The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has declined the offer from the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to clean the church compound on May 11. The NBCC was responding to a directive issued by the BJP Nagaland through its president Benjamin Yepthomi and general secretary Sunep C Jamir directing the district presidents to take up cleanliness drive at Church compounds in all the 60 area constituencies to mark the death anniversary of Syama Prasad Mukherjee which is on June 23.
"While we appreciate the BJP's care for the church, we feel obligated to politely decline the kind gesture offered to clean the church compound on May 11, 2024. Civic duty is something we all need to instill in ourselves, and such services should always be welcomed. So, while we decline your good service to the church, we may as well direct your good office to pursue another avenue of service," the NBCC president Rev Dr Mar Pongener and general secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho responded in a press statement on Tuesday.
Citing its reasons, the NBCC said the country has faced unprecedented persecution during the BJP rule- with religious and social minorities facing difficult times and Christian worship and pastors and priests beaten, tortured and imprisoned giving a sense of insecurity in the country.
"Even our Christian symbols were the target not to speak of the demolition of our sacred worship places. Our gatherings are closely watched and monitored leaving religious institutions in the country extremely vulnerable. While these things are happening right under the nose of the authority, it would do more harm to a political party whose agenda is to suppress the minority religious and social groups in the country," it stated.
Stating that the church has written much on this subject; the NBCC, therefore, reminded political parties, specifically the BJP in Nagaland, to exercise caution when issuing directions. "Knowing what to say and do, as well as what is acceptable, can help to close the gap that has been growing in our state. Stay as a political party, and leave the church to run whatever they see fit within their compounds," it advised.
Instead, the NBCC suggested that the BJP leadership mobilize party members to travel to locations to safeguard persecuted churches in the mainland. "This act will undoubtedly give reassurance to people whose churches and institutions are constantly targeted. Their presence will undoubtedly convey the message that we are here to protect and encourage one another," it stated.
While appreciating the offer from the BJP, the NBCC said "this is not a political statement but the church is just drawing the line of separation."
It also reminded that the church has its own environment Sunday and also a day set aside for plantation, while adding, "Our youth department across the state is working on this and we will adhere to it when the day comes."
The NBCC also sought to highlight that the church is not accustomed to observing death anniversary except the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The rationale behind this is because to do so would be to subscribe to the teaching and ideology of the person. So, a political party cannot impose this to its citizens in a Christian majority society. It would do much good to the community if political parties do not dictate the residents what to observe or when to do things. Political party agenda does not include these issues. Knowing the difference is wisdom."
While declining the offer, the NBCC has advised all churches to be vigilant when a political party becomes religious in nature- because the "authority on which power is generated between the church and the state are different."
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