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Peter Vethanayagamony

Professor of Modern Church History

Headshot of Peter Vethanayagamony

773.256.0749
pvethana@lstc.edu

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • History of Christian Mission
  • Missiology
  • Christianity in Asia
  • Modern Church History
  • Immigrant congregations in the West

EDUCATION

  • B.Th., Serampore University, India
  • B.D. [M.Div], United Theological College, India
  • B.Ed., Annamalai University, India
  • M.A., Osmania University, India
  • M.A., Annamalai University, India
  • M.Th., United Theological College, India
  • Th.M., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  • Ph.D., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Professional Certificate in Online Education (PCOE), UWI Continuing Studies
  • Foundations of Online Teaching, College of Du Page

Biography

Peter Vethanayagamony [Vetha] is professor of modern Church History.

Before joining LSTC in 2006, he taught Church History at Hindustan Bible Institute and College, Chennai, India for sixteen years, where he also served as Academic Dean. Vetha has also served over nine years as Outreach Minister and missional pastor in Chicago, besides his pastoral ministry in India. He is rostered in Northern Illinois Synod of ELCA. His research interests include early Indian Lutheranism, Bible Women and Sudra Lutherans of AELC, Global Tamil Diaspora and immigrant non-western churches in the West.

Vetha grew up and received his early education in India. He received the bachelor of theology degree from Serampore University, the bachelor of education from Annamalai University, the bachelor of divinity [M.Div] degree and master of theology degree [history of Christianity] from United Theological College, the master of arts degree in philosophy from Osmania University, the master of arts degree in history from Annamalai University, and the master of theology from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. His Phd degree was bestowed “with distinction” by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

He is married to Serene, who is a certified biology teacher.

PUBLISHED WORKS

BOOKS

  • Tamil Diaspora: Intersectionality of Migration, Religion, Language and Culture. New Delhi Serials Publications, 2020.
  • Global Lutheranism: Vitality and Challenges. Lutheran University Press, 2018. (edited along with Franzvolker Greifenhagen).
  • Subject to None, Servant of All: Essays in Christian Scholarship in Honor of Kurt Karl Hendel. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lutheran University Press, 2016. (edited along with Kenneth Sawyer).
  • Lutheran Pedagogy for a Global Context. Minneapolis: Lutheran University Press, 2015. (edited along with Franzvolker Greifenhagen).
  • It Began in Madras: The Eighteenth Century Lutheran-Anglican Ecumenical Ventures in Mission and Benjamin Schultze. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2010.
  • Mission after Christendom: Emergent Themes in Contemporary Mission. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. (edited along with Kala and Chia).
  • Introduction to History of Christianity in India. Madras: HBI and College, 1998.
  • Introduction to the History of Christianity. Madras: HBI and College, 1998.
  • A Hand Book on History of Christianity in India. Madras: HBI Publishing, 1998.

ARTICLES AND ESSAYS

  • “Tamil Diaspora in Chicago: Its Origins, Identity, Diversity, Triumphs and Tussles.” In Tamil Diaspora Intersectionality of Migration, Religion, Language and Culture. Edited by Peter Vethanayagamony. New Delhi: Serials Publications, 2020.
  • “Tamil Diapora: An Introduction.” In Tamil Diaspora Intersectionality of Migration, Religion, Language and Culture. Edited by Peter Vethanayagamony. New Delhi: Serials Publications, 2020.
  • “In the Intersection of the Ecclesial Boundaries: An Ecumenical Exploration of Benjamin Schultze for the Sake of Madras Mission.” Nidān, 4 no. 2 (December 2019): 83-96.
  • “Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg: The Patriarch of the North American Lutheranism.” Living Lutherans. (October 2018).
  • Following Articles in the Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Edited by Mark Lamport: Publication, 2017.:
  • 1. Bucer, Martin
  • 2. German Lutheran Missions in India.
  • 3. Lutheranism in India
  • 4. Schmucker, Samuel Simon (1799-1873)
  • 5. The Platformist-Symbolist Controversy
  • Following articles in Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions (DLLT), published by Baker Academic. General editor Timothy J. Wengert, 2017.:
  • 1. Schultze, Benjamin
  • 2. Schwartz, Christian Friedrich
  • 3. Heyer, Johann Friedrich Christian
  • 4. Fabricius, Johann Phillip
  • 5. Petersen, Anne Marie
  • 6. Fry, Franklin Clark
  • 7. General Synod
  • 8. Lutheran Church in America
  • “Church History: A Millstone of Anguish or Milestones to Cherish?” in Subject to None, Servant of All: Essays in Christian Scholarship in Honor of Kurt Karl Hendel. Edited by Peter Vethanayagamony and Kenneth Sawyer. 209-225. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lutheran University Press, 2016.
  • “Introduction” in Subject to None, Servant of All: Essays in Christian Scholarship in Honor of Kurt Karl Hendel. Edited by Peter Vethanayagamony and Kenneth Sawyer. 7-18. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Lutheran University Press, 2016.
  • “Introduction” in Lutheran Pedagogy for a Global Context. Edited by Peter Vethanayagamony and Franzvolker Greifenhagen. Minneapolis: Lutheran University Press, 2015.
  • “When the Marginalizer Is Marginalized: the Spring, Singularity, Status and Struggles of Sudra Lutherans in the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.” Hyderabad Theological Journal, Volume 1 (April 2015).
  • “St. Vedanayagam Sastriar and the Literary Inculturation of the Gospel.” Lutheran Forum (Summer 2015): 36-40.
  • “The Life and Work of Vedanyagam Sastriar, the First Tamil Lutheran Poet.” in Abundant Harvest: Stories of Asian Lutherans. Edited by Edmond Yee and J. Paul Rajashekar. Hong Kong: Taosheng Publishing House, 2012.
  • “Diversity, Poetry and Songs: Stories of Lutherans in South India.” in Abundant Harvest: Stories of Asian Lutherans. Edited by Edmond Yee and J. Paul Rajashekar. Hong Kong: Taosheng Publishing House, 2012.
  • “’A Deliverer on a White Horse’: the Pioneering Journey of Dr. Anna Sarah Kugler.” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies Vol. XXII, No. 2 (June 2011): 93-109.
  • “The Legacy of Dr. Anna S. Kugler, the Pioneer Lutheran Medical Missionary to India.” Lutheran Forum, (Fall 2010): 40-49.
  • “Mission from the Rest to the West: A Glimpse at the Changing Landscape of World Christianity and Christian Mission.” in Mission After Christendom: Emergent Themes In Contemporary Mission. Eds. Kalu, Vethanyaagamony and Chia. Louisville: WJK Press, 2010.
  • “Introduction” in Mission after Christendom: Emergent Themes in Contemporary Mission. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. (edited along with Kala and Chia).
  • “Serving Body and Soul in Early Lutheran Mission to India,” Lutheran Forum, (Winter 2009):36-40.
  • “The Lutheran Churches of India.” Web article in Lutheran Forum, December 15, 2009.
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