Anilkumar John Servand

Anilkumar John Servand, MCI (born 1 July 1955) is an Indian bishop from Methodist Church in India (MCI) overseeing Mumbai and North India Regional Conferences of MCI. Since 2019, he also holds the position of Master^[1] of India's first^[2] modern university, Serampore College (University) located in Serampore, West Bengal.

Bishop Dr. Anilkumar John Servand, MCI Master, Serampore College (University)
Born	(1955-07-01) July 1, 1955 (age 70) Mysore State, India
Nationality	India
Education	B.Sc., M.Sc. (Karnatak), B.Ed., B.D. (Serampore), M.Th., Ph.D. (Fuller),
Alma mater	Karnatak University, Dharwad (Karnataka), Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena (United States)
Occupation	Priest
Years active	1985-Present
Known for	Ecclesiastical administration
Religion	Christianity
Church	Methodist Church in India Trust Association
Ordained	1986
Writings	Servand, A.J. (1994). A study of Karma in Hindu and Indian Christian thought (Ph.D. thesis). Fuller. OCLC 31978015. Retrieved 12 October 2024. Servand, A.J. (1991). The classical Hindu view of Christian conversion (Th.M. thesis). Fuller. OCLC 24560046. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
Congregations served	Vasad and Baroda (Gujarat)
Offices held	Principal, Methodist Bible Seminary, Vasad (Gujarat), Director, Methodist Technical Institute, Baroda (Gujarat),
Title	Bishop Doctor

Early life and education

Anilkumar John Servand was born in Mysore State,^[3] India, on 1 July 1955.^[4] He studied in Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka, majoring in Sciences in 1979.^[1] He began his career as Sales Engineer^[1] in Sarabhai family-related Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Limited, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Servand resigned his job in Eighties and took to priesthood, joining a Seminary affiliated to Serampore College (University), where he graduated in 1985.^[1] In ensuing convocation of 1986, he was awarded a B.D. during Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC by then Master, A. D. Khan, ICS.^[5]

A multi-disciplinary academic, he studied Sciences, Education and Theology. In the 1990s, he went overseas to Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, United States, where he majored^[6] in Intercultural theology, earning a masters^[7] and a doctorate.^[8]

Career

Following Servand's ordination in MCI in late 1980s, he began his ministry, teaching^[1] theology at Methodist Bible Seminary, Vasad, Gujarat. He was elected as bishop in Mumbai and North India Regional Conferences of MCI. He was also director^[1] of Methodist Technical Institute, Baroda, also in Gujarat.

As bishop, Servand also serves as chairperson^[9] of,

• Warne Baby Fold, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh,
• Community Outreach Programme,^[10] Mumbai, Maharashtra,
• Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling, West Bengal,
• Hutchings School,^[11] Talegaon, Maharashtra

He is also Chief Acharya,^[12] Sattal Christian Ashram, Sattal, Uttarakhand. On 1 June 2019,^[13] he succeeded John Sadananda, CSI as Master of Serampore College (University), Serampore, West Bengal.

Honorary titles
Preceded by John Sadananda 2010–2019	Master Serampore College (University), Serampore (West Bengal) 1 June 2019-Present	Succeeded by Incumbent