 2022).
2. Haokip, J. ‘Evangelisation and Colonialism: The role of ‘Christianity’ in the Anglo-Kuki War’ in Letkhojam Haokip and Ngamjahao Kipgen eds., Against the Empire: Polity, Economy and Culture during the Anglo-Kuki War, 1917-1919, Delhi: Routledge, 2020).
3. Haokip, J. 2016. ‘The Shift of Gravity of Christian Presence from the Global North to the Global South and its Implications for Northeasterners in India’ in Haokip, J & K. Sungjemmeren Imchen, eds., Becoming a Missional Congregation in the Twenty-first Century Indian Context (Delhi: ISPCK)
4. Haokip, J. 2016. ‘The Kuki Mission 1910: Toward a Re-reading of Watkin Robers ‘the intruder’ and his message for the 21st century Christian witness in the context of emerging World Christianity’ 168- 180 in Witnessing to Christ in North East India, eds Marina Ngursangzeli and Michael Biehl, Regnum Edinburgh Centenery Series, Volume 31, Oxford: Regnum Books International.
5. Haokip, J. 2015. ‘Khankho: An Exploration of Kuki Indigenous spirituality toward social and ecological peace’ UBS Journal Vols. 9.2 - 10.1.March 2016, pp.62-81.
6. Haokip, J. 2014. “Implications of Having an Independent Missionary: A Review of the 1910 Kuki Mission”  International Bulletin of Missionary Reserch, April Issue.
7. Haokip, J. 2002. ‘Issues Facing Tribal Christians in Northeast India Today’ 211-249 in Mark T. B. Laing, ed. The Indian Church in Context: Her Emergence, Growth, and Mission (Delhi: ISPCK)

Book Reviews:

1. Liberating the Gospel: Translating the Message of Jesus Christ in a Globalised World, by David Smith (Darton, Longman and Todd, April 2016, Price Rs.1,182/ UBS Journal, Volume 10.2, November 2016.
2. Beyond Literate Western Models: Contextualizing Theological Education in Oral Contexts. Edited by Samuel E. Chiang and Grant Lovejoy. Hong Kong: International Orality Network, 2013. Pp. 229. Paperback $14.95; Kindle $9.95 International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January Issue, 2015.

Research Experiences:

1. As an expert Panel for online research project “Identifying the emerging roles of U.S. missionaries serving in the Majority World (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)” by  Karen Hatley, a Ph.D. candidate in leadership studies at Dallas Baptist University, USA. (October 2014 -
2. Field Researcher for the topic, ‘Mass Movements among the Mala Madigas in Andra Pradesh and Nadars and Thevars in Tamil Nadu’ published in the book, F. Hrangkhuma, Christianity in India: Search for Liberation and Identity (New Delhi: ISPCK, 1998).

Online:

1. ‘Impact of Christianity on Kuki people: A Preliminary observation’ in the Souvenir of Kuki Worship Service, Gauhati, 200
2. ‘Celebrating Cultural Differences for Global Peace’ – online Journal Article www.bethesda.org.in/indigenousresources/article

Participation at National and International conferences:

1. Resource person at ‘South Asia Regional Creation Care Conference’ Part of the Lausanne/WEA Global Campaign for Creation Care and the Gospel Hotel View Bhrikuti, Godavri, Lalitpur, Nepal, 12 - 16th September 2016 Organised  by World Evangelical Alliance, Lausanne and EFICOR.
2. Resource person at ‘Indigenous Ecological Spiritualties and Christian Faith17-20 August 2015 - Jogja, Indonesia, Organized by: Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW), Nijmegen Institute for Mission Studies (NIM) and the World Council of Churches (WCC)
3. Haokip, J. “Christianity and Identity: Opportunities, Risks & Responsibilities” presented at Rethinking Christianity Seminar November 15, 2014, Dorcas Hall, Lamka, Manipur, India.
4. Haokip, J. “Kuki Mission 1910: Reclaiming the vision of Watkin Roberts for the 21st Century Kuki Communities in South Asia” presented at Unity Beyond Borders Conference November 21 & 22, 2013, St Paul’s Retreat Centre, Imphal, Manipur, India.
5. Contributor: ‘Christian Mission and Kuki Identity; A Study in the Socio-cultural Impact of Protestant-Evangelical Mission on a Traditional Asian People’  presented at Yale-Edinburgh Conference, Yale University, June 27-29, 2013.
6. ‘Ethnic Identity and Christianity: A call for fresh theological reflection’ – A Paper presented at the Ecumenical International Conference on “Human Identity and the Gospel of Reconciliation“  at Balatonfüred, Hungary from August 16-23, 2008 organised by IAMS.
7. Resource person: ‘Gospel and Globalisation’ 2nd South ASia Youth Conference, Bangalore, India, June 8-14, 2005, Sponsored by Church Mission Society (CMS).
8. Facilitator: ‘Called for Peace’ South Asia Youth Conference, Sri Lanka, May 23-30, 2002 Sponsored by Church Mission Society (CMS), USPG, Methodist church (UK), Church of Scotland and others.
9. Resource Person: ‘The Role of Lay leaders in the church’ at Diamond Jubilee of the Evangelical Church Association, Manipur, India. 2013
10. Haokip, J. ‘The Concept of Khankho: Re-Visiting Indigenous Life-world in the context of World Christianity’ Presented at University of Edinburgh, on 4th February 2020.

 

Qualifications:

• B.A. (Hrs. in Education): 1993, Kokrajhar College, Guwahati University, Assam
• B.D.: 1998, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune Thesis: Leadership Style of Nehemiah
• M.Th. (CT): 2002, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai Thesis: Boro Culture and Church in the light of Contemporary Debate on Gospel and Culture
• D.Th. (CT): 2010  United Theological College, Bangalore (SATHRI, Serampore College, University) Thesis: North East Indian Tribal Theologies as Resources to Counter Inter-Ethnic Conflicts

Specialization: Ethnicity and Tribal Theology, Contextual Theologies Work Experience:

• 1987-94: Secretary, Gaurang Circle Youth Committee
• 1996: Teaching, Ebenezer Bible College, Kathmandu, Nepal (Internship Program)
• 1998-2000: Office Assistant in Bongaigaon Diocese,  NELC Part Time Teaching in a Bible School, Preaching and   teaching in congregations, Conferences and Seminars
• 2002-2004: Lecturer, Department of Theology and Ethics, Union Biblical Seminary, Pune
• 2005-2006: Diocesan Secretary, Bongaigaon Diocese, NELC, Preaching and teaching in congregations, Conferences and Seminars
• 2010 -2015: Associate Professor, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai.
• 2015 June onwards: Professor, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute, Chennai.

Additional Responsibility:

• HoD, Theology & Ethics (2012 - till date)
• Dean, PG Studies (2013 - till date)
• Head of Luther Studies (2010-2018)
• Convenor, Board of Gender, Dalit & Adivasi Studies (2014 - 2016)
• Convener & Eitor, Gurukul Summer Institute (2017 - till date)

Languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Nepali, Basic German, Hebrew/Greek(Preliminary) International Conference/Meeting Attended:

1. Third Lausanne Congress [CT2010] on World Evangelization, at Cape Town, South Africa, October 16-24, 2010.
2. Sixth International Seminar within the Luther Decade at Wittenberg, Germany, November 4-17, 2012.
3. Asian Lutheran International Conference (ALIC) 9th Biennial Conference at Medan Indonesia, February 1-7, 2017.
4. Summer School on “Faith and Globalization” organised by the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland August 21-23, 2017.
5. Asian Lutheran International Conference (ALIC) 10th Biennial Conference at Udon Tani, Thailand, January 22-29, 2019.
6. LWF Theological Education and Formation Strategic Advisory Group (TEF-SAG) meeting at Geneva, Switzerland, March 20-24, 2018.
7. Global Consultation on Lutheran Identities of the Lutheran World Federation, hosted by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22-28 October, 2019.
8. Asian Lutheran International Conference (ALIC) Steering Committee Meeting at Bangkok, Thailand, January 4-6, 2020
9. LWF Theological Education and Formation Strategic Advisory Group (TEF-SAG) meeting at Geneva, Switzerland January, 14-16, 2020.

Paper Presentations/Lectures:

1. “Hail Mary – Hi Joseph! Mystery in the Fatherhood of Joseph.” Lecture at Christmas Gathering, Assam, December 25, 2011.
2. “Chaos in the Cries of Nations from Bellow: North East Indian Experience.” Lecture at Seminar organized by Inter-Church Peace Mission, Assam, 2011.
3. “Necessity and Sensibility of “Tribal Theology.” Paper presented at Consultation on Margins in Conversation organised by Board of Theological Education, Senate of Serampore College (University) at ECC Bangalore, January 4-6, 2012.
4. “Means and Methods of collecting and compiling ongoing issues in the Churches.” Lecture at Seminar on “Companions of Peace” organised by Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (CTPB) unit of UELCI, August 25, 2012.
5. “Prophetic Eco-theology: Tribal Perspective.” Paper presented at National Conference on “Prophetic Eco-theology” organised by Asian Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies, Chennai, February 14-15, 2013.
6. “The Adivasi Liberation: Changes Challenges Churches.” Lecture at National Seminar on Tribal & Adivasi Concerns organised by Dalit/Adivasi Desk of UELCI and NCCI at CWC, Chennai, November 14-16, 2013.
7. “Tribal Culture Inputs in the Emerging Christian Theology.” Paper presented in a Panel at ITA Conference on Call for a New Theology of Culture Revisiting the Mission Praxes and Paradigms at Dhyana Ashram, Chennai, October 23 -27, 2014.
8. “Christianity and Public Sphere in India: A View from North East India.” Paper presented at National Seminar on Christianity and Public Sphere in India: Critical Explorations, organised by Christian Studies Department of Madras University, February 22-23, 2016.
9. “Faith in to Context: Luther's Small Catechism as a Cross-cultural Mission Resource.” Lecture, IELC Pastors’ Refresher Course, Chennai, April 2, 2016.
10. “Basics of Lutheran Theology” and “Indian Christian Theology.” Lectures at Pastors’ Refreshers Course of ELCMP, Derahdun, November 27 – December 2, 2016.
11. “Church Reformed and Always Reforming: Reformation and Indigenous Communities.” Paper presented at National Consultation on “Church Reformed: Always Reforming” organized by CISRS, ECDC and UELCI at ECC Bangalore, April 25-27, 2017.
12. “Philosophical Rationality and Functional Responsibility of Research: Re-visioning the Vocation of Theological Research in India.” SATHRI Journal: A Journal of Contextual Theology, IX/1 (April 2015: 24-37.
13. “Methodological Hurdles in Research and Doing Theology from the Perspective of North East Indian Indigenous Theologies.” Paper presented at D. Th. Methodological Course, SATHRI, Serampore. May 27, 2017.
14. “Doing Theology with Adivasi/Tribal Resources: Challenges and Prospects: A re/search for a model(s).” Paper presented at National Consultation on Re-Thinking Adivasi/Tribal Awakening organised by GELC and CISRS at Gossner Theological College, Ranchi, July 13-15, 2017.
15. “Theological Significance and Challenges of Reformation.” A Paper presented at D. Th. Colloquium on “Such a Time as This: A re-imagining of Reformation.” TTS, Madurai, August 9-11, 2017.
16. “Religion and Conflicts in the Globalizing India.” Lecture at Summer School on “Faith and Globalization” organized by the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland, August 22, 2017.
17. “Recent Perspectives on Religion and Conflicts in North East India.” Lecture at Summer School on “Faith and Globalization” organized by the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland, August 22, 2017.
18. “Power of Religion and Religion of Power in Conflicting Religio-Political Scenario in India.” Public Lecture at Symposium on “Faith and Globalization” organized by the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, Finland, August 23, 2017.
19. “Reformation and Luther” Lecture at 150 Years Jubilee Celebration and 500 Years of Reformation Celebration organised by NELC, Bengaria, Jharkand, September 29, 2017.
20. “A Theo-epistemological Reflection on William Carey and the Serampore Mission.” A Paper presented in CMS Consultation on “Serampore Mission: Perspectives in Context” on the occasion of celebrating the Bicentenary of Serampore College in UBS, Pune, November, 1-3, 2018
21. “Singing Strange Songs in Our own Lands: Towards Asian Ethnodoxology.” Paper presented in 10th Asian Lutheran International Conference-2019. at Udon Tani, Thailand, January 22-29, 2019.
22. “Contextuality and Functionality of Contextual Theologies: Methodological Challenges.” A paper presented in D.Th. Research Methodology and Orientation Seminar of SATHRI held at SATHRI Building, Serampore from April 22 - May 3, 2019.
23. “Quest for Meaning in Boro Orality.” A Paper presented at Conference on ‘Orality, Myth, Folklore: Exploring Christian Expressions of faith among Indigenous peoples’ organized by Bethesda-Khankho Foundation, Manipur in collaboration with Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong, Meghalaya, at Imphal from 30-31 May, 2019.

Publications (Articles and Books):

1. “Necessity and Sensibility of Tribal Theology.” In Margins in Conversation: Methodological Discourses in Theological Disciplines. Edited by J.P. Dayam and P. Mohan Lalbeer. Bangalore: BTESSE, 2012.
2. “Sunshine before Sunrise, Darkness before Sunset: India’s North-East and North-East’s India.” Staff Seminar, Gurukul, September 28, 2011; Gurukul Journal of  Theological Studies, 2011 Jan. Issue.
3. “Christian Identity vs Ethnic Identity.” July 19, 2010. The Lausanne Global Conversation accessed May 14, 2011.
4. Review on “Child Labour in India: Challenges for Theological Thinking and Christian Ministry in India”by Rohan Gideon Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies, 2011 January Issue.
5. “The Future of Lutheran Theology and Lutheran Communion in India.” Gurukul Journal of  Theological Studies, 2011 June Issue.
6. “Theology of Community: Luther and Indigenous.” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies, 2011 June Issue.
7. “Stories of Lutherans from North India.” In Abundant Harvest: Stories of Asian Lutherans. Edited by Edmond Yee and J. Paul William Rajashekar.  Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lutheran University Press, 2013.
8. “Biography of Bishop Nirmal Minz.” In Abundant Harvest...
9. “Biography of Bishop Nityananda Borgoary.” In Abundant Harvest...
10. Ethnicity and Tribal Theology: Problems and Prospects for Peaceful Co-existence in Northeast India. Peter Lang, 2014. [BOOK]
11. “Tribal Spirituality.” In Spirituality: Towards a Comprehensive Perspective. Edited by P. Mohan Larbeer and Santanu K. Patro. Bangalore: BTSSC, 2016.
12. “The Role of Hermeneutics in Indian Christian Theological Discussions.” In Christian Theology: Indian Conversations. Ed. Samuel George and P. Mohan Larbeer. Bangalore: BTESSC, 2016.
13. “Luther in Context.” In Reformation Spirituality. Ed. Mammen Varkey and John M. Itty.  Mavelikara: Vichara, 2017.
14. “Mission of Power and Power of Mission in Mission Abandoned Assam: The Mission among the Assamese and Boros.” Bangalore Theological Forum XLVIII/1 (June 2016): 92-106.
15. “Mission of Power and Power of Mission: The Mission among the Assamese and Boros.” In Witnessing to Christ in North East India, edited by Marina Ngursangzeli and Michael Biehl, 154-167. Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.
16. “Faith and Freedom – Liberty and Responsibility.” Article in Gurukul Jyoti, 2017.
17. “Christianity and Public Sphere in India: A View from North East India.” In Indian Journal of Christian Studies 5/1&2 (January-December 2016): 36-54.
18. “North East Indian Secular Spirituality?: An Exploration towards Sacred-secular Spirituality.” In Religion, Spirituality and Secularity in Multi-Religious India: Visions & Experiments. Edited by Israel Selvanayagam. Pune/New Delhi: ATTI/Christian World Imprints, 2017.
19. “Church Reformed and Always Reforming: Reformation and Indigenous Communities.” Religion and Society, 62/1&2 (March-June 2017): 71-90.
20. “Reformation and Indigenous Communities.” In Church Reformed and Always Reforming. Edited by Vincent Rajkumar (Bangalore: CISRS, 2017).
21. “Trends of Tribal Awakening in North East India since 1947.” Paper presented in 60th Anniversary of CISRS, Consortium on Revisit to Revision
22. Transforming Reformation: Reformation in Perspective. Editor. New Delhi/Chennai: CWI/Gurukul Publications, 2017.
23. “Re-look at Reformation and Theological Challenges of Martin Luther towards Transforming Reformation.” In Transforming Reformation: Reformation in Perspectives. Edited by Songram Basumatary. New Delhi/Chennai: CWI/Gurukul Publications, 2017.
24. Migration in Perspectives: Towards Indian Theology of Migration Editor. New Delhi/Chennai: CWI/Gurukul, 2018.
25. Luther's Small Catechism: An Exposition of the Christian Faith in Asian Contexts and Cultures. Ed. Paul Rajasekar. Chicago/Delhi: AAPPI-ELCA/CWI, 2019. [Chapter on Ten Commandment]
26. “A Theo-epistemological Reflection on William Carey and the Serampore Mission.” In Serampore Mission: Perspective in Contexts, edited by Johnson Thomaskutty Delhi/Pune: ISPCK/UBS, 2019, 1-26.
27. Your History is Not Our Story: Re-imaging Colonial Historiography of Tribals and Christianity in North East India. Co-author with Lt. Dr. Walotemjen. New Delhi: CWI, 2019.
28. Embracing Childhood-Embodying Childness: Relocating Children in Church and Society, Edited Book.  New Delhi/Chennai: CWI/Gurukul Publications, 2020.
29. “Children ‘in the midst’ or Strangers ‘in the Midst?’ Re-look at Medieval, Reformation and Systematic Theologies.” In Embracing Childhood-Embodying Childness: Relocating Children in Church and Society. Edited by S. Basumatary and Gladson Jathanna. New Delhi/Chennai: CWI/Gurukul Publications, 2020.
30. “Ageing: Blessing or Curse? A Theological Reflection.” An Article in forthcoming book – Ageing in Perspectives. Gurukul Publications, 2020.