With dangerous religious nationalism in the news in North America and Europe, a U.S. church is calling out that same problem in India.
The General Synod of the United Church of Christ on July 14 condemned “all violence against and violations of the rights of religious minorities in India.” It called on the U.S. government to name India a “country of particular concern” for “egregious violations of religious freedom.” And it urged church members to ask Congress to take action.
Meeting in Kansas City, Synod delegates passed the resolution 663-0, with one abstention. The National Council of Churches and the United Methodist Church issued similar statements in 2024.
The UCC Synod was clear about what it saw as the current source of much violence.
“Since 2014, the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has led to intensified attacks on Muslims, Christians, and indigenous groups,” it said. “These actions have been driven by the Hindutva ideology and government-backed anti-conversion laws. Inflammatory hate speech by political leaders have also played a role in fueling a surge in violence and discrimination.”
The resolution came to the Synod from the UCC’s New York Conference. It was motivated by church members’ connections to India. The Conference is also a member of the New York State Council of Churches, which has been active in fighting religious nationalism.
Two New York pastors originally from the Church of South India spoke on the Synod floor.
“I come from lower caste, referred to as Dalit, or untouchables, in India,” said the Rev. Christopher Ponnuraj, pastor of West Center Congregational UCC in Bronxville. “Religious persecution is common in India. But the last 10 years it’s become more widespread and prevalent. Christians, evangelists, nuns – everybody’s persecuted.”
The Rev. Prabhu Sigamani, pastor of Bethany Congregational Church, East Rockaway, called on the UCC to speak out as an act of “prophetic imagination.” “As a person from a pariah community, I must shine light on this particular issue,” he said. He urged the Synod to pass the resolution “so our brothers and sisters who are in India can address their own issue by the support that we provide.”
The Rev. Judith Van Kennen, pastor of Emmanuel Congregational UCC, Massena, noted an unusual thing that happened when a committee of delegates studied the resolution on July 12 and 13. Comments from Indian partners, who were kept anonymous, were handed out to committee members and then collected afterwards to prevent distribution. The fact that “simply having it in writing could endanger our partners is an indication that minority religious groups are in fact at great risk in India by the majoritarian religious nationalists,” she said. “This is one of the most compelling reasons to support this resolution.”
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