Dr Rathnakara Sadananda has been elected as General Secretary at the 34thSynod of the Church of South India (CSI), currently being held in Vijayawada. The CSI has 4.5 million members in 22 dioceses in 4 South Indian states and Srilanka.

Dr Rathnakara Sadananda is Professor at the Karnataka Theological College, Director of the Karnataka Theological Research Institute and Treasurer of the Karnataka Christian Educational Society, Balmatta, Mangalore.

He is the first Kannadiga to be elected to this position. This is the first-ever representation of the Karnataka Southern Diocese in the apex body of the CSI.

Born and brought up in Mangalore, Dr. Rathnakara Sadananda whose mother tongue is Tulu, did his PhD in Germany, served as visiting professor and delivered lectures at universities in Europe, Canada and South Africa. His interest in language and culture has enabled his involvement in research and compilation of Kittels complete works and Moeglings Bibliotheca Carnatica. He organized a photo-exhibition of the period 1840-1947 on the themes Kannada Naadu, Nudi, Samskruthi.

Dr Rathnakara Sadananda has been a long-serving member of the Dialogue Commission between the Vatican and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Presently he is member of the Theological Commission of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. He is also member of the Board of Biblical Studies of Serampore College (University) and was earlier member and chairman of the Boards of Studies and Examiners in Foreign languages of Mangalore University.