News from Kazakstan

On January 29, 2002 our EC-B Brethren in Uralsk, Kazakstan sent the following report (Herself translated it from the Russian and I condensed it for posting here on the Board.)

Our church serves God by being independent from the world.

In early June, 2001, officials from the local Procurator's office came to our church. They "requested" that we register our church. These officials called us a "social association"; they did not recognize us as an organized body of believers. Later, the Procurator's office called in Brothers E. P. Dyachenko and S. N. Krasnov. They were informed that they need to register the church as a "social association". The Procurator also required a 775 Tengi fine for non-compliance.

On November 10, 2001, Brother Dyachenko received an administrative notice on how not to break the law from the Procurator's office. The Brother explained to the church that the head of the Church is Jesus Christ; the Church should listen to Him. Registration, he said, would compromise the Church with the world.

On November 15, 2001, Brother Dyachenko received a second administrative notice to register the "social association".

On December 12, 2001, a local court in Uralsk ordered the church to pay a second 775 Tengi fine.

We ask for your prayers that we might be left alone to live peaceably. Further, we ask that letters be sent to the following requesting the stopping of government actions against our church. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>President N. A. Nazabayev
10 Beybetshelik Street
Astana, Kazakstan
473000<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>B. M. Mametov
Procurator of Uralsk Oblast
42 Baturen Street
Uralsk, Kazakstan
417000<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Thank you for your attention to this matter,
In His service,
Keith

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lidia:
It seems to me that the local governmental requirement is not any more demanding than what would be required of churches in the United States and does not remotely approach persecution. Religious organizations in the United States are not entirely exempt from government requirements. For instance, if a church has clerical employees, it is required to submit various information to the social security system and the IRS.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Good question. Mind you we are dealing with governmental systems far removed from ours in their foundational principles. Under the inherited Imperial and Soviet systems, there is no chisled in stone First Amendment. The State Authorities are/were known for trying to control the content of the pulpit. Further, the Authorities expect the church leadership to answer questions about the activities of their members. Can you spell "snitch"?
Hoping to shed more light than heat,
Keith

 

Kazakstan is a former Soviet republic. The powers that be are the same ones that were there before the break up. The Brethren have been dealing with these folks for over 80+ years. One problem is that the dispatch we translated was sent to sister EC-B church here in America. So, not everything was spelled out for a non-Russian reader.
In His service,
Keith

 

Actually, I am told that the Brethren would be willing to file for and accept a "birth certificate". I.e. a piece of paper that simply acknowledges their church's existence and no more than that.

As for the Tengi exchange rate, think of it on a 1/1 basis with the dollar. But, the people paying the fine only earn more or less 30 a month.

 

Bump

 

Okay at the present our First amendment right are cast in mud rather than concrete. I look at the conditions in America very, very realisticly. I was however trying to answer the question about Kazakstan.

I would inform you that I serve the Lord in Corinth-by-the-Bay (aka San Francisco, California). I am under no illusions as to the kind regard and tender mercies of the local powers that be for folks like us.