Sai Krishna (Joshua) Gomatam was born and raised in a Hindu family. After experiencing an existential crisis at the age of sixteen—which was initiated by a quote on human need by the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal—he was attracted to Christianity.
Since then, he has been an ardent witness to the Christian faith, eventually pursuing theological education at Denver Seminary. He also worked as an Associate Pastor and lecturer at Hyderabad Institute of Theology and Apologetics. He is involved in training pastors and church leaders in India through the Right Theology Forum and has served widely among the Indian diaspora community in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Africa.
Sai Krishna holds a BS in Computer Science and a Master of Computer Applications degree from India, along with an MDiv in Biblical Studies from Denver Seminary, Colorado. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Old Testament, with an emphasis on Ancient Near Eastern languages and archaeology. He is focusing his research on ethics related to gender/sexuality and marriage as portrayed in the book of Numbers and is interested in bringing this comparative study into dialogue with 21st century conceptions of gender/sexuality and marriage.
He is married to Mruduveni, who tutors Science at Adlai Stevenson High School, Illinois. They are blessed with two daughters, Shiloah and Zoe. Sai Krishna loves sports. His favorite sports to watch and play are cricket and tennis.
Get to know Sai Krishna (Joshua) Gomatam, the 2023–2024 Robert D. Orr Fellow
I am pursuing a PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Archaeology. I am interested in the ethical foundations of the Mosaic Law in comparison with the ethics of Israel’s Ancient Near Eastern neighbors. I believe the evangelical church in India, with its narrow focus on winning souls, can bring balance to its discipling mission by embracing the Spirit-empowered and gospel-shaped ethical mandate. I believe and hope my research in the Old Testament and the Ancient Near East will contribute to the mission of both the Indian and the global church.
I (along with a team of theologians and professionals) desire to build an institution in India that engages in biblical and cultural exegesis, along with equipping pastors and leaders for effective witness of the church and the betterment of society.
CBHD’s focus on the ethical issues related to human life and dignity drew me to seek an association with the Center. When I learned about the Orr fellowship through my friends, Anna Vollema and Sagar Mekwan, I was convinced that the Orr fellowship would provide an opportunity to learn from and interact with leading (bio)ethicists, medical practitioners, and theologians.
I began working with the Center about a month ago. The recent annual bioethics conference made me aware of the contemporary issues in the field and I was privileged to hear from the committed Christian men and women who spoke on the Christian stake in those issues. The video collage from past conferences helped me appreciate the dedicated focus of the Center and its effective work in raising awareness of the key issues. Further, I witnessed a rich history of seeking solutions, this work forming the foundation necessary for effective policy formation. I was moved and humbled to learn about the life and work of Dr. Robert D. Orr. As an aspiring Old Testament theologian and ethicist, I can contribute by bringing a biblical perspective into discussions on these bioethical issues. Bioethical discussions are almost non-existent in the Indian subcontinent. I hope to contribute by bolstering awareness of those who have already begun to think through these things within the Indian context.