DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 15 (MExN): Altogether, twenty three leading Reverends and Pastors belonging to the Naga community have come out expressing concern over the recent order to excommunicate Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak by the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) over the former’s ‘confession’, which was widely published in the local media here. The TNL in its order had stated that Shishak’s ‘confessional statement’ had been found ‘injurious’ to the Tangkhul community.
In a signed statement under the heading “A Theology of Communal Freedom”, the 23 signatories began by quoting Romans 3: 23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”.
Significantly, the signatories urged and pleaded to all Naga communities “to make a corporate confession from within each community”. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him (Jesus). Confessing their sins…” the statement quoted Mark 1: 5 (NIV).
The statement pointed out that in “our context, albeit, polemical to some, the prophetic voice of Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak is a message from God to the Nagas in general” and that Naga people must confess and ask for God’s forgiveness “for our personal and corporate sins of omission and commission”. “Only the action of God can heal Nagas at the root of the self-centeredness that prevents us from going out of ourselves”, it stated.
The statement further added that “faced with this human fallen-ness, the called out man and woman has a duty to engage in positive denunciation of ones wrongs and failures”. “Such denunciation must be objective, courageous, and biblical. Rather than condemning, it seeks to save the community”, the statement maintained.
Pointing out that as a “concerned group of God’s servants, we love the Naga people and pray for our destiny towards a rightful place”, the 23 signatories nevertheless stated that “we truly weep at our present broken relationship with God and each other”.
The 23 signatories to the statement are Rev. Dr. V. K. Nuh, Rev. Khrotso Mero, Rev. L. Bizo, Rev. L Suohie Mhasi, Rev. Dr. P. Dozo, Rev. N. Shaipa, Rev. L. Kari Longchar, Rev. (Ms) Noksangla, Rev. N. Tzudir, Rev. R. P. Murry, Rev. M. Sakhrie, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Rev. Dr. Z. Keyho, Rev. and Mrs. R. Terhuja, Rev. Dr. (Ms) A. Kapfo, Rev. Phughoto Aye, Pastor Ongmang Chang, Rev. Y. Chingang, Rev. Hotoku P. Zhimomi, Rev. K. Lorin, Rev. Lima Sangtam.
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