Fresh discord among Lotha Baptist churches over controversial resolution

WOKHA — A fresh controversy has surfaced within the Lotha Baptist Church community following the adoption of a resolution at the Lotha Baptist Ekhumko Pastorden Sanrhyu (LBEPS) conference held at Changsu Old Baptist Church.

The resolution, reportedly passed by a breakaway group, has drawn widespread concern and condemnation. Rev. Nyanchumo Lotha, Executive Secretary of the Lotha Baptist Church Association (LBCA), claimed during a press conference at Vankhosung on Tuesday that the resolution was made unilaterally by the group without the knowledge or approval of the LBCA headquarters.

Rev. Nyanchumo asserted that he represents the majority within the LBCA, with the support of 106 out of 147 Lotha Baptist churches. Both the LBCA and the breakaway group held their respective annual Pastors’ Fellowship Conferences on October 25 and 26 at separate venues in Wokha district.

According to him, the disputed resolution was passed during the breakaway group’s event.

Also read: Wokha DC imposes restrictions near Lotha Baptist Churches Association compound amid ongoing tensions

In his statement, Rev. Nyanchumo clarified that the LBEPS is merely a fellowship body and does not possess the authority to form committees or pass resolutions without the consent of the LBCA headquarters at Vankhosung.

The resolution in question allegedly prohibits Lotha Baptist women from marrying Roman Catholic men and warns of excommunication for those who defy it. The move has been criticised for being discriminatory and divisive.

Condemning the resolution as “unauthorised and damaging,” Rev. Nyanchumo said such actions particularly harm marginalised sections within the community. He reiterated that the LBCA had not issued any such directive and described the statement as the work of the “so-called Lotha Pastors’ Conference” of the unrecognised group.

Meanwhile, the official LBCA Pastors’ Conference, initially scheduled to be held at Old Ralan Baptist Church, was shifted to Totsü Baptist Church following disruptions caused by the breakaway faction. Despite the challenges, the conference was successfully conducted on the scheduled dates, October 25 and 26.