Professor of Comparative Religion John B. Carman has been named acting dean of the Divinity School.

Carman will replace Acting Dean George W. MacRae, who died suddenly last week after suffering a heart attack.

President Derek C. Bok appointed Carman, a prominent Hindu scholar, to serve as temporary head of the school pending the completion of a five-month search for a permanent dean. The post was vacated last April, when then-Dean George Rupp accepted the presidency of Rice University in Houston.

Bok said yesterday he could not predict when a new dean would be named, indicating he had not yet selected a first choice candidate.

Planning to avoid any major new initiatives during his tenure, Carman, 55, said he will implement the educational and financial policies that Rupp outlined before his departure.

"I hope to continue the momentum from Rupp's leadership. He had started a new master's program, and the number of degree candidates has increased 50 percent. It's good for the spirit of students and faculty here," Carman said.

Currently working on a broad study comparing Hindu and Christian conceptions of God, Carman said he will continue academic work in addition to his administrative duties.

Carman received his A.B. from Haverford College and his Ph.D. in religion from Yale.