PROTESTANTS ANNEXED CRIMEA
Bishop Konstantin Bendas explains extension of church jurisdiction of ROSKhVE to some congregations of the peninsula
by Andrei Melnikov
At a recent session of the administration of the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) (Rossiiskii Obedinennyi Soiuz Khristian Very Evangelskoi--ROSKhVE) a decision was adopted for the inclusion in the membership of this centralized organization of a number of churches and religious associations. Some of the local religious organizations that officially joined the union represent new Russian regions. In connection with this, a ROSKhVE administration for the republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol will be established. Attention is turned to the fact that the association of Pentecostals is just about the only religious congregation that has officially included in its membership some Crimean parishes. We recall that the Moscow patriarchate, for example, left the Crimean dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Kiev metropolia. The executive editor of NG-R, Andrei Melnikov, learned about the significance of the ROSKhVE decision from Bishop Konstantin Bendas, who has been appointed the head of the administration of the union for Crimea and Sevastopol.
--(A.M.) Why was it necessary to unite the Crimean churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith under the aegis of ROSKhVE? After all, the Pentecostal movement does not assume obligatory centralization and for the sake of political expediency would it not be possible to avoid such a demonstrative step?
--(K.B.) There are about 100 congregations of Christians of Evangelical Faith in Crimea and Sevastopol. There has not been nor is there a goal of uniting them under the aegis of ROSKhVE. The step was not demonstrative but necessary, or more accurately, natural. First of all there is a number of congregations who are historically more cooperative with churches on Russian territory, including members of our association who have conducted joint worship services and theological conferences and who have a common educational structure and spiritual advisors. There are not many of them; I think ten to fifteen. Judiciously at the present time the administration of the union decided to incorporate into ROSKhVE only three congregations and other applications are being considered by the Spiritual Council. Some congregations were officially rejected. We are not playing politics and we do not accept formal, fictitious relations.
--By what criteria are congregations accepted into ROSKhVE, and by what are they rejected?
--There are no special criteria for Crimea. There are general principles. First of all is doctrinal or theological unity, in accordance with the confession of the Nicaea-Constantinople Creed and canonical statutes officially adopted by ROSKhVE. We especially consider the correspondence of the clergy of these congregations to the canonical rules of ordination of clergy of the ROSKhVE. As to specific reasons for refusal, allow me to be silent. I can say that from the moment of the creation of ROSKhVE it has always been easier to leave us than to join our brotherhood. We are very conservative or, I would say, orthodox in following biblical commandments and principles.
--Did the three congregations who were accepted into ROSKhVE, and those whose applications were considered, previously belong to protestant associations of Ukraine?
--Some of the religious organizations were members of centralized structures and some operated autonomously and there are several religious groups who in the event of the adoption of a positive decision will for the first time be registered as religious organizations within the membership of ROSKhVE.
--How did Ukrainian associations react to the ROSKhVE decision to extend its jurisdiction into Crimea?
--In the course of a year I met with heads of several associations of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine. The majority of them had an absolutely biblical view of the situation. Churches and people must minister, and if in a given political situation this is difficult for clergy of a Ukrainian jurisdiction, then let them operate as Russians. The church must be above politics and any conditions of this world. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 14, we find Christ's question addressed to those Pharisee leaders who wished to ensnare him: "If one of your donkeys or oxen falls into a ditch, then would you not immediately pull him out even on the Sabbath?" Unfortunately I have had occasion to hear some expressions of the type "Don't give in to anybody and it's better to drown." This is not a pastoral position. We do not have the right not to extend a helping hand to our brethren in Crimea.
--How can ROSKhVE respond to the accusations of Russian "sect-fighters" to the effect that the Maidan in Kiev was organized by anti-Russian and pro-American oriented protestants? Such accusations usually are accompanied by references to the religious affiliation of Turchinov.
--Organized? I think that the "comrades" are overestimating the capacities of Ukrainian protestants. And for the accuracy of the investigation, let's clarify the confessional affiliation of all leaders and instigators of the Maidan. I think that protestants remain in the minority.
--So that means that we should not regard the patriotic actions of ROSKhVE with respect to congregations of Crimea as an image-building course against the background of accusations against Ukrainian protestants?
--Patriotic actions? Image-building course? This is the natural ministry of the church. And for me, appointment as the head of the diocesan administration for Crimea and Sevastopol is only obedience and an additional burden upon my already existing responsibilities, which, I hope, with God's help, I will be able to bear worthily.
--How have believers in Crimea taken your appointment? After all, you are Siberian and not a native of the peninsula.
--I cannot speak for all Crimean believers. I have received congratulations from friends and acquaintances. Every time I come to the peninsula I am inspired by the warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants. Strange as it may sound, such hospitality is generally received in my homeland, in Siberia. In addition, I am accustomed to serve the Lord and his church without regard to person and not expecting thanks or praise from people.
--Final question. On a somewhat different topic. "NG" recently wrote that a draft law is being prepared for monitoring religious organizations that receive money from abroad. Do you think that this will affect protestant organizations? To what extent do they depend on foreign donors? Do you think that this rule violates the principles of the equality of religions in Russia? [see Russian parliament to get legal crackdown on religious organizations]
--I will begin with the last. I do not think that this in any way violates the principle of the equality of religions. I think that the majority of protestant religious organizations will not be affected. And churches of ROSKhVE will not be affected at all. ROSKhVE does not even have a foreign currency account. As I recall, we opened one twice, but each time we closed it as superfluous. Foreign financing of protestants is a myth. In the 1990s there was humanitarian and financial aid from foreign missionary organizations and individual fraternal churches. We, just like the whole country, needed it. Remember the early 1990s, empty shelves in grocery stores, unfunded orphanages, retirement homes, hospitals. . . .
Today the arriving foreign philanthropist loses all desire to contribute money for Russia as soon as he lands at Sheremetovo airport and sees the number of cars of the representative class pulling up. Russian protestants have learned themselves both to make money and to contribute to social projects. The protestant work ethic is not the construct of Max Weber. Today we are sending missionary teams from Russia to dozens of countries of the world and financing them ourselves. Within Russia we are supporting hundreds of social institutions and projects.
As to the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Justice, I am more bothered by the global expansion of functions of this agency in the sphere of control over the financial and economic activity of religious organizations. To scheduled inspections there may be added countless unscheduled inspections and all kinds of inquiries on artificially created pretexts.
I participated in two conferences on this draft law—inside the Ministry of Justice and within the framework of a session of a commission under the Russian government. I do not wish to offend the professionals who worked on it, but I think that the very approach to resolving the question of preventing extremist and terrorist activity through religious organizations is incorrect. Expansion of authority is unnecessary. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of the work and methods of the "E" center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the prosecutor's office and of the Russian Financial Monitoring and other agencies that are already legislatively empowered in this area. (tr. by PDS, posted 4 February 2015)
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