Church must be free from pol influence: NBCC

‘Church deeply concerned with electioneering system. It has gone corrupt, seemingly affecting every system of our existence – Rev. Dr. Z. Keyho –
Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has asserted the Church, being a religious body, must not be influenced by the political agenda of any political party.
Speaking at the state level seminar on Clean Election at the NBCC Platinum Hall here today, NBCC general secretary Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho said that NBCC was neither against election nor politicians.
 He, however, said the “Church was deeply concerned with the electioneering system. It has gone corrupt in the state, seemingly affecting every system of our existence.”
Rev. Keyho said it was every individual’s responsibility to clean up the system, which has consumed the Nagas making them ineffective and become victim to the evil practices of election. “It has affected every system like a virus killing us softly,” NBCC general secretary said.
Stating that the clean election campaign was a good movement, Rev. Keyho proposed to initiate a disciplinary committee that would biblically, theologically and ethically empower the Church to execute action.
NBCC general secretary also proposed to write to the election authorities to judiciously work hard on cleansing the electoral roll in the Nagaland.
He also said that the Church must stand against any element that seeks to infringe on one’s faith with religious ideologies in the name of politics or political party.
The Church, he said would always be on guard and be vocal against such designs, saying this should not be construed as going against clean election campaign code of conduct.
In his keynote address, Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) executive secretary, Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, said clean election must not only confine to vote but must involve the Christian principles and ensure that people elect a real Christian leader. Rev. Atsongchanger said a true leader must ensure that Nagas were all protected from all threats and must be willing to go against corruption. He said it was time to shout and to dive deeper in the clean election campaign.
Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) executive director, Rev Atsi Dolie, who spoke on “Why the Church should be involved in clean election campaign”, said that clean election campaign includes the practices of NGOs, village councils, student unions, municipal councils/town committees and even the Naga national leaders.
Rev. Dolie said that casting vote should be free from external coercion or allurement as clean election campaign aimed at educating voters to abide by the code of conduct and guidelines of Election Commission.
He pointed out that taking away the rights of others by capturing booths or personating someone was sin and evidently, brings stark enmity among the Church members.
He said Naga society was filled with hatred, discrimination, corruption, injustice, tribalism, khel-ism, clan-ism, nepotism, escapism, and immorality thereby in the context of all these sufficient problems, the Church is expected to do what it can in cleaning up the recurring election mess and evils.
On the occasion, Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger also released the book on “A journey of Nagaland into the next Millinium” authored by Phuveyi Dozo. Leaders of various Churches, members from Oriental Theological Seminary and others attended the one day seminar.