John Sadananda

Bishop Emeritus John S. Sadananda (born September 24, 1949) is the present Master of the Senate of Serampore College (University), the nation's first ^[4] University {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}^[5]) with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

Sadananda was appointed as the Master of the University in 2010.^[6] As an academic, Sadananda had been a Senator of the University from 1993 onwards since the time he was appointed as Principal of the Karnataka Theological College which has been an affiliated institution of the University. From 2006 to 2011, Sadananda had been President of the University.

In ecclesiastical matters, Sadananda was the fifth Bishop - in - Karnataka Southern Diocese of the Church of South India occupying the Cathedra placed in CSI-Shanthi Cathedral, Mangalore from 2009^[2] to 2013.^[7]

Studies

Sadananda had his ministerial formation as a candidate of the Basel Evangelical Mission at the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore, affiliated to the nation's first^[8] University in 1965, the very year of the formation of the institution under the Principalship of Robert Scheuermeier taking a Licentiate in Theology in 1968 awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University) led by its Registrar, Chetti Devasahayam. After a one-year ministerial period, he was ordained^[9] as a Deacon in 1969 by which time the Basel Evangelical Mission unionized itself into the Church of South India^[3] as a result of which Sadananda became a Deacon of the Church of South India under which he continues his ministry in the Diocese.^[1]

The autonomous college in Bengaluru where Sadananda pursued graduate studies. {Picture credit: Colette Cook}

In order to upgrade his academics, Sadananda joined the United Theological College, Bangalore in 1970 where he studied up to 1974 taking a Bachelor of Divinity under the Principalship of Joshua Russell Chandran.^[10] During his four-year period at the Seminary in Bangalore, although a graduate student, Sadananda evinced keen interest in the Sacred Scriptures and the ancient Biblical languages which caught the attention of the Old Testament Scholar, E. C. John as well as the postgraduate students specialising in Old Testament, A. P. Chacko, Basil Rebera, G. Babu Rao, N. K. Achumi, S. J. Theodore, and Timotheas Hembrom. As part of the University requirements, Sadananda wrote his graduate thesis drawing parallels between the Book of Proverbs and the proverbial collections in Kannada which the Old Testament Teacher G. Babu Rao highlighted in one of his works.^[11] The University later awarded a degree led by its Registrar, C. Devasahayam.

Sadananda also pursued a postgraduate degree from the University of Mysore taking a Master of Arts in Kannada.^[1] In 1978, Sadananda proceeded to Germany to pursue research studies at the University of Goettingen where he studied under Professor Hans-Joachim Kraus taking a Doctor of Theology degree in 1983^[1] entitling his dissertation as Revelation in the Psalms.^[12]

Ecclesiastical career

Pastoral ministry

From 1968 to 1970, Sadananda pastored parishes of the erstwhile Basel Evangelical Mission which already joined the newly trifurcated Diocese of Mysore.^[3] Due to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, Sadananda was allotted the Karnataka Southern Diocese led by its Bishop S. R. Furtado. Again from 1974 to 1978, he pastored CSI-St. Paul’s Church, Mangalore.^[1]

Teaching ministry

Ever since Sadananda's graduate studies at the Protestant Regional Seminary in Bangalore, he began teaching at the Protestant Seminary in Mangalore led by Principal C. D. Jathanna. From 1974 through 1992, Sadananda was a Teacher at the Seminary until his elevation as Principal in 1992.^[1] From 1992 through 2009, Sadananda led the Protestant Seminary in a responsible manner and represented it at the Senate of Serampore College (University) as an ex officio member.

Bishopric

In 2009, the Church of South India Synod declared Sadananda as the fifth Bishop-elect leading to Sadananda's consecration at the CSI-Shanthi Cathedral on August 28, 2009^[2] in Mangalore by the Principal Consecrator, J. W. Gladstone, Moderator and Christopher Asir, Deputy Moderator of the Church of South India Synod in the presence of other clergy. After a 5-year bishopric, Sadananda vacated the Cathedra on attaining superannuation resulting in sede vacante which was filled with the consecration of Mohan Manoraj.

Honorary commitments

Senate

Since 1993, Sadananda has been an Senator of the Senate of Serampore College (University) right until 2010, a record 18-year period during which he was involved in academic commitments within the University. He held many responsibilities at the University, especially during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan which later continued with successive Registrars who were at the helm,

• 1993-2010, Senator, Senate of Serampore College (University),^[1]
• 1994-2005, Secretary, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College,^[1]
• 2005-2010, President, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College,^[1]
• 2005-2010, President, Senate of Serampore College (University),^[1]

Other institutions

Sadananda also served in other ecclesiastical institutions,

• Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore, as Chairperson from 2005 through 2009,
• Inter-Church Service Agency, Chennai, as Chairperson,

Writings

• 1983, Revelation in the Psalms,^[12]
• 1989, Theology by the People - An Old Testament Perspective,^[13]

Honours

In 2015, the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College published a fetschrift in honour of Sadananda edited by Wati Longchar and P. Mohan Larbeer^[1] with essays written by friends and colleagues of Sadananda.

References