Anilkumar John Servand

Anilkumar John Servand was born in Mysore State,^[3] India, on 1 July 1955.^[4] He studied in Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka, majoring in the 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 the 1980s and took to the 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 ciences, 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]

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.