Jabalpur, July 21, 2020: The Church of North India (CNI) on July 21 took disciplinary action against its bishop Chotanagpur diocese.
The action after Bishop Basil B Baskey of Chotanagpur decided to withdraw from the CNI and make the diocese autonomous.
The Protestant diocese of Chotanagpur covers the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.
CNI moderator Bishop PC Singh of Jabalpur said the Church’s executive council met in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and sent Bishop Baskey on leave.
“Disciplinary action has been taken against CNI Diocese Chotanagpur (Jharkhand) for taking a decision to secede the Chotanagpur diocese from CNI and declare it an autonomous one. The CNI received a letter from Bishop Baskey on July 17 stating Chotanagpur diocese was withdrawing from CNII and becoming autonomous,” Bishop Singh informed.
“The letter further said all believers, movable and immovable properties vested in Chotanagpur Diocesan Trust Association and Chotanagpur Education Society also ceased to be part of the CNI,” Bishop Singh explained.
“This is an act of serious indiscipline and defiance on part of Bishop Baskey and office bearers of Chotanagpur diocese. There is provision in the CNI constitution that no diocese has the right to secede from Church of North India,” he said.
The meeting held in Jabalpur on July 21 decided to send Bishop Baskey on leave immediately, and it was decided to dissolve the executive committee of Diocese of Chotanagpur, he said.
“Reverend Joljas Kujur is appointed the moderator’s commissary for Chotanagpur diocese and an adhoc executive committee has been set up to look after its affairs,” Bishop Singh added..
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/1138254-church-of-north-india-acts-against-chotanagpur-diocese-bishop