The news: According to a report from Pillar Catholic, the Archdiocese of Bombay has raised serious concerns that India's existing anti-conversion legislation could be applied broadly enough to target routine Christian ministry work — including evangelism, social service, and pastoral outreach. Church leaders in Mumbai are actively monitoring how these laws are being interpreted and enforced at the ground level.
Why it matters for church leaders: Whether you lead a Catholic parish, a Protestant congregation, or an independent ministry, this warning is relevant. Anti-conversion laws vary by state, but vague language in some statutes means that ordinary pastoral activities — counselling, prayer for healing, distributing literature — could potentially be mischaracterized as "inducement." Church leaders need to know their legal standing and document their ministry activities carefully.
The takeaway: Consult a Christian legal resource such as the Evangelical Fellowship of India's legal cell to understand how your state's anti-conversion law applies to your ministry's specific activities.
Source: Pillar Catholic
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