CHRISTIANS OF EVANGELICAL FAITH IN CRIMEA ADAPTING TO SPECIFICS OF RUSSIAN LEGISLATION
The first deputy of the ruling bishop, the chancellor of the ROSKhVE, who now also heads the diocesan administration of ROSKhVE for the republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol, Konstantin Bendas, visited the region, where he participated in the work of the commission of the Public Chamber of the RF within the frameworks of joint projects with the Inter-Religious Council of Russia and the Inter-confessional Council of Crimea.
As stated in a communication of the ROSKhVE [Rossiiskii Obedenenni Soiuz Khristian Very Evangelskoi—Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals)], from 4 to 6 February the bishop traveled to Crimea for participation in a whole series of events. The first of them was a session, held in Simferopol, of the Commission of the Public Chamber of RF and the Public Chamber of the republic of Crimea, including representatives of ethnic communities of Crimea, devoted, as the report says, to the tasks of strengthening inter-ethnic peace in the region.
On 5 February, a special on-site session of the Russian Public Chamber's Commission for Harmonization of Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Relations was held in the city of Bakhchisari. An acquaintance trip to the settlement of Kamenka, which is one of the places of compact residence of Crimean Tatars, preceded the session. During the visit, participants visited a local school, midwifery units, and a mosque, and also took time to converse with local residents.
On 6 February a joint session of the Russian Public Chamber's Commission for Harmonization of Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Reltions with representatives of the Public Chamber of the republic of Crimea, the Inter-religious Council of Russia, and the Inter-confessional Council of Crimea "Peace is the gift of God" was held in Simferopol, the reports says.
The ROSKhVE reports that several unofficial meetings with pastors and clergy of protestant churches of Crimea and Sevastopol were held. "The procedure of official reregistration of congregations is continuing, regarding which the ROSKhVE had already made a decision by the administration of the association. In addition, at the present an application for joining the ROSKhVE from yet another group of local religious organizations is being considered. The bishop thinks that now, when there is so much tension in the public and political sphere, it is necessary to devote all efforts so that not only will conflicts be prevented but even misunderstandings both in inter-confessional questions and in the sphere of state-confessional relations also," the press service of ROSKhVE reports. (tr. by PDS, posted 16 February 2015)
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