By – Addie Chiphang
Ukhrul, Sept 28:
A nation is a product of history. Human beings cannot ignore history; it guides and each of our acts becomes part of our own history. Human being must respect history and never distort it. A nation or a race or a Church is considered wise when she knows her history. But if anybody attempts to distort history he/she is considered as traitor; a liar. As a group of believers and members of Phungyo Baptist Church we want to keep her history clean and wants people of the world know the truth of her history. This is so because unfortunately in recent time attempt has been made to steal the truth of her history by claiming that there is another Phungyo Baptist Church that could be the Mother Church of Manipur.
We want to honestly declare that Christianity was introduced to the Tangkhul community by Rev. William Pettigrew who landed at Ukhrul/ Hunphun in January 1896 and given emphatic efforts to educate Tangkhuls and after five long years converted 12 Haos and baptized them at Ngayira on the 29th of September 1901. The following year, the first American Baptist Mission church was established and named it Phungyo Baptist Church (Phungyo- meaning Beautiful Hill). This is the first Church in Manipur. This history is clearly known by the people of Manipur and beyond. That truth is proved when the local church of many other tribes acknowledges her as their mother. It is the privilege of the Pastor of Phungyo Baptist Church who is always invited by all churches when they celebrate Jubilee. This is done because they know the history of Christianity of Manipur and the Mother Church of Manipur.
After surveying all writings and reports of William Pettigrew and other American missionaries who had been part of American mission works in Manipur we do not find any reference that William Pettigrew had ever established a Church at Thahao/Wino Bazar, Ukhrul which can also be the Mother Church of Manipur. Therefore, making the historical fact about the Mother Church of Manipur known to all, Rev. Losii Mao, The General Secretary of Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) made an indisputable clarification on the 4th of December 2023 stating that the Phungyo Baptist Church located at Tangrei and pastored by Rev. Zaklei Kaping is the Mother Church of Manipur. Recognizing the same historical fact, the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim, Office of the Central Administrative Officer – Wung Tangkhul Region (No. 27-160/2023/off-C/WTR, Oking the 5th of December 2023 gave directive statement that “as per the history of Manipur and Tangkhul Christian Church, Phungyo Baptist Church, Tangrei, Ukhrul is the first established Church. This Church was established by Rev. William Pettigrew in 1901 and thus the history has proven that Phungyo Baptist Church, Tangrei, Ukhrul is the Mother Church of Manipur. As such, what Phungyo Baptist Church (NTNBA), Thâhao/Wino, Ukhrul has scripted as Mother Church-Manipur on the memorial stone of what they called TNBG 125 Celebration is wrong, the statement says. The statement further claims that Nagas are people of God and warns that the history of Mother Church of the Tangkhul Baptist Church should not be questioned by anybody. The directive statement ends saying that the status of Mother Church of Manipur cannot be claimed by any local church or organization other than the Phungyo Baptist Church, Tangrei, Ukhrul.
Considering the fact, the building where they worship today used to be the Women Primary Health Centre of the Government of Manipur. Therefore, as far as the Baptist mission history in Manipur is concerned a church does not exist in that place. It is thus, a fact that, the Phungyo Baptist Church at Thahao/Wino Bazar is a fellowship of believers who broke away from the main Church in 2008 and claims the same name, same history and using the logo of the main Church; Phungyo Baptist Church, Ukhrul.
As per the Christian history of the world, there is no wrong in branching out a church from any big local church. There is also a clear history that sometimes for their own reason few members break away from their local church and establish another church. This is a historical truth and acceptable. But when they do that there are always norms to be followed. A Christian church has to be recognized and aided as per necessity by a mother church. And most importantly, the same name of her mother church should not be used and she cannot claim the same history; the same motto of her mother church is not necessary. Her own history should begin from the day of its establishment.
Therefore, we feel that Phungyo Baptist Church at Thahao/Wino Bazar which was established in 2008 has no direct historical connect with William Pettigrew; it has nothing to do with September 29 of 1901. We have no objection for them to continue to worship there but for the good of all they should claim new name and new history. They should start with new record because until today, whenever a member of that fellowship/church dies the family and the church would always come seeking to collect information about the date of birth and date of baptism from Phungyo Baptist Church record. This is a wrong practice. When a group of them leave the church they should request their mother church to provide all records and certificates. So that the mother church will have no extra responsibility for those members departed from here.
It is disheartening and scary to hear that Phungyo Baptist Church, Thahao/Wino, Ukhrul is endorsed as Mother Church of Manipur by Resolution of Tangkhul Naga Baptist Convention. We know what an organization can decide and execute but we also know that there are things which are not within their control. History cannot be made by Resolution; Mother Church of Manipur cannot be decided by votes or assembly resolution or action. It is only known through the history of Christianity in Manipur.
Thus, the purpose of issuing this clarification is to know the history and respect the history of Phungyo Baptist Church so as to avoid any misunderstanding in future.
