B. V. Subbamma

B. V. Subbamma also known as Bathineni Venkata Subbamma (1 July 1925 – 12 January 2009) was an Indian theologian and scholar. Noted for founding Christian ashrams, she was widely recognized for her analysis of Christianity from a cultural perspective. She was one of the first women in India to attain theological training and was one of the inaugural women pastors ordained by the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) in 1999 at AELC-St. Matthews West Parish, Guntur.

Biography Venkata Subbamma Bathineni was born on 1 July 1925 in Bodipalem in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India to a family of traditional Hindus. After studying at a missionary school in Bodipalem, she went to the Government High School of Pedanadipadu. During her education, she resisted converting to Christianity because she believed that the Christian faith was only for outcastes. She believed that "Jesus was the lowest of all the gods".

Continuing her studies, Subbamma entered the Andhra-Christian College graduating with a BA in 1947. She also earned a Bachelor of Education from St. Joseph's College of Education in Guntur and began teaching school. After nearly a decade of teaching, earning a Bachelor of Divinity

After obtaining her theological training, Subbamma wrote extensively on colonialism, culturalism, Christianity and women's opportunity. She was recognized as "one of the most influential women leaders in the Third World Christian church", for her mission work and ministry. She focused on introducing Christianity to Hindu women, believing that an indigenous approach brought understanding and integration of cultures. From 1977-1984, Subbamma served on the Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva She served on the board of trustees of the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg and was a member of the Senate of Serampore University, the first woman to hold a post on the university senate.

Subbamma retired in 1985 but continued volunteering with the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) of Chennai.

She died on 12 January 2009 in Guntur.

Selected works