RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS



Activities of the organization of Ukrainian evangelicals

HEADS OF UKRAINIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES URGE GOVERNMENT TO CATEGORIZE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AS "DOMESTIC CONSUMERS"

RISU, 24 November 2021

 

The increase in prices for natural gas has negatively impacted the social activity of evangelical churches, the extent of which they have been forced to diminish. This problematic situation became the object of discussion at a session of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine (Soviet Evangelskikh Protestantskikh Tserkvei Ukrainy—SEPTsU), which was held on 22 November in Kiev under the chairmanship of Bishop Anatoly Gavriliuk.

 

The heads of evangelical churches reached out to the government with a suggestion to categorize religious organizations as "domestic consumers," which would permit restoring fair prices for natural gas and electric energy, the Institute of Religious Liberty reports.

 

Also the SEPTsU supported the concern of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations regarding the decision of the State Cinematography of Ukraine to finance, at taxpayers' expense, a film intended to promote same-sex relationships and containing elements of blasphemy.

 

According to the convictions of the leaders of evangelical churches, the government should reverse this decision in order to prevent violation of article 2 of the Ukrainian law "On protection of public morality," since the cinematic project "My Young Prince" not only is of an erotic nature and promotes same-sex relationships, but it also promotes bestiality, blasphemy, and disrespect for national and religious sacred things, which is forbidden by law.

 

In addition, on the basis of the result of a discussion of government measures for combating COVID-19, the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine decided to prepare a separate statement regarding the problems of vaccination.

 

At its session, SEPTsU also was addressed by the Global Ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance, Brian Stiller, who introduced the alliance and described its history and present and its activity on the world, regional, and national levels. The participants discussed aspects of establishing relationships and cooperation between the SEPTsU and the World Evangelical Alliance.

 

The session concluded with a decision to transfer the chairmanship of SEPTsU in 2022. The new chairman of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine will be Stanislav Nosov, the director of the Church of Seventh-Day Adventists in Ukraine. (tr. by PDS, posted 24 November 2021)

 

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