Church must be House of God, not Institution: Sunil Caleb

Institutionalism has become the bane of Church in India, says the principal of a leading theological seminary.

Speaking at a consultation on Missiological Vision for Pluralistic South Asia, Rev. Dr. Sunil Caleb, principal of the Bishops College, Kolkatta, stressed the need for Church to retrospect and avoid taking the form of an Institution.

"Church is called to be a Movement for the furtherance of the rule and reign of God and should not take the form of an Institution. That is where I believe that the budding churches in Nepal and Bhutan have an advantage," said Caleb.

As a suggestion, he asks Church to be identified with the 'House of God'. "It is clearly wrong to identify the church with a building. To call the church a 'Home' in a broad sense is something very helpful."

He explains: "Home is where people are welcomed and there is hospitality. It is where there is acceptance in spite of diversity. It is a place where a child is given the space to become the person that God has wanted him/her to become. Thus the House or the Home is a good metaphor for the Church and gives us good scope to explore what we believe is really the function and role of the Church in South Asia today."

Rev. Caleb believes churches in Nepal and Bhutan have an advantage and in this regard can be a trendsetter. He says they must "avoid making church become an institution, where there are many buildings and much property to be maintained and where there are positions of great power and influence to be fought for."

"Nowadays, we are seeing the growth of 'House Churches'. We from the historic churches/mainline churches need to examine what we learn from this movement," he urged.

He further criticized the understanding of Mission within pluralistic South Asia. "When we speak of Mission in South Asia we immediately think of budgets and foreign funds." Mission, he says, can be "effectively carried out by using our Voice and by being Present in a situation."

"By speaking out for what is Just and loving we can be effective witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ" and "as Christians we need to focus on what is liberative in other faith traditions and appreciate it, rather than focusing on their weaknesses."