wfn.org | Russian Religion 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 (308
notes).

Note 308 by UMNS on Sept. 10, 1997 at 15:58 Eastern (1496 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                              496(10-71B){308}
          New York (212) 870-3803                   Sept. 10, 1997

Yeltsin's compromise
still restrictive

               by United Methodist News Service

     A reworked bill on religious freedom in Russia, sent recently
by President Boris Yeltsin to the Russian parliament, still
contains many restrictions.
     Yeltsin's bill still would require that a variety of faith
groups -- such as Roman Catholic and Protestant churches,
including United Methodists there -- re-register annually with the
government for 15 years before they would be recognized fully.
     If passed by the Duma, the bill most likely would impact the
activities of the Russian United Methodist Church, which has grown
to 35 congregations, with a membership of 5,000 and constituency
of 15,000.
     According to the Rev. Robert Harman, a United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries executive, Yeltsin's "compromise" legislation
is simply "a restatement of the original bill."
     The Board of Global Ministries and other United Methodists
voiced objections to the original legislation, "Freedom of
Conscience and Religious Association," vetoed by Yeltsin on July
22 and have encouraged an ecumenical dialogue on the issue.
                              #  #  #

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