Former Moderator of CSI Dies at 73

csisynod

Former Moderator of the Church of South India (CSI), Rt Rev. Dr B.P. Sugandhar, has passed away on Dec. 5 in Hyderabad. He was 73 years old.

The CSI community leaders and members attended his funeral at St John's Cemetery in Secunderabad on Dec. 6.

Most Rev. Thomas K Oommen, the Moderator of the CSI, Rt Rev. Dr Vadapalli Prasada Rao, the Deputy Moderator, Rev. Dr Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, the general secretary, and Adv. Robert Bruce, the treasurer expressed their grief.

Sugandhar is survived by his wife Nalini Sugandhar, sons John Priya Babu and Dr Vimal Sukumar and daughter Glory.

After completing his Bachelor of Divinity and Doctorate in Theology at the United Theological College (UTC) in Bangalore he became the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak, Hyderabad falls under Medak Diocese, and was consecrated by the then Moderator, the Rt Rev. Vasant P Dandin at the Medak cathedral in September 1993.

He was the CSI's Deputy Moderator from 2000-2004 and the Moderator for two terms, that is from 2004 to 2008.

He served as an office-bearer at the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches and as the vice-president of the Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary of the Bible Society of India. Also, he governed the board of UTC, Bangalore, and the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.