The former moderator of the Church of South India, Dr Peter Sugandhar, has died, the CSI has announced. Dr Sugandhar, the former Bishop of Medak, died at his retirement home in Hyderabad. He was 73. A keen ecumenist, he led the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Federation of Churches, which bought together bishops from the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and indigineous churches; and was part of the Mississauga Meeting of senior Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders in the year 2000.
He served as the Vice-President of the Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary of the Bible Society of India. He was also on the governing board of the United Theological College, Bangalore, and the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad. Bishop Sugandhar was the Deputy Moderator of the CSI for two terms, from 2000 to 2004; before serving as Moderator between 2004 and 2008.
“He was very well known as a people’s bishop, and his memory power to remember people and their names was highly appreciated,” the CSI said.
Bishop Sugandhar is survived by his wife, Mrs Nalini Sugandhar, three children and five grandchildren. One of his sone, Dr Vimal Sukumar, is currently the Treasurer of the Diocese of Medaka.
The current leadership of the CSI: Moderator Thomas K Oommen, Deputy Moderator Dr Vadapalli Prasada Rao, General Secretary Dr Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, and Honorary Treasurer, Advocate Robert Bruce, have expressed their “deep condolences” to Bishop Sugandhar’s family.
Bishop Peter Sugandhar died on Tuesday 5 December in West Marredpally, Secunderabad. Mourners were able to pay their respects at the diocesan office the following day, before a funeral mass that afternoon at the Church of St John the Baptist in Secunderabad ahead of his burial in St John’s cemetery in the Secunderabad Parade Ground.