Mumbai Churches Respond to Anti-Conversion Law with New Consent Forms

Mumbai Churches Collect Consent Forms as New Anti-Conversion Law Raises Concerns Mumbai, India: Churches in Mumbai and surrounding areas are taking precautionary measures following the implementation of Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law, with some pastors asking worshipers to sign declarations confirming that they attend Christian services voluntarily. The measure has raised concerns among some Christians, particularly migrant workers and members of smaller home churches, who fear that personal information collected through the forms could potentially expose them to unwanted attention from authorities or Hindu nationalist groups. One such worshiper, identified as Kishore, has attended a local home church in Mumbai for nearly two years. Recently, his pastor asked him to complete a "consent and self-declaration" form stating that his participation in Christian worship was based on his own free will and voluntary choice. The form reportedly asks worshipers to provide personal information including their name, telephone number, residential address, a government-issued identification number and a passport-sized photograph. For Kishore, a 39-year-old construction worker who migrated from West Bengal, the request created considerable anxiety. He questioned why such detailed information was necessary and expressed concern that his personal details could potentially be used to identify or track him because of his participation in a Christian congregation. His concerns reflect a broader uncertainty among some church members following the introduction of Maharashtra's new legal provisions concerning religious conversion. Churches Take Preventive Measures Church leaders in Mumbai and nearby towns have reportedly begun collecting signed declarations as a precaution. The intention, according to church representatives, is to document that individuals attending their congregations are doing so voluntarily and are not being subjected to force, fraud, coercion or inducement. The practice has reportedly spread across churches of different traditions, including smaller home-based fellowships that may not have the same institutional resources as large established congregations. Reports indicate that thousands of churches in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region could be using such declarations as part of their response to the changing legal environment. For pastors, the forms are viewed as a way of creating documentation that may help demonstrate the voluntary nature of worship if questions arise in the future. Concerns Among Christian Worshipers While church leaders see the declarations as a protective measure, some Christians are uncomfortable with the amount of personal information being requested. Members of home churches and informal fellowships may be particularly concerned because many congregations meet in private homes or small community spaces rather than traditional church buildings. Some worshipers fear that maintaining detailed records could make them vulnerable if their information were accessed by individuals or organisations hostile to Christianity. These concerns are especially significant for Christians from migrant communities who may already feel socially vulnerable in unfamiliar cities. Kishore's experience illustrates the uncertainty felt by some worshipers who simply want to participate in Christian prayer and worship without becoming the subject of official or political scrutiny. Legal Changes Create New Challenges Maharashtra's anti-conversion legislation has changed the environment in which religious communities operate. Supporters of such laws argue that they are intended to prevent religious conversions obtained through coercion, fraud or improper inducements and to protect vulnerable individuals. Christian organisations and other critics, however, have raised concerns that broadly interpreted anti-conversion provisions could create additional pressure on religious minorities and make ordinary religious activities more difficult. For churches, one of the key challenges is demonstrating that people who attend Christian services are doing so by personal choice. The consent forms are therefore becoming an important precautionary tool for some congregations. Balancing Legal Compliance and Privacy The growing use of self-declaration forms also raises questions about privacy and the handling of sensitive personal information. Church leaders must balance the need to maintain appropriate documentation with the responsibility to protect the personal details of their members. Information such as addresses, telephone numbers and government identification numbers can be highly sensitive. Church communities therefore face the challenge of ensuring that such records are securely stored and only used for legitimate purposes. For ordinary worshipers, however, the immediate concern is often much simpler: whether attending church could expose them to legal or social consequences. A Changing Environment for Churches The developments in Mumbai reflect wider concerns among Christian communities in parts of India about the impact of anti-conversion legislation and increasing scrutiny of religious activities. Churches continue to provide places for prayer, worship, fellowship and community support. At the same time, some congregations are now taking additional administrative steps to demonstrate that participation is voluntary. For pastors, the priority is to protect their congregations while ensuring that church activities remain peaceful and lawful. For worshipers such as Kishore, however, the new procedures have introduced an uncomfortable question: why should attending a place of worship require such detailed documentation? As Maharashtra's new legal framework takes effect, churches, civil authorities and religious communities will likely continue to debate how laws intended to prevent coercive conversion can be implemented while also protecting religious freedom, privacy and the rights of individuals to choose their faith freely.