Rev. Dr. S.D. Deva Jothi Kumar is a dedicated leader and committed advocate for gender and sexuality concerns within the Christian community. He currently serves as the Program Executive of the National Ecumenical Forum for Gender and Sexual Diversity, an influential initiative of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), which plays a pivotal role in guiding its 36 member churches in addressing contemporary issues related to human sexuality and gender diversity.
Dr. Kumar holds a doctorate in the History of Christianity from UGC and has made significant contributions to theological scholarship, authoring numerous articles on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and Christianity, as well as exploring the church’s evolving understanding of these critical issues. His scholarship extends beyond academia, highlighted by his presentation at the 2024 Church History Association of India regional conference in Chennai, where he examined the role of South Indian churches in the Minority Movement and societal transformation, with a special focus on gender and sexuality.
In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Kumar has been deeply involved in global ecumenical efforts. He represented the Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network (EDAN), a movement of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and made notable contributions to a workshop on human sexuality at the WCC Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022. His expertise is highly sought after both nationally and internationally, serving as a special tutor on gender and sexuality diversity for churches and theological institutions in India and abroad.
With over two decades of experience as a faculty member at a theological college, Dr. Kumar is both an esteemed educator and an ordained minister. His deep passion for inclusivity, justice, and understanding continues to inspire the faith community as he tirelessly advocates for transformative dialogue on gender and sexuality, paving the way for greater acceptance and diversity within the churches.
