Mizoram Presbytery passes agenda to use sacramental wine

The Conference of the Presbytery is the second highest decision-making authority of the Presbyterian Church

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The Conference of Champhai North Presbytery, one of the 51 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church’s Mizoram Synod passed an agenda seeking the use of grape wine manufactured from the grape harvest in the Mizoram-Myanmar border in Champhai district as sacramental wine of the church.

The Conference of the Presbytery is the second highest decision-making authority of the Presbyterian Church next to the Synod and the Presbyterian Church is the largest church denomination in the state.

The Champhai North Presbytery agenda was initiated by 2 pastorals within the Presbytery and the delegates of the conference decided that the passed agenda should be taken up with the Synod which is to have its conference during December.

The Presbyterian Church had been under fire, not only for opposing the manufacture of grape wine within Mizoram while dry law was in force in the state but also for importing Cardamom Tincture, having an alcohol content of 33 to 43 percent from outside the state to be used as sacramental wine.

The largest church was severely criticized for importing the Cardamom tincture without overtly obtaining a permit from the state government while IMFL, locally made liquor, and even grape wine manufactured within the state from the harvest of the local farmers in the state were banned under the prohibition law.

The largest church was severely criticized for importing the Cardamom tincture without overtly obtaining a permit from the state government while IMFL was allegedly smuggled from outside the state, locally made liquor, and even grape wine manufactured within the state from the harvest of the local farmers in the state under the prohibition law.

The Presbyterian Church had earlier urged the state government to reduce the grape wine produced in the Champhai district from 14 percent to not more than 11 percent, while the central committee of the Young Mizo Association had implored the state government not to allow production and sale of grape wine with an alcoholic content of more than 5 percent.

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