A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 19 - Tuesday, May 11th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Baptists and Orthodox hold consultationCOMMUNIQUE OF "ROLE OF CHRISTIAN IN CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN SOCIETY" SEMINAR (Tserkov EKhB, 16 April 2004) On 15 April 2004 a seminar was held in the Department of External Church Relations [OVTsS] of the Moscow patriarchate with representatives of the Russian Orthodox church and the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists [RSEKhB] on the subject "The role of the Christian in contemporary Russian society." The moderators of the seminar were the chairman of OVTsS Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill and the president of RSEKhB, Yury Kirillovich Sipko. The seminar included papers and discussions on three topics: "Christian associations and the state," "Social ministry of religious associations," and "Patriotism in Christian understanding. Service in the army and alternative service." During discussion of the topic "Christian associations and the state" it was proposed to continuously exchange information, provide mutual consultations and legal aid, and to work out a common position on various questions in the sphere of church-state relations. Concern was expressed that in the adoption of several very important laws the interests and desires of religious organizations were not taken into account. As a result the new land and tax codes of RF serious restrict the possibilities for religious societies in the area of social ministry and educational and charitable activity. The desire was expressed for the activation of the work of the Council on Cooperation with Religious Associations of the presidential administration of the Russian federation--an agency that will give the possibility of meeting and having direct dialogue of religious leaders with representatives of the supreme governmental authority. Such contact is necessary for taking account of the opinions of religious organizations with regard to the most important questions of church-state relations. On the topic of "Social ministry of religious associations" it was recognized that at the present time contemporary Russian society, as never before, needs moral healing. The loss of moral instruction has led to a spread of serious illnesses, particularly AIDS, alcoholism, and drug addiction. The problem of homeless children is an urgent issue for Russia. In these conditions Christians can and should increase their ministry for the welfare of the needy and the poorest strata of the population. Believers in Christ are called to testify by word and deed to their adherence to the principles of Christian morality and to help people to change their lives on the basis of these principles. It was especially noted that both Orthodox believers and Evangelical Christians-Baptists are conducting social work which does not always receive the necessary support from the state. Christian societies possess the potential to carry out social programs that society needs, and thus this should be supported by the authorities. A constructive dialogue of religious societies with the government and society on the most important problems should get into the sphere of realistic cooperation. The desire was expressed to return to the experience of closer cooperation among theological educational institutions that occurred in the past. On the topic of "Patriotism in Christian understanding. Service in the army and alternative service," seminar participants agreed that the defense of one's neighbors and one's fatherland is a Christian duty. Christians should have an effect on the morality of military personnel who belong to their confessions.
It was decided to
continue meeting for discussion of theological and
religious and social problems. (tr. by PDS) |
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