[ACNS, by Daryl Booth] The Bishop of South Kerala, A Dharmaraj Rasalam, has been elected as the new Moderator and Primate of the Church of South India. Bishop Rasalam succeeds Thomas Oommen, the Bishop of Madhya Kerala, who has served as Primate since 2017.

The election of the new Moderator took place on Saturday (11 January) at the CSI General Synod. Under its constitution, Moderators are elected for a period of three years.

Born in Kalluvettankuzhy, Kerala, in May 1956, Bishop Rasalam was consecrated as the sixth Bishop of South Kerala in 2011, succeeding Bishop J W Gladstone.

He graduated from the University of Kerala, before further study at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur and the United Theological College in Bangalore. He was ordained in May 1987 and has served in various boards and committees of the South Kerala Diocese including its youth and education boards, the Medical College Governing Board and Pastoral Board.

The Church of South India is a united Church. In addition to being a full member of the Anglican Communion, it is also a member of other global Christian communions, including the World Methodist Council and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.