Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) and Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA), have through separate statements, expressed total support and solidarity with an earlier statement of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council(NBCC) in declining offer from the BJP for cleanliness drive to be undertaken in the church compound.
NJCF in a statement, by vice-president Rev Dr N Paphino stressed that it was imperative to uphold the sanctity of the places of worship and ensure that they remained free from political and partisan agendas.
On behalf of NJCF, Dr.Paphino urged every church in Nagaland to remain vigilant and support the stance articulated by the NBCC.
He maintained that churches serve as symbols of peace, unity, and spirituality and emphasised that it was crucial to preserve their sacredness and remain on neutral ground.
Paphino stressed that churches function autonomously, serving their members without the need for political influence. He emphasized that the primary purpose of a church is spiritual and moral guidance, opposing any external political interference.
In order to uphold the sanctity of religious freedom and autonomy, he urged for the independence of churches from political agendas. Paphino urged all denominations to adhere to the NBCC’s directive regarding the BJP’s proposed cleanliness drive on May 11. He cautioned against allowing political parties, including the BJP, access to church premises for cleaning.
PBCA backs NBCC:
Meanwhile N TialembaPhom, the executive secretary of PBCA, emphasized the divine nature of the Christian church as outlined in the Bible, with Christ serving as its head. He argued that such a divine institution couldn’t be intertwined with earthly political activities. Phom contested the BJP’s offer for a cleanliness drive within church compounds on May 11, deeming it alien to the church community, asserting that church premises typically maintained higher cleanliness standards than other locations.
He warned against setting a precedent of allowing political parties into church spaces, fearing potential future intrusions. Instead, Phom suggested alternative locations for the BJP’s cleaning efforts, such as train stations, bus stops, and highways.
He urged the state BJP leadership to refrain from pursuing politically-motivated agendas, emphasizing the need for dialogue with the central government on issues of religious persecution faced by Christians in India.
Phom implored churches to reject any political party’s offer to clean their premises, denouncing such actions as unethical religious practices. His statement underscored the importance of maintaining the sanctity and independence of religious institutions from political influences.