Reps of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine Consider Questions of State-Church Relations

KYIV – On March 23, 2010, the meeting of the Secretariat of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine was held under the leadership of Bishop Mykola Symiuk of the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine. The participants analyzed the condition of state-church relations and expressed opinions on the current situation of the Protestant community of Ukraine, reports the Institute of Religious Freedom.

During the discussion of the development of the state-church dialogue in Ukraine, representatives of the Protestant churches expressed concern over the efforts of certain politicians to employ the authority of the council and Evangelical churches for their political interests. The participants were familiarized with publications where politicians called themselves “authorized coordinators” of all Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine without authorization.

The secretariat of the council stated that it is inadmissible when outside persons claim to speak on behalf of the council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine during communication with journalist or organizing various events. The council plans to issue a special statement in this regard.