Moa Jamir
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), on November 20, came out with a 10-point Commitment in the form of a resolution - ranging from political solution to the Church’s mission; from strengthening the family unit to being prophetic and gender equity - culminating the celebration of 150 years of Christianity in the State. Some of the commitments can be considered ‘bold’ and right steps, though they could have been bolder.
One such commitment was to regard people of both genders with equal dignity and provide ministerial opportunities without gender bias. This is pertinent because cutting across denominations, the Church– starting from ministerial service to other activities, is still a ‘Gentlemen’s Club,’ despite limited headway in recent years. A clear directive on undertaking such measures could have made it even more progressive. Perhaps, it is a work in progress, including ‘gender,’ which is still considered a binary system. The commitment to people with disabilities is also welcome.
Another commitment, among others, aspires to be ‘bold in calling out evils.’ A straight and decisive proclamation on corruption and electoral malpractices as well as measures to check these two vices, currently endemic in the Naga society, could have solidified the NBCC’s commitment.
The NBCC also expressed its commitment to the environment by ‘actively participating in the task of creation care, taking our duty and privilege as custodians of the earth seriously.’ Others included standing true to the apostolic faith, reinforcing the urgency of the Great Commission, strengthening the family unit and implementing intentional Children and Youth ministries.
Another important commitment was to work for greater unity and better understanding among various groups of people through cessation of selfish pursuits and conflicts that divide and damage the historical harmony of the Nagas as well as an affirmation to share oneness and resolve to ‘stand in the gap’ for collective search for a political solution that is non-violent, just, and honourable.
To this end, apart from the protracted Naga political issue, the Church should work towards finding a way to find an amicable solution to ‘contestation over legacy,’ which somehow put a spanner to the celebration of an otherwise momentous 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland. Hopefully, it would be resolved before the next jubilee.
The Council also stated its commitment to intensify the ministry of care, support, and respect by living up to the NBCC's motto: "Fellowship, Proclamation, and Service,” perhaps rediscovered and adopted urgently the Biblical sanction of “The Word, Fellowship and Service.”
To achieve this, it elaborated on recognising and addressing needs and sharing resources in any manner possible as well as taking a proactive role on issues of Christian social responsibility and being sensitive to the needs of people in all walks of life, and prophetic.
In doing so, the Church seem waking up to what influential Protestant Old Testament scholar and theologian Walter Brugermann called the ‘Royal Consciousness’ – denying the existence of suffering and living in enforced numbness about things occurring among us.”
This is a welcome step as most churches in Nagaland, of late, is presumed to be more interested in serving the institution rather than building values and grassroot engagement.
To take this forward, the Church has to forsake dogmatism and exclusivist tendency besieging most of its institution, which among others, has wiped out dynamism and is generating trust deficits. Besides spiritual teaching, the Church needs to start listening and accordingly respond to the needs of the community and match the same with its resources thereby building an innate relationship with the community. Such actions should be guided by Church’s social responsibility towords humanity, and not on one’s identity or faith.
On moral issues and other challenges, the Church should stick to providing a moral compass, rather than moral policing.
Accordingly, to be Prophetic, the Church needs to critically re-visit its engagement with contemporary real-world concerns.
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