Cup & Cross to Present at Society of Pentecostal Studies

Cup & Cross Ministries is presenting two research papers at the upcoming annual meeting of the Society of Pentecostal Studies in Cleveland. The research deals with Bulgarian evangelical congregations ministering in North America and with the situation of Evangelical Churches in Bulgaria. Both papers will be presented Saturday March 10, 2007 at 1:30 pm in Humanities Center room 202 of Lee University. All are invited.

Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association Gains Legal Status

The Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association has finally received official legal status with the Bulgarian government, after battling courts throughout the country for the last four months. Global religious freedom watchdog FORUM 18 closely followed the case of chaplaincy ministry in Bulgaria recognizing its “underground” status and releasing an informative article about the current situation of chaplaincy in Bulgaria which can be found at: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=919

After a decade of ministry, the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association held a national founding meeting in August, 2006 and submitted a petition for registration with the Bulgarian court. The purpose of the establishment was the legal representation of Bulgarian evangelicals who minister in various fields of chaplaincy despite legal limitations and open government restrictions. Their campaign for legalizing chaplaincy in the Bulgarian armed forces has formed “The Case of Underground Chaplaincy in Bulgaria.”

After months of legal battle, the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association was officially registered through the Sofia Municipal Court on February 23, 2007. The result was made possible by a joint initiative of the Association’s establishing members, the representing legal team led by former Bulgarian presidential nominee, Ivan Gruikin with the assistance of legal council Latchezar Popov of the Rule of Law Institute and religious-liberty lawyer Viktor Kostov of the Balkan Center for Law and Freedom.

Problems of Evangelism

The second book of former overseer of the Bulgarian Church of God Pavel Ignatov, was released in February, 2006 under the title Problems of Evangelism. The text overviews the period from the birth of the Bulgarian Protestant Movement to the beginning of the Communist Regime in Bulgaria. This is part of a three volume work dealing with the history of Bulgarian Protestantism with a special focus on the history of the Bulgarian Church of God. The introductory volume published in 2005 under the title The Bloodless Persecution of the Church was a brief overview of early Bulgarian Pentecostalism including the early history of the Bulgarian Church of God Movement. Currently, the series is the most up-to-date historical overview of Bulgarian Pentecostalism. For his research, Pavel Ignatov has been nominated for an honorary doctoral degree by the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute.

Bulgarian Church of God

The prehistory the Bulgarian Church of God is rooted in the rise of the Protestantism on the Balkans in the 1800s when American missionaries were allowed to enter the Ottoman Empire. As early as 1827 The British Bible Society began working on a Protestant translation of the Bulgarian Bible. In 1871 the first Bulgarian Protestant Church was founded in the town of Bansko. In the next year the American Missionary School was established in the town of Samokov. In 1878 Bulgaria was liberated from 500 years of Turkish yoke, and during 1890-1910 a great number of Protestant denominations, among which Methodist, Baptists, Lutherans and Congregationalists started local churches throughout Bulgaria.

In 1920 Ukrainian immigrants Voronev and Zaplishny traveled to Russia to preach the Pentecostal message. On the way his ship stopped at the Bulgarian port of Bourgas where he preached in the Congregational church and several are baptized with the Holy Spirit. This event marked the beginning of Bulgarian Pentecostalism, which in the next few years spread throughout the country.

In the 1930s the movement called itself the Bulgarian Pentecostal Union (now affiliated with the Assemblies of God). A more conservative Pentecostal group with congregations located mainly in Northern Bulgaria emerged and formed the union called The Northern Brothers (or Tinchevists after the name of the leader Stoyan Tintchev). The group called themselves the Church of God. After the 1944 Communist Revolution in Bulgaria it continued its existence as an underground organization and was severally persecuted. In the 1980s the Bulgarian Church of God established connection and became a part of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN).

Healing Revival in Seneca

In the beginning of February we began a Friday Night Healing Revival at the High Falls Church of God in Seneca. We committed ourselves to spend a month of prayer and fasting before God, studying and preaching the Word while expecting healings and miracles to happen. Services began February 2nd, as we invited other churches to join us in prayer and fasting expecting God’s miraculous intervention through a fresh experience of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Various Healings Reported
Several healings were reported as early as the first Friday night service. Other testimonies followed in the days to come, as people moved in faith and prayed during the altar services. This is no different than our ministry experience in Bulgaria in the past two years, where in the midst of numerous salvations and Holy Spirit baptisms, healings were reported on a regular basis. Just a reminder that God still has the power to save, heal and deliver.

Wave of Healing Revival
We have received responses from churches as far as Mississippi and Maryland who have also prayed and fasted for a move of the Spirit expecting miracles and healings. We are persuaded beyond a shadow of a doubt that in the beginning of the 21st century God is doing a new thing purposing a complete physical and emotional healing of his people. If your church has also prayed for a healing revival, please let us know how we can partner with you in this ministry endeavor.

Bulgarian Evangelical Church of God in Chicago

This is the story of the first Bulgarian Church of God established in the Untied States. The church was started in the building of the Narragansett Church of God in Chicago which at the time was pastored by Rev. Sean O’Neal. Led by a dynamic cross-cultural vision, the congregation expanded in several ethnic branches. Using a strategy home mission’s approach the church soon became an important religious center for the Chicago metro.

In December 1994, the Lord led me to participate in a step-mission trip to Chicago organized by the students of East Coast Bible College. As preparations were made we learned of several Bulgarians who attend the Narragansett Church of God in Chicago. Unfortunately, they had been hurt by some Bulgarian ministers who had visited them before and were very suspicious of any organized church work. Yet, I was introduced to them and was able to minister to them in several services.

By the end of our mission trip Pastor O’Neal invited me to join him in his attempt to begin a Bulgarian church in the city. Although at this time Chicago was a center for more than 12,000 Bulgarian immigrants no one had attempted to start a Bulgarian Protestant church.

After much prayer I arrived in Chicago on May 27, 1995. In the remaining part of May we created a strategy to reach as many Bulgarians as possible. This included visitation of families, attending Bulgarians social functions, and establishing contact with several Bulgarian organizations active in the Chicago area such as the Bulgarian Club and the Orthodox Church. In June we executed this plan with much success. During this time I lived with a Bulgarian family and slept on the balcony of their apartment on Jackson Boulevard. Often, I had to spend the night in the church building as well. But the most important thing was to carry the vision to the end.

On July 9, 1995 the first organized Bulgarian Church of God was established in Chicago city. I was privileged to preach on the subject of forgiveness as 10 Bulgarians attended. Little I knew that in the years to come much forgiveness will be needed as the church will be torn apart by deep bitterness, personal ambitions, frequent confusion and lack of mission. Yet, while the works of men fails, the work of God remains.

By the end of the summer of 1995 the Bulgarian Church in Chicago had grown to 42 people. Thanks to the faithful and united work of Bulgarians and Americans in the fall of the same year the number was 64. On October 7, 1995, I was able to visit the church in Chicago again and present it to the National Overseer of the Bulgarian Church of God, Pastor Pavel Ignatov who visited the church for the first time. The church became not only the first officially registered Bulgarian Pentecostal congregation in the United States, but also an important social and educational center able to minister to the 100,000 Bulgarians that live in the Great Lake region today.

Called to another mission, I left Chicago on July 30, 1995. The church bulletin upon my departure under Farewell and Appreciation read: “Today we are saying thank you to Dony for a job well done this past summer. He has served our church faithfully, and has been a tremendous blessing to Narragansett Ministries. Immediately following worship this morning, there is a dinner in Dony’s honor in the fellowship hall. And everyone is invited to attend.”

The church congregation presented me with a plaque that represented my efforts and work in Chicago. But for me, this plaque represents much more. It represents the prayers and the vision of many who are continuing the work today, establishing and leading Bulgarian churches around the world to providing pastoral care for many who have left the homeland in search for a better life. To these ministers goes my personal token of appreciation and thanks, “Well done thou good and faithful … “

Bulgaria: General Infromation

Location – Bulgaria is situated on the Balkan Peninsula, in south-eastern Europe. It is bounded by Romania on the north, by the Black Sea on the east, by Turkey and Greece on the south, and by the Republics of Macedonia and Yugoslavia on the west

State System – Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. It is a united and inseparable formation of one nation. The supreme organ of state power is the National Assembly (Parliament), which exercises legislative power and parliamentary control

Geographical Reference – The relief of the country is diverse, including vast lowlands, planes, low hills, high and low mountains, valleys, river basins and deep gorges…The climate of Bulgaria is generally defined as temperate continental with well expressed transition to the south of Stara Planina…The complex relief structure and the small territory of Bulgaria do not create conditions for big rivers

Flora and Fauna – Bulgaria is a land of roses, orchards laden with fruit and vines grown since the settlement of the ancient Thracians. Favorable climatic conditions and variety of relief are factors that account for the diversity of vegetation. The overall number of plant species is approximately 12 400. Forests prevail, representing nearly 27 % of the territory of the country

Religion and Holidays – The traditional religion in Bulgaria is the Eastern Orthodox creed. The conversion to Christianity took place in 864 and the foundations of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church were laid down at the Constantinople Council in 870. In the time of the Ottoman rule the Bulgarian Patriarchate passed under the jurisdiction of the Constantinople Patriarchate

Style of Life – More than half of the Bulgarian population lives in towns as a result of the intensive migration processes in the recent decades. The basic part of the inhabitants (88 %) are Bulgarians – a nationality formed through the amalgamation of Slavs, Proto-Bulgarians and Thracians…The typical Bulgarian dishes…Bulgarian white and red wines…Mineral waters

Monetary Unit – The Bulgarian monetary unit is the Bulgarian lev. Banknotes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 levs and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki are in circulation.

History – The geographical situation at crossroads, the favorable climate and the variety of relief are prerequisites for the interweaving of fates and routes of many tribes and peoples on the Bulgarian lands. The territory of Bulgaria was inhabited since the earliest historical ages – the Stone Age and the Stone-Copper Age

Bulgarian National Culture – In Bulgaria the foreign tourists can get acquainted with original versatile culture that represents an organic entity of various ethnocultural communities – Proto-Bulgarians, Slavs and the ancient settlers on the Balkans, mainly Thracians

Education – By way of tradition the Bulgarians have always valued highly erudition, making efforts to give their children good education. It is not surprising that towards the end of the 9th C. Knyaz Boris invited the students of the founders of the Slavonic alphabet Sts. Cyril and Methodius and they became archefounders of education in Bulgaria

Language and Alphabet – The Bulgarian language – the oldest Slavonic language in terms of written documents – belongs to the Southern group of Slavonic languages of the Indo-European language family

Literature – The Bulgarian literature is considered to be the oldest Slavonic one. Its foundations were laid in the 9th C., after the brothers Constantin-Cyril the Philosopher and Methodius created the Slavonic alphabet (Glagolitsa) and made the first translations of religious texts

Architecture – “Since the creation of the world and up to the 15th C. architecture stands out as the great book of mankind, its major means of expression… “, said Victor Hugo. The architectural heritage of Bulgarian country has written our exceptionally rich history in stone, wood and brick

Fine Arts – The Bulgarian lands are an inexhaustible treasure-trove of artistic works. Part of these are still hidden in the earth, but others, which are already in the museums, drive us thousands of years back to the culture of one of the oldest ancient European civilizations

Music – The legend of the Thracian singer Orpheus, who charmed gods with his music, tells that he was born in the Rhodopes. Bulgarian singers and musicians of today are no less famous than Orpheus. The remarkable opera-singers Boris Hristov, Nikolai Gyaurov, Nikola Gyuzelev, Raina Kabaivanska, Gena Dimitrova and many others make famous the Bulgarian school of singing on the world opera stages

Theatre – The beginning of theatre performances in Bulgaria was laid during the National Revival (the second half of the 19th C.). The first professional theatre company was formed in Plovdiv in 1883

Sports – Though a small country, Bulgaria ranges among the foremost sports nations in the world. It is one of thirteen countries constituters of the contemporary Olympic games in 1896

Tourism – The beautiful scenery, the ancient historical sites and the crossroad situation of the country between the Orient and Europe have been attracting travellers since ancient times. Travel notes left by German, Austrian and Arab authors offer a rich source of evidence for the life in the Bulgarian lands. At present Bulgaria develops as a country of tourism. Despite its comparatively small territory, the variety of treasures of nature is exceptional

Souvenirs from Bulgaria – Buying a souvenir, one can take away a memento of Bulgaria. Works of masters of traditional crafts can be found in the special shops (painted Troyan ceramics, wrought-iron and copper objects, boxes, candle-sticks, etc., wooden objects, decorated with poker-work, hand-made embroideries with folklore motifs, replicas of ancient guns and daggers, etc.)

2007 Miracle Revival Crusade

During the month of February, Cup & Cross Ministries will be conducting a series of Friday Night Healing Services at the High Falls Church of God. While as human beings we do not hold the key to healing and revival, we believe that God does and that He is still the Healer and the Reviver of us all. For this very reason, we have committed ourselves, along with the High Falls Church of God congregation, to spend a month of prayer and fasting before God, while preaching his Living Word and expecting his move in our midst.

We know that this may sound like a call for an old-time religion, but it is much more than that. If God is still in the business of saving, healing, sanctifying and reviving people so must be His Church.

We invite you and your congregation to join us in this ministry endeavor, to pray and fast with us for God’s miraculous intervention. We will be happy if you and your congregation are able to attend our Friday night meetings and join us for a fresh experience of the power of God. Services will be conducted each Friday during the month of February at the High Falls Church of God in Seneca, SC starting at 7:00 pm.

SPS 2007 Meeting in Cleveland

SOCIETY FOR PENTECOSTAL STUDIES

The Role of Experience in Christian Life and Thought – Pentecostal Insights

36th ANNUAL MEETING at LEE UNIVERSITY
Cleveland, Tennessee

March 8-10, 2007

The Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies will convene 8-10 March (Thursday – Saturday) at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Cleveland is one of several centers across the USA and the world for the birthing of specific traditions within the Pentecostal movement. Influenced by the Holiness Movement, the Church of God began in 1886 about 50 miles east of Cleveland in the hills of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. By 1904, the center of the movement shifted to Cleveland, TN. It was here that Lee University began as Bible Training School (B.T.S.) in 1918. Today, it is a Christian liberal arts institution with over 4000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Under the leadership of President Paul Conn, the past 20 years have produced unprecedented physical and numerical growth. We are pleased to welcome you to our campus and sponsor this conference.

And what a conference it portends to be. Our theme is on the role of experience in Christian life and thought. Within Pentecostal circles, experience of God and the things of God has long been a potent motif for doctrine, life, and practice. The theme of this conference is the exploration of the role of experience in Christian life and thought, with a special emphasis on Pentecostal perspectives. The conference will seek to explore such issues as: can one experience God directly or is the experience of God always mediated by something else (e.g., church, culture); how is experience to be considered in relation to doctrine and theology; have Pentecostals laid too much stress on experience in their view of the Christian life; what is the relation of experience to epistemology; how do various Pentecostal groups throughout the world consider the role of experience in Christianity; what is an understanding of the role of experience from a psychology of religion perspective within Pentecostalism?

Our plenary speakers will offer a variety of approaches to this topic. Dr. Paul Conn, President of Lee University, is an inspiring speaker. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from Emory University. As a leader in Christian higher education and Pentecostal education in particular, he will provide excellent insight into the theme of the conference. It will be an exciting way to “kick off” the weekend.

Dr. David Daniels, our current president of SPS, is Professor of Church History at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Dr. Daniels will offer his Presidential Address in our second plenary session. Dr. Ben Witherington, Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, will be our keynote speaker in the third plenary session. Known for expertise in the study of the quest for the historical studies as well as his socio-rhetorical approach to reading Scripture, Dr. Witherington will address the SPS audience on his recent book, The Problem with Evangelical Theology: Testing the Exegetical Foundations of Calvinism, Dispensationalism and Wesleyanism. Several reviewers from SPS will offer their analysis and discussion and dialogue will fill the evening. Dr. Allan Anderson, Professor of Global Pentecostal Studies at the University of Birmingham (UK), will offer an address on the experience of the Spirit in early Pentecostalism for the fourth plenary session. Finally, during the Banquet, we will have our fifth plenary session provided by a panel of three SPS members: Drs. Emerson Powery, Amos Yong, and Arlene Sanchez Walsh. They will share personal stories and insights into the area of ethnicity and its implication for Pentecostal experience and scholarship. It is clear that the plenary sessions are events that members will not want to miss.

In addition to the plenary sessions, the specific papers and symposia in the pre-conference and parallel sessions are striking on topics related to the theme (experience) or not related to it at all. This conference portends an excellent weekend for the society.

The Program Committee for the 2007 Annual Meeting is as follows: Terry L. Cross (Lee University), chair; David Roebuck (Lee University), Executive Secretary; Donald Smeeton (Lee University), Library and Research; Angela Aubry (School of Urban Missions, LA), Diversity; James Shelton (Oral Roberts University), Bible; David Cole (Eugene Bible College), Ecumenical Studies; Kimberly Alexander (Church of God Theological Seminary), History; Joseph Castleberry (Assemblies of God Theological Seminary), Missions; Douglas Olena (Evangel University), Philosophy; Oliver McMahan (Church of God Theological Seminary), Practical Theology; Derrick Rosenior (Vanguard University), Religion and Culture; Dale Coulter (Lee University), Theology; Sang-Ehil Han (Church of God Theological Seminary), Asian/Asian-American.

Bulgaria: Religious Liberty

A Brief Historical and Legal Description of Religious Liberty

Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic ruled by a democratically elected government. It declared independence from Turkey in 1908, became a Communist nation in 1944, joined the United Nations in 1945, and rejected communism in 1989.1 Since the fall of communism, there has been controversy in Bulgaria over what level of religious freedom the government should allow. Members of the old regime contend that “non-traditional” religions, those other than the officially recognized Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Protestantism, Islam and Judaism, destabilize the country by allowing new social and cultural forces to influence the people. More progressive members of government, human rights and religious liberty organizations, as well as members of “non-traditional” religions, advocate greater freedom.

On July 1991, Bulgaria passed its current Constitution.2 Bulgaria joined the Council of Europe in May 1993 and ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in September of the same year.3 The U.S. Department of State reports, “Bulgaria’s human rights performance continued to be generally good in 1993. Freedom of press, assembly, religion, speech, association and travel were respected, with some significant exceptions.”4 In its map, “Suppression of Religious Liberty Around the World,” Christian Solidarity International rates Bulgaria as a country with “few violations, none serious, of basic religious liberties.”5

The majority of religious Bulgarian citizens in the country are Orthodox, but there is tension between Evangelical and Orthodox denominations because Evangelical Protestants are providing greater humanitarian relief to the population than their Orthodox counterparts. Minority ethnic and national groups include Armenians, Greeks, Gypsies, Jews and Turks. While the majority of citizens are nonreligious, 26% are Orthodox, 9% Sunni Muslims, 50,000 Catholics, and 50,000 other Christians.6 The Encyclopedia of Human Rights reports that “the government officially discourages the practice of religion, so there are no official statistics on the number of persons practicing a certain religion or belief.”7 The Baptist Union reports that, as of 1994, it has more than 25 congregations in Bulgaria and 2,000 to 3,000 members.8 One report estimates that “There are approximately 100,000 evangelical Christians in Bulgaria.”9

Although the State discourages the practice of religion, the Encyclopedia reports that the government “renders assistance to all recognized faiths, supplements their budgets, provides relief from various taxes, and takes care of the protection and restoration of historical and cultural monuments of a religious nature.”10 The U.S. State Department Report on Human Rights expands, “A number of major religious bodies, including the Muslim and Jewish communities, receive government financial support.”11

Although the Government says it provides support to religious communities, the Organization of the Islamic Conference stated in a 1988 report: “That the Muslims in Bulgaria have been denied free use of their places of worship (mosques), and the restrictions on their use on a particular day in a week or on a particular time only is a negation of a basic religious right of Muslims.”12

Constitutional and Legislative Provisions Regarding Religion
The 1991 Bulgarian Constitution vests sovereignty in the people, guarantees its citizens “[f]reedom of speech, association, press, assembly, religion and travel,” and recognizes Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the “traditional” religion.13 Constitutional provisions relating to religious liberty are as follows:

Article 13 (1): There is freedom of religion.

(2): Religious institutions are separate from the state.

(3): The Eastern Orthodox religion is the traditional religion of the Republic of Bulgaria.

(4): Religious communities and institutions or religious convictions may not be used in the pursuit of political objectives.14

Article 37 (1): Freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, and choice of religion or religious or atheistic views are inviolable. The state encourages tolerance and respect among believers of different faiths as well as between believers and nonbelievers.

(2): Freedom of conscience and religion may not be detrimental to national security, public order, public health and morality, or the rights and freedoms of other citizens.15

Article 58 (2): Religious or other beliefs are not grounds for refusing to fulfill the obligations imposed by the Constitution and laws.16

Bulgaria has also ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.17

Although the Constitution protects religious liberty de jure, the Government does not respect religious liberty de facto. Parliament has adopted a limited view of the Constitution’s protection of religious liberty. Since 1992, Parliament has passed numerous laws which restrict freedom of religion. In April 1993, Parliament negated the effects of a 1953 Decree which confiscated property of the Catholic Church.18 The Helsinki Commission maintains that, although the Church can regain its land legally, it “faces ‘administrative obstacles’ in the restoration process.”19 At the same time, a member of Parliament proposed a religion bill to allow Orthodoxy to be taught in the schools “and its doctrine spread about in the national mass media and in public.”20 This bill also would prohibit “‘non-traditional’ religions from using state and municipal property.”21

The government stringently upholds the Law on Denominations of 1949 which requires religious bodies to “register with the Directorate of Religious Affairs, or with the courts as a citizens’ association.”22 One of the consequences of the 1949 law is that, as the East-West Church and Ministry Report states, “no foreign person entering the country for the sole purpose of Christian work can acquire a residential visa for longer than one month.”23 Westerners who are not Americans must purchase a visa each time they enter the country.24

The Directorate of Religious Affairs in June 1994 announced changes in the Persons and Family Act which, according to News Network International (NNI), “requires all non- denominational religious organizations to seek governmental approval before registering.”25 The Government now forbids 24 organizations to register, states that they will lose their registration, and forbids them to engage in public activities.26 Those denied registration include an affiliate of Gideons International, a Bible center, a charity organization affiliated with the Church of God and a Christian literature group.27

According to a United Nations report, the Director of Religious Affairs in June 1992, following the Directorate for Denominations at the Council of Ministers of the Council of Ministers of the Bulgarian Government, stripped the Holy Synod [of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church] of all its rights and ordered the bank to freeze its assets and to transfer them to the new synod,” referring to the Law on Denominations of 1949 for legitimacy.28 The Government has since repealed certain sections of the Directorate as unconstitutional, but still holds that the central leadership of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had not been duly registered. When the Supreme Court in November 1992 held that the Directorate exceeded its authority, the Directorate yielded to the Court and appointed a new director.29

In early 1994, Bulgaria’s second largest city, Plovdiv, passed an ordinance to facilitate implementation of the 1949 Law, requiring all registered non-denominational organizations “with religious intent as its primary goal,” such as Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and followers of Sun Myung Moon and para-church organizations, to be approved by the Directorate of Religious Affairs and then “to re-register as a religious organization or to come under the umbrella of a specific, currently registered denomination” within 90 days or “the state would gain complete control of the organization’s assets and possessions.”30 East-West continues, “[T]o re-register, each organization is required to prove its need for re-registration, produce financial records for government approval, and undergo extensive interrogation.”31 The penalty for failing to re-register is a 10,000 leva ($180 U.S.) fine, or revocation of registration for those that fail to obey.32 The ordinance recognizes Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim, Armenian-Gregorian and Jewish religions as having “the historical presence” in the city, but mandates that it will deny registration to other religious groups if “their activities are directed against national security, national self-consciousness, social order, health and morals, or the rights and freedoms of other citizens.”33 The director of the Bulgarian Directorate of Religious Affairs said that the purpose of the new law is “merely to distinguish religious communities from non-religious foundations. Dissolution of religious groups and confiscation of property are not the purpose of this law.”34 However, the secretary of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee argues that the law “eventually will lead to the dissolution of several religious associations or religious-affiliated associations.”35

In mid-March 1994, Plovdiv issued another ordinance which prohibits religious organizations from inviting people younger than 18 years to religious activities and from advertising religious events in public places. An ordinance limiting religious groups’ access to public halls has been in place since May 1992.36

Recent Reported Cases of Religious Intolerance

Religious intolerance falls into three main categories: media harassment, missionary harassment, and restrictions on freedom of worship.

MEDIA HARASSMENT. The media is often hostile toward Evangelical Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other “non-traditional” religions, characterizing Protestant groups as “cult-like and responsible for prostitution, drugs and teenage suicide.”37 A Bulgarian newspaper described the mood toward missionaries: “Sects ruin the character, they brainwash, destroy the mind, and break up the values of Bulgarians which make society… vulnerable to the political, economic and ‘cultural’ expansion which spreads after the coming of missionaries.”38 Since March 1993, the major newspapers have conducted a media campaign against all “non-traditional religions.”39 While the media blatantly attacks many religions, the Government denies evangelicals access to TV and radio, and thus prevents them from responding to such attacks.40 In June 1994, skinheads interrupted a worship service at a Church of God, holding captive 300 worshippers and severely beating seven church members.41 According to NNI, “[t]he roots of the June attack can be traced to the media . . . which have for months engaged in propaganda efforts against Protestants.”42

Media coverage has led to a situation where, as an Orthodox priest said, it is okay for young people to beat up evangelical pastors.43 The U.S. Department of State reports that media harassment characterized by “extensive press reporting which painted lurid and often inaccurate pictures of the activities of non-Orthodox religious groups,” lead to missionary harassment.44 The United Nations stated that, “[o]n 2 April 1993, Orthodox priests, students and teachers from the Eastern Orthodox Seminary reportedly marched through the streets of Sofia brandishing torches and setting fire to various symbols of the Protestant faith which they had seized.”45

In April 1993, more than 4,000 Protestants signed an appeal to the National Assembly “protesting acts of intolerance against them and against other non-Orthodox Christians.”46 As of December 1993, the Government appointed two Commissions in the National Assembly to consider Protestant claims, but had made no final determination. The government did state, however, that “It is true that some mass media do not make a distinction between sect and denomination, but the Executive Power has no right to encroach upon the freedom and independence of the mass media.”47

In addition to campaigning against non-traditional religions, the media also opposes Islam. Amnesty International found that “the Bulgarian authorities have attacked Islamic traditions and Islam in general with growing frequency in official publications.”48

MISSIONARY HARASSMENT. The U.S. State Department states that Protestant groups and Western Missionaries have reported harassment. “[S]pecific problems have included difficulties in obtaining visas and residence permits and, in one case, a bomb threat against the opening of an evangelical Bible college.”49 The report stated that a Hare Krishna who was “physically assaulted on the streets and the subject of threats, reportedly had difficulty obtaining adequate police protection.” When a neighborhood group petitioned for the eviction of Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of Parliament supported the petition.50 NNI states that local officials “reportedly seized and sealed” evangelistic materials stored temporarily in the garage of a missionary affiliated with Children Evangelism Fellowship.51

A staff member with Open Doors with brother Andrew reported that he was refused entry at a border checkpoint for carrying Bibles in September 1993.52

In addition to turning a deaf ear to missionary harassment, the state tightened restrictions on missionary entry and activity. In early 1994, the Government denied entry to a planeload of Swedish evangelists who arrived at the Sofia airport without visas.53 An NNI article reports that the state permits few, if any, missionaries with non-registered organizations to enter Bulgaria.54 Missionaries affiliated with churches or para-church organizations not yet registered with the Directorate of Religious Affairs in accordance with a February 1994 law, have extreme difficulty remaining in Bulgaria for longer than the 30 days permitted by their visas. When the Director of World Evangelical Fellowship inquired as to why his visa was denied, the government told him, “Because of the church.” In response to restrictions, some missionaries are expanding their job description to include entrepreneurial activities which allow them to enter the country under the designation of a businessman.55

The Government also imposes “restrictions on humanitarian aid received from abroad” and “excessive custom duties on church imports.” Of course, the Orthodox Church avoids such fees because the state handles its shipments.56

RESTRICTIONS ON FREEDOM OF WORSHIP. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church is attempting to become the only official Christian church in Bulgaria so that it can prohibit other churches from working legally. This would contradict Article 13 of the Bulgarian Constitution which provides for freedom of religious institutions and separation of them from government.57 Although the Orthodox Church has not achieved its goal through overt legislation, stringent implementation of a 1949 law requiring churches to register with the government may aid their cause.

A 1994 newspaper article reports, “Many evangelical leaders believe that the governmental persecution is being encouraged by Orthodox church leaders.”58 In 1994, government officials denied recognition to an alliance of Bulgarian evangelical churches to the chagrin of its leaders who assert that such action will limit their ability to resist infringement upon religious liberty. The denial applies to Baptist, Church of God, Congregational, Methodist and Pentecostal congregations. Leaders believe the Bulgarian government is attempting to break up a possibly evangelical “power block.”59 Several religious groups, including Word of Life, have been outlawed in Bulgaria by Parliament´s amendments to the Families and Persons Act, which legalized the tightening of registration requirements for groups whose activities had a religious element.60 More than 75 groups were given just three months to reregister, and after review by the Directorate and the Council of Ministers, more than two-thirds were denied.61

The government has prohibited churches from purchasing land, building on land that they own, and renting public facilities that were once open to them.62 Local authorities in Sofia halted construction of a church on land owned by the denomination by incorrectly claiming that the land was government property. Municipal authorities in Plovdiv passed an ordinance “against renting public spaces for religious meetings.” The government prevented two Christian groups in other cities from using public halls they had been renting.63

Registration requirements have restricted the freedom of worship of many churches. The head of Sofia’s Logos Bible Academy has been attempting to register his organization since 1991. The government informed him in 1994 that they had no record of his attempts to register. A Bulgarian Pastor who applied for registration in the fall of 1993 stated at the end of 1993 that “his denomination has been close to being registered several times, but each time was subjected to ‘unnecessary delaying tactics in the process.’”64 Despite eyewitness evidence to the contrary, the U.S. State Department reports that “No group was denied registration, and more than 30 are officially recognized.”65

For those religious groups that have been able to maintain their registration, the U.S. Department of State reports,

There were no restrictions on attendance at religious services or on private religious instruction. A school for imams, a Muslim cultural center, university theological faculties, and religious primary schools operated freely. Many new mosques were constructed, especially in the southern regions. Bibles and other religious materials in the Bulgarian language were freely imported and printed. Muslim, Catholic, and Jewish publications were published on a regular basis.”66

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ENDNOTES

1 “The State of Religious Freedom in Bulgaria.” (Sofia, Bulgaria: Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, 1994): 4.

2 ibid.

3 Amnesty International Report 1993, “Bulgaria,” (Amnesty International Publications: London, 1994): 77.

4 “Bulgaria Human Rights Practices, 1993.” 1994 U.S. Department of State: Department of State Dispatch, (January 31, 1994): LEXIS 3.

5 “Suppression of Religious Liberty Around the World.” (Christian Solidarity International, 1994).

6 “Country Survey.” (Christian Solidarity International, 1994): 3.

7 Edward H. Lawson, ed., Encyclopedia of Human Rights (New York: Taylor & Francis, Inc., 1991): 140.

8 “In the face of endangered religious freedom, several Christian church bodies in Bulgaria have joined in an alliance,” National and International Religion Report, Vol. 7, No. 13 (June 14, 1993): 2.

9 GCN (EP: Sofia, Bulgaria, June 8, 1994).

10 Lawson, 140.

11 U.S. Department of State: LEXIS 11.

12 UN Doc. A/43/230 at Lawson, 140.

13 U.S. Department of State: LEXIS 11.

14 Gisbert H. Flanz, “Republic of Bulgaria,” in Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz, eds., Constitutions of the Countries of the World (Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, Inc., 1992): 89.

15 ibid, 94.

16 ibid, 98.

17 22 September 1993 “Letter from the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Bulgaria,” in United Nations: Economic and Social Council, Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, E/C.4/1994/79, (20 January 1994): 28.

18 Thomas S. Giles, “Watchdog Group Says ‘Serious’ Human Rights Problems Remain.” News Network International (December 21, 1993): 21.

19 ibid.

20 ibid.

21 ibid.

22 U.S. Department of State: LEXIS 11.

23 Jennifer S. Blandford, “Bulgarian Evangelicals Under Siege.” East-West Church and Ministry Report, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Spring 1994): 2.

24 ibid.

25 Thomas S. Giles, “Religious Groups Denied Permission to Register.” News Network International (July 6, 1994): 10.

26 ibid.

27 ibid, 10-11.

28 22 September 1993 “Letter from the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Bulgaria,” 27.

29 15 December 1993 “Permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United Nations Office at Geneva transmission to the Special Rapporteur,” in United Nations: Economic and Social Council, 29.

30 Thomas S. Giles, “Religious Leader, Rights Advocates Criticize New Ordinance.” News Network International (May 10, 1994): 10.

31 Blandford, 2.

32 Giles, “Religious Leader, Rights Advocates Criticize New Ordinance,” 10.

33 ibid.

34 Giles, “New Para-Church Rule Raises Concerns,” News Network International (March 15, 1994): 12.

35 ibid.

36 Giles, “Religious Leaders, Rights Advocates Criticize New Ordinance,” 10.

37 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 9.

38 Blandford, 1.

39 Giles, “Watchdog Group Says ‘Serious’ Human Rights Problems Remain,” 21.

40 Mike Creswell, “Evangelism complicated by cults in Bulgaria.” Foreign Mission News (Foreign Mission Board of the Souther Baptist Convention: December 6, 1993).

41 Maryann B. Hunsberger, “Anti-Protestant Propaganda Restricts Religious Liberty.” News Network International (August 17, 1994): 48.

42 ibid.

43 Baptist Press Release (May 31, 1994).

44 U.S. Department of State: LEXIS 10.

45 22 September 1993 “Letter from the Special Rapporteur to the Government of Bulgaria,” 27.

46 ibid.

47 15 December 1993 “Permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United Nations Office at Geneva transmission to the Special Rapporteur,” 29.

48 Amnesty International, “Religious Intolerance: Bulgaria.” (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1986): 5.

49 U.S. Department of State, LEXIS: 10.

50 U.S. Department of State, LEXIS: 10.

51 Thomas S. Giles, “Bulgarian Evangelicals Alliance Denied Recognition.” News Network International (October 26, 1993): 15.

52 ibid, 14.

53 Thomas S. Giles, “New Para-church Rule Raises Concerns.” News Network International (March 15, 1994): 12.

54 Giles, “Bulgarian Evangelicals Alliance Denied Recognition,” 15.

55 Giles, “Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance Denied Recognition,” 14-15.

56 Randy Tift, “Bulgarian Protestants Unite to Resist Attacks on ‘Sects.’” News Network International (June 30, 1993): 25.

57 Blandford, 2.

58 GCN.

59 Giles, “Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance Denied Recognition,” 13

60 U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994 (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1995): 768; and “Parents of Sect Members Urge Government to Take Steps Against Sects.” Daily News (August 23, 1995): 3.

61 ibid.

62 GCN.

63 Giles, “Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance Denied Recognition,” 14.

64 Giles, “Watchdog Group Says ‘Serious’ Human Rights Problems Remain,” 20.

65 U.S. Department of State: LEXIS 11.

66 ibid.
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Source: Handbook on Religious Liberty Around the World, Pedro C. Moreno, Editor. Charlottesville, VA: The Rutherford Institute.

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