No Bible camp this Diwali: Why small churches in Maharashtra are holding back

Vesak Bible School (VBS) is traditionally a period of enjoyment and education, involving music, games, projects, and Bible stories for young attendees. This occasion commonly occurs during summer or the Diwali holiday. In 2023, however, a select number of Protestant churches in Maharashtra are exercising caution regarding VBS. Some churches have decided to cancel the event, while others are limiting participation to Christian children to avoid potential issues or accusations of conversion.

Disruptions during prayer meetings in rented spaces, schools, and homes in the Mumbai region have led to this cautious approach. Nine criminal complaints have been filed in connection with five such incidents between April and July, with seven of these cases involving accusations of conversion against organizers and worshippers. Maharashtra's anti-conversion law, which requires anyone involved in a conversion to prove it was voluntary, became effective on August 28.

The diocese of Marathwada, led by Bishop Prakash D Patole, suggested that Protestant churches in Maharashtra should postpone VBS this year. This recommendation primarily targets smaller churches that use rented venues, as these locations are seen as being more susceptible to allegations of covert conversion meetings.

Church leaders from various regions, such as Mumbai and Nagpur, have shared their experiences with The Sunday Express. In the Mumbai region, some pastors have chosen to cancel VBS entirely, while others are proceeding but restricting participation to Christian children. They have implemented measures such as banners, registration, and fees to demonstrate that no child was coerced into attending.

The caution follows the disruption of Sunday prayer meetings by individuals identifying as Bajrang Dal or VHP workers, resulting in nine FIRs between April and July.

Some churches have opted to cancel VBS altogether, such as Masih Ekta Foundation in Vasai-Virar, which has experienced four FIRs this year. Pastor Ravi Gupta of this church decided not to hold VBS due to concerns about potential disruptions and the risk of holding the event in a rented space. Similarly, Mira-Bhayandar has decided to skip its summer VBS for the first time.

Pastor Ashish Rao, president of the Maharashtra Christian Forum, noted that around 90% of pastors in the area operate from rented premises, and they are now discussing whether to resume VBS and Sunday prayers following a recent incident.

On the other hand, churches with their own property, such as St Mary's Church in Pune and St Thomas Cathedral in Mumbai, are proceeding with VBS. These churches have implemented additional safety measures, such as banners specifying that the program is only for Christian children and installing CCTV cameras. Some churches are even charging a nominal registration fee to maintain a record of attendees and ensure that they are Christian children.