wfn.org | Seventh-day Adventist Church Number Two in Russia

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

August 28, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH NUMBER TWO IN RUSSIA
98/28/03

Moscow, Russia, (ANN/APD) Following the requirement of the new 
Russian law that went into effect October 1, 1997 requiring re-
registration of all religious groups, the Seventh-day Adventist 
Church has now successfully fulfilled the requirement, reports 
Lee Huff, president for the Church in Russia.

"As a demonstration of the speed of this project, our 
registration number is number two," says Huff. "The Orthodox 
church holds registration number one."

This registration is for the Adventist Church organisation 
covering the whole of Russia; however other church units must 
also re-register, according to Viktor Krushenitsky, Religious 
Liberty director for the Russian Adventist Church.

"It is advantageous for the church administrative units, and 
local congregations to re-register as soon as possible," says 
Krushenitsky. "Even though the deadline for re-registration is 
the end of 1999, local churches cannot legally be involved in 
certain activities until they are registered or re registered.  
The higher organisation must gain approval before the lower 
organisation can apply."

The Adventist Church has operated in Russia for well over 100 
years and so falls into the legal category of religious 
organisations which have existed in Russia more than 15 years. 
Krushenitsky reports that some of the advantages of re-
registering for the Church are the right to alternative 
military service, the right for ministers not to be called up 
for military service, the right to receive government subsidy 
for Church schools for the subjects which are required by the 
state, the right to receive subsidy for social programs, the 
right to produce literature, and to export and import it, and 
the right to invite foreign ministers from abroad.

Tells of Visa Problems

The last 'right' is now the subject of some restrictions, 
according to the Adventist Church in Russia and other Christian 
organisations. Instead of granting foreign nationals a visa for 
one year, only three-month visas are being issued.

"Religious organisations are being refused the previous one 
year, multi-entry visas which were allowed.  We are among those 
who have been refused and told that religious organisations are 
only allowed a three month visa," says Barbara Huff, 
Administrative Assistant at the headquarters of the Adventist 
Church in Russia.

"We do need prayers for this is a serious inconvenience and 
challenge to having any foreigners working in Russia," Huff 
continues. "Instead of once a year having to pay the fees, go 
through the red tape, leave the country to renew the visa, etc. 
it would have to be done four times a year.  And the 
regulations state that the request for an extension for a 
three-month visa has to be brought before this special 
committee on religion which is already reported as saying that 
they want nationals to replace foreign priests and ministers."

The situation is confirmed by the United Methodist News 
Service, which quotes Bishop Ruediger Minor as saying that the 
Russian Foreign Ministry had confirmed the new rule-that 
foreign religious workers now are only permitted a 3-month 
double-entry visa which must be renewed outside the country-and 
said it would apply to United Methodists. 

"It would mean for most of us to leave the country four times 
instead of one time per year to acquire a new visa, consuming 
time and finances," reported Minor on August 12.

The visa situation however still seems unresolved, since a 
unilateral change in visa requirements by the Russian 
government would impact visa arrangements with other countries, 
which may then take reciprocal action, according to diplomatic 
sources.