evangelicals fear state interference, as officials across the ex-Soviet Union reportedly target churches during the festive season.
The Church of Christ, a Pentecostal church in Ukraine’s southern town of Kherson was ordered closed by a local court for conducting public services without permission from the municipal authorities, BosNewsLife learned Thursday, December 19.
A local court also ruled that Pastor Pavel Kudashev must halt the church’s activities as a punishment for organizing meetings in June and July without the prior consent and agreement with local officials, the Keston News Service (KNS) reported.
The apparent crack down in Ukraine came as in neighbouring Moldova Christian leaders expressed concern about proposed legislation to be discussed by Parliament this month, which they say could threaten especially non traditional churches.
EVANGELISM THREATENED
The law, if adopted, is also expected to undermine missionary work and evangelism as only communities of at least 15 adult citizens can meet and spread their faith.
In addition foreign citizens coming to work in Moldova at the invitation of a registered religious community will require permission from the State Service before they enter the country, reported KNS, which has close knowledge about the legislation.
Pentecostal Christians also criticized the requirement that a "religious organization" can only register if it has least 50 adult members and existed for 25 years or as part of an official centralized religious group.
"I think it is very bad and most of the religious organizations which were recognized by the independent country of Moldova since 1992 are shocked by this religion bill," Bishop Victor Pavlovski of the Pentecostal Union told KNS.
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Valeriu Ghiletchi, head of the Baptist Union, was reportedly equally unhappy about the draft law. "I believe it is directed at new religious groups that have come into Moldova since independence," KNS quoted him as saying.
Although religious communities must reportedly undergo compulsory re-registration by December 31, 2003, the proposed law does not outlaw unregistered religious activity, said KNS.
The Moldova legislation and harsh measures in Ukraine resemble developments in Belarus, where human rights workers have complained about what they see as Europe’s "most restrictive" religion law, which came into force last month.
Russia is also preparing legislation that is said to further restrict the activities of missionary workers and churches churches.
EX-COMMUNISTS WORRY
Analysts say former Communist officials and the Orthodox Church are worried about losing control over the non Orthodox Christian movements that spread since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
While Protestants and Catholics in Russia are said to increase by 3 percent annually, Russian Orthodoxy shows few signs of any demographic growth.
The Budapest-based Russian journalist Oleg Volovik, who covers religion for a variety of publications, told ANS that fear is the main reason why non-Orthodox missionary workers and even church leaders face resistance from the Russian authorities.
SITUATION "BAD"
"I think today that the situation for missionary work or representatives of say the Catholic church in Russia is very difficult and very bad," he said. "Because there is pressure from the Orthodox church. Yes, maybe (the) Orthodox church and the Government, work together in this question."
Even organizations such as the Salvation Army, involved in projects that include helping street kids in Moscow, had to fight for its survival.
These attitudes have already effected foreign missionary workers. Several of them have been expelled from the country or refused entry in Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union. Churches in former Soviet republics have asked Christians around the world to pray for them.
