Indian Churches Require Worshippers to Sign ‘Self-Declaration’ Forms Amid Rising Anti-Conversion Pressure

Churches across India’s western state of Maharashtra have begun implementing a defensive new protocol, asking congregants to sign “self-declaration” forms affirming that their attendance at religious services is entirely voluntary. The move comes as a response to the introduction of stringent new anti-conversion legislation, set to take effect on 28 August, which has heightened concerns regarding the safety of Christian prayer meetings.

A Legislative Challenge

The incoming law is designed to combat religious conversions allegedly involving fraud, coercion, inducement, or marriage. It imposes strict procedural hurdles, including a mandate for individuals intending to change their religion to notify a district magistrate at least two months in advance. Failure to adhere to these bureaucratic requirements can result in prison sentences of up to seven years.

In light of these developments, churches in Mumbai and its surrounding districts have started collecting forms that require worshippers to certify they are attending meetings under “no pressure, inducement, temptation, lure, or threat of any kind.” Each congregant must now submit a photograph along with a government-issued identity number to keep on file at church offices.

Pastor Sam Mathai of Vasai, in the Palghar district, described these measures as a necessary step for “self-safety,” intended to be produced before authorities should the need arise.

Rising Sectarian Tensions

The collection of these documents follows a period of escalating hostility toward the Christian minority, which comprises roughly 2.3 percent of the Indian population. In recent months, prayer gatherings in the Mumbai metropolitan region have been frequently interrupted by members of Hindu nationalist groups, such as the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). These organizations, which operate under the broader umbrella of the Sangh Parivar—the ideological parent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party—often claim their interventions are meant to stop “illegal” religious conversions.

These incidents have frequently devolved into violence. In April, a prayer meeting in Vasai East was stormed by a group of men, leading to a cascade of legal complaints. However, church leaders allege that authorities often fail to act against the aggressors.

“Right-wing groups enter churches without intimation and beat up people,” Pastor Mathai explained. “We don’t force anyone to come and pray. The Indian constitution allows everyone to pray of their own will.”

A Precarious Future

The anxiety surrounding these new regulations is compounded by ongoing legal cases, such as that of British church leader Pankaj Devnoor, who is currently barred from leaving India while facing charges under existing anti-conversion statutes.

For many pastors, the “self-declaration” forms act as a vital, if desperate, shield. Pastor Steven Rozario of the New Hope Church in Virar recently addressed his congregation, emphasizing that the forms are intended to provide evidence against false accusations of forced conversion.

“Considering the continuous disruptions and attacks during prayer meetings, we’re keeping these forms with us so that if someone questions us in the future… we can show this as proof,” he said. He further alleged that the new law has effectively provided “a free pass” to those inciting violence against religious minorities, as police in many instances have reportedly refused to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against the groups disrupting services.

As the 28 August deadline approaches, these churches remain in a state of high alert, balancing their constitutional right to worship against an increasingly restrictive and volatile legal environment.