B. P. Sugandhar
Encyclopedia
Badda Peter Sugandhar was the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak in the Church of South India
(CSI). He was consecrated by Vasant P. Dandin, the then Moderator of the CSI in the Cathedral in Medak in September 1993.
He was an office-bearer of the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches, (APFC) a society that incorporates bishops of the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Indigenous
Church traditions and whose members strive for ecumenism
.
, in Bangalore
Sugandhar took a B.D.
degree. After graduation, the Diocese of Medak
of the Church of South India
posted him to churches in Ramayampet, Yellareddy, Utnoor, Bellampally, Medak and Secunderabad.
He served as Presbyter-in-charge at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Secunderabad before being consecrated as the Bishop in Medak. Although a Resident Presbyter has been appointed in that Church, Sugandhar continued to be the Presbyter-in-charge of the Church of St. John the Baptist till the end of his bishopric.
's tenure as Bishop of Medak came to an end in 1992, the Synod of the CSI declared Sugandhar as his successor.
The 27th and 28th Synods of the CSI voted to elect the bishop as the Deputy Moderator of the CSI. During the 29th Synod of the CSI held in Bangalore from 10 to 14 January 2004, Sugandhar was elected as Moderator of the CSI replacing his predecessor Dr. K. J. Samuel. Subsequently, in the 30th Synod held in Mysore, he was re-elected as the Moderator.
In the 31st Synod held in Visakhapatnam in January 2008, fresh elections paved way for a new Moderator (Bishop J. W. Gladstone
) to be elected in place of Bishop Sugandhar.
. He provided continuing leadership to the educational and other institutions in his diocese. He was also on the governing board of the following colleges, viz.:
Both colleges are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)
which is India's first University.
commemorating the shastipoorthi (completion of sixty years) of his predecessor, Victor Premasagar
, he wrote an essay which appears in the book "The Church on the move
(International), Hyderabad conferred the degree of D.Min. on the Bishop. The degrees issued by this unaccredited seminary are only nominal.
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
(CSI). He was consecrated by Vasant P. Dandin, the then Moderator of the CSI in the Cathedral in Medak in September 1993.
He was an office-bearer of the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches, (APFC) a society that incorporates bishops of the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
Church traditions and whose members strive for ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
Divinity and pastorship
At the United Theological College, the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College (University)Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....
, in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
Sugandhar took a B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree. After graduation, the Diocese of Medak
Diocese of Medak
The Diocese of Medak is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.-Geography and history:The diocese of Medak is one of the largest dioceses in the Christian world, including five revenue districts of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh state: Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad,...
of the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
posted him to churches in Ramayampet, Yellareddy, Utnoor, Bellampally, Medak and Secunderabad.
He served as Presbyter-in-charge at the Church of St. John the Baptist, Secunderabad before being consecrated as the Bishop in Medak. Although a Resident Presbyter has been appointed in that Church, Sugandhar continued to be the Presbyter-in-charge of the Church of St. John the Baptist till the end of his bishopric.
Bishopric
When Victor PremasagarVictor Premasagar
Victor Premasagar was the fourth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak. He was an Indian churchman and Old Testament scholar. He also became Moderator of the Church of South India.-Early years:...
's tenure as Bishop of Medak came to an end in 1992, the Synod of the CSI declared Sugandhar as his successor.
The 27th and 28th Synods of the CSI voted to elect the bishop as the Deputy Moderator of the CSI. During the 29th Synod of the CSI held in Bangalore from 10 to 14 January 2004, Sugandhar was elected as Moderator of the CSI replacing his predecessor Dr. K. J. Samuel. Subsequently, in the 30th Synod held in Mysore, he was re-elected as the Moderator.
In the 31st Synod held in Visakhapatnam in January 2008, fresh elections paved way for a new Moderator (Bishop J. W. Gladstone
J. W. Gladstone
John Wilson Gladstone was the Moderator of the Church of South India as well as Bishop of South Kerala.-Early years:Rev. Dr. Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Kerala. into a pastoral family. His father, Rev. J...
) to be elected in place of Bishop Sugandhar.
Theological arena
Bishop Sugandhar served as the Vice-President of the Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary of the Bible Society of IndiaBible Society of India
The Bible Society of India is a Christian body that is authorized to translate, produce, distribute and market the Holy Bible. The Central Office of the BSI is located in Bangalore city in the state of Karnataka in South India.-Auxiliaries:...
. He provided continuing leadership to the educational and other institutions in his diocese. He was also on the governing board of the following colleges, viz.:
- United Theological College, Bangalore
- Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad
Both colleges are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)
Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....
which is India's first University.
Participation
- Lambeth Conference 1998.
- Representative in the Council of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore
- Delegate for the EMS Mission Council.
- President, CSI Council of North America
- Anglican Participant, The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Anglican Communion Office
Authorship
While Sugandhar is well known as an administrator, he also has written several works. For the festschriftFestschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
commemorating the shastipoorthi (completion of sixty years) of his predecessor, Victor Premasagar
Victor Premasagar
Victor Premasagar was the fourth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak. He was an Indian churchman and Old Testament scholar. He also became Moderator of the Church of South India.-Early years:...
, he wrote an essay which appears in the book "The Church on the move
Honours
The Throne of Grace Theological Seminary and Ministries Inc.Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
(International), Hyderabad conferred the degree of D.Min. on the Bishop. The degrees issued by this unaccredited seminary are only nominal.