wfn.org | Proposed Russian Law

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (206
notes).

Note 205 by UMNS on July 9, 1997 at 14:58 Eastern (2311 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Bloom                              393(10-71B){205}
          New York (212) 870-3803                     July 9, 1997

EDITORS: This story may be used as sidebar to UMNS #392 {204)

Proposed Russian law
adds to European tension

               by United Methodist News Service

     A proposed Russian law which would severely restrict the
activities of minority religious groups helped contribute to the
tensions between Orthodox, Protestants and Catholics at recent
European ecumenical meetings.
     As the Orthodox launched accusations of proselytism, it was
"very, very difficult" to discuss the issue with them, according
to Bishop Heinrich Bolleter, United Methodist bishop for Central
and Southern Europe.
     During the Second European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz,
Austria, a Russian woman who serves as a government liaison with
Protestant groups there told Bolleter that United Methodists are
"the greatest aggressors in Russia" after the Roman Catholics.
     "When I tried to explain to her that we were there 70 years
ago or more in Russia, that we have a history . . . she said very
straight, into my face, 'This is a historical lie, this is not
true,'" he said.
     Bolleter added that the woman was not interested in his
further attempt to offer facts about Methodism in Russia, which
dated from the late 1800s and continued to the Bolshevik
revolution. During the Soviet period, the Methodist presence
continued in Estonia.
     When the Conference of European Churches met following the
assembly, United Methodists attempted to schedule a discussion of
the proposed Russian law during a plenary session.
     But the conference's general secretary "was almost going on
his knees and asking us not to do that," Bolleter said, because he
feared a split would emerge between Orthodox and Protestant
members.
     However, the group's new general secretary -- a Baptist from
Great Britain -- has promised to go to Moscow and raise the issue,
according to Bolleter. The European Methodist Council also is
writing a letter to the conference.
                               # # #

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