Bishop Dr. Taranath S. Sagar, who served as the President of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), passed away on Monday October 19, 2015 at about 8:00 pm after suffering a heart attack. He was a Bishop of the Methodist Church in India, and co-president of National United Christian Forum (NUCF).
Bishop Sagar is survived by his wife Mrs. Padma P. Sagar, their son, Mr. Sunnadh Sagar and daughter, Mrs. Sharan.
In a Press Release General Secretary of NCCI, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, described the late Bishop as, "a loving family person, pastor, friend, preacher, guide, visionary, builder, administrator, a Methodist and an ecumenist".
Recalling the many contributions he made while holding the office of President of NCCI from 2008-2015, he said that with his vast experience, wisdom and determination, Bishop Sagar was able to help NCCI tide over its difficulties.
Having been the co-founder of NUCF, Bishop Sagar rose from the humble beginnings of pastor ministry of Bombay Regional Conference of the Methodist Church in India. Later he held offices of President of the Council of Bishops of the Methodist Church in India, President of the Asian Methodist Bishops' Conference, Secretary of NCCI's Maharashtra Council of Churches, President of Ecumenical Christian Centre, Executive member of United Theological College in Bangalore, President of ECLOF.
National United Christian Forum (NUCF) is a forum uniting the three main bodies of Christianity in India the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI).
As a versatile leader he was recognised not only in India but internationally as well as he served the office of World Council of Churches (WCC). Having first been elected at the Port Allegro Assembly, Brazil in 2006 and later at the Busan Assembly, South Korea in 2013.
