By Lalmalsawm SungteBibles for the World president Pu Dr Rochunga Pudaite and his wife Pi Lalrimawi have jointly issued a call for the "re-unification" of the Hmar people under one church.
This is the third such attempt for re-unification among the Hmar churches in less than a decade. “The two earlier attempts had failed due to differences over how the properties of different churches should be settled,” sources said.
In their appeal published as a booklet, 'Hmar Kohran Inpumkhat Dinga Kona' (Call for unification of Hmar Churches) the US-based missionary couple said, "The Hmars have suffered much being divided... our social life had been the most affected... and to renew the kingdom of God and our tribe we need to remind ourselves the prayer of Christ: ‘So that they can be one again’…”.
Since the late 1950s, the Hmars have been divided strongly into denominational lines due to differences among their leaders. Many versions have come up as to why the Independent Church of India(considered the parent church of the Hmars) broke up. However, recent trends among the youth show that many are in favour of the Hmars being united under one church. As of now, the Independent Church of India and the Evangelical Free Church of India are the two churches having maximum members while there are others like the Evangelical Assembly Church, Assemblies of God, Presbytarian Church, Methodists, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Lutheran, Catholics and others with lesser members but not without strong feelings towards their respective denominations.
The 18-page booklet also traces (in Pu Rochunga’s own words) the events that led to the dismemberment of the Hmar church (Independent Church) and its effect on the Hmar community besides a response form for readers to send their opinions on whether they would like to see a united Hmar church again and how it should be achieved.
It is also learnt that the Hmar Students Association, General Headquarters has been entrusted with task of distributing the booklet to all Hmar inhabited areas, especially among the youth and to collect the response forms thereafter.
Pu Rochunga and his wife are expected to make a trip to India either in February or March 2009. "They will meet diverse sections of the Hmar leadership during their visit," sources close to the family said.
4 comments:
It would be interesting to know the outcome of this. Here's lies a very important question that can be asked not just to the Hmars but every indigenous tribals who have been converted to Christianity: Which is more important - culture or religion?
Hotupa, enge i ngaihdan ve?
I believe that a lot of people think dividing India into linguistic states was a grave mistake, which has aggravated the chauvanistic regionalism. Similarly,I just wonder if language based churches is the answer, most other churches are based on doctrines and dogmas. Therefore, I don't think all Hmars can come under one church, unless the very reason for their division was some petty differences.
"I just wonder if language based churches is the answer"
Nope language based church in cosmopolitan areas are a violation of Biblical understanding of what a true church is.
The basis for being a Christian is basically two-fold: believing that Jesus Christ, who is God, came in the flesh, died for our sin, and rose from the dead. The rest is basically preference. If preference enhances our worship and our relationship with God, and/or with each other, then I say, "viva la preference". If preference retards our relationships or divides us from each other or from showing love to those whom God loves, then it should be eliminated.
I am a christian who is also an African American. I was brought up Presbyterian, became a Christian in a pentecostal church, and belong to a non-denominational church. I feel I can worship in any church, because I am worshipping Jesus and not the church. The fact that denominationalism has become such an issue sounds like a distraction from the Great Commission, to go and reconcile the world to God through Jesus. How will they know what we have is real when we can't even be reconciled with one another? In the words of my pastor, "Would you rather be right or reconciled?" I hope the latter is your choice.
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