Against the backdrop of differences within the Baptist church in Wokha district, the Lotha Baptist Church Association (LBCA) organised a “peace rally” at Wokha town on Tuesday over the split within churches. Participants carried placards and banners highlighting the grievances and called for unity within the Lotha Baptist churches by coming together through peace without differences.
A short programme was held at Zero Point Vankhosung where LBCA executive secretary Rev Nyanchumo Lotha explained the aim of the rally, while LBCA president Rev Sankiluma Kikon delivered a short speech.
During the programme, a memorandum was read out by LBCA secretary Nongothung Kikon to the participants of the rally from 96 Lotha Baptist church units. The memorandum was later submitted to the Wokha deputy commissioner. The peace rally started from Zero Point Vankhosung and moved towards Wokha town police point, where a mass prayer for peace within the churches and Lotha community was held, which marked the conclusion of the rally.
Earlier, interacting with the media, the LBCA executive secretary said the peace rally was organised to express the hardship and miseries of the past two to three years. He felt that Lothas were being misled and stressed harmony within the community and Baptist churches. Sankiluma Kikon alleged that many groups, civil society organisations (CSOs) and leaders had tried to bring the Lotha Baptist churches as onebut, due to some factors and misguidance, he lamented that the churches failed to come together.
He clarified that LBCA ‘R’ stood for reforming the association and did not specify a new association. He claimed that it aimed to reform all 147 Lotha Baptist churches, including the neutral churches or the minority party.
He further claimed that 104 Lotha Baptist churches were with the “reformation” group, while the other LBCA groups consisting 24 churches and 19 neutral churches were in a minority. He anticipated that the minority groups would come to the mainstream, adding that though some were willing to come, they were being misled and misguided.
Speaking on the root cause of the LBCA imbroglio, association’s youth secretary Jenibemo Kithansaid three to four factors led to the chaos. These included Biblical and constitutional errors, infringement of the local church, and regulation and governance of LBCA, for which the association sought to bring reformation.
LBCA’s legal adviser advocate Orenvungo Humtsoe spoke about the association’s cases pending at the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench.