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The Nagaland Baptist Church Council is a Baptist Christian organization based in Nagaland, India. It is affiliated with the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India and the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (Baptist World Alliance). The headquarters is located in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland.

History

Worship service at Kohima Ao Baptist Church in Kohima, affiliated to the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, 2019.

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has its origins in an American mission of the American Baptist Mission (American Baptist Churches USA) in 1839.[1]

In the late 19th century, various Baptist congregations in the Naga Hills were organised into associations on tribe and linguistic lines.[2] A broader fellowship of the Baptist churches in the Naga Hills first took the forms of the Naga Hills Baptist Church Advisory Board in Kohima.[3] It was renamed as the Naga Hills Baptist Church Council in 1937.[4] In 1950, the council became a founding member of the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India.[5]

In 1953, it took the name of Nagaland Baptist Church Council.[6] In 2007, there were 1,347 churches and 454,349 members.[7]

In 1987, the Mission Conference who took place in the Pfütsero Town Baptist Church approved a global apostolate of 10,000 new missionaries.[8]

Resolutions

The Third Convention of the NBCC was held at Wokha from 31 January to 2 February 1964. An important resolution passed welcomed the 'proposed Peace Talk between the Government of India and Mr. Phizo.'[9] Another resolution at the convention stated:[10]

a series of talks on the great danger posed by Communism and its atheistic elements both to the body and soul of man, be conducted in every village under the auspices of the local Church, and that all the Field Supervisors be requested to provide the Churches in their respective areas with necessary literature on the subject.

Statistics

According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 1,661 churches and 648,096 members. [11]

Communicant members including children and non-baptized family members are not included in the statistics.

Associations

Sl. No. Association Churches Baptized Members Ordained Ministers
1. Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) 164 1,21,005 256
2. Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) 109 40,669 54
3. Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) 102 51,503 57
4. Chang Baptist Lashong Thangyen (CBLT) 60 33,945 21
5. Council of Rengma Baptist Churches (CRBC) 42 14,696 25
6. Kuki Baptist Association Nagaland (KBAN) 16 4,800 7
7. Konyak Baptist Bumeinok Bangjüm (KBBB) 120 91,718 34
8. Khiamniungan Baptist Churches Association (KBCA) 50 23,765 10
9. Lotha Baptist Ekhümkho Sanrhyutsü (LBES) 131 68,943 87
10. Liangmei Baptist Association (LBA) 21 6,196 3
11. Nagaland Police Baptist Churches Association (NPBCA) 30 13,920 10
12. Phom Baptist Churches Association (PBCA) 53 29,464 20
13. Pochury Baptist Church Council (PBCC) 30 7,069 11
14. Sümi Aphuyemi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (SABAK) 28 10,027 18
15. Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (SBAK Nito Mount) 147 32,000 40
16. United Sangtam Baptist Lithroti Ashimükhong (USBLA) 78 35,000 12
17. Western Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) 170 41,225 62
18. Yimkhiung Baptist Borü Amükhungto (YBBA) 82 28,225 19
19. Zeme Baptist Association (ZBA) 13 1,548 1
20. Zeme Baptist Church Council (ZBCC) 67 20,507 12
21. Sümi Baptist Akukuhou Küqhakulu ( SBAK Aizuto)
Total 1,513 676,225 759

Associate Members

Sl. No. Associate Member Churches Baptized Members Ordained Ministers
1. Association Gorkha Baptist Churches Nagaland (AGBCN) 43 5,500 6
2. Nagamese Baptist Churches Association (NBCA) 91 5,500 5
3. City Church, Kohima 1 217 2
4. Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF), Delhi 1 1
Total 136 11, 217 14

Schools

It has 2 affiliated theological institutes, the Oriental Theological Seminary in Bade (Chümoukedima district) founded in 1991 and the Trinity Theological College, Dimapur. [12]

See also

References

  1. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 558
  2. ^ Thomas, John. Evangelising the Nation: Religion and the formation of Naga political identity. New Delhi: Routledge. p. 131. ISBN 9781138639928.
  3. ^ Telegraph india, Church platinum jubilee begins, telegraphindia.com, India, 19 April 2012
  4. ^ Telegraph india, Church platinum jubilee begins, telegraphindia.com, India, 19 April 2012
  5. ^ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 816
  6. ^ NBCC, History Of NBCC, nbcc-nagaland.org, India, retrieved 26 November 2018
  7. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 299
  8. ^ "Theological-college libraries in North-East India. an overview. Baptist Theological College (BTC" (PDF). p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ^ Thomas, John. Evangelising the nation: religion and the formation of Naga political identity (South Asia ed.). New Delhi: Routledge. p. 142. ISBN 9781138639928.
  10. ^ Thomas, John. Evangelising the nation: religion and the formation of Naga political identity (South Asia ed.). New Delhi: Routledge. p. 149. ISBN 9781138639928.
  11. ^ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  12. ^ NBCC, History, nbcc-nagaland.org, India, retrieved May 5, 2023

External links