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CHRISTIAN LEADERS DENOUNCE MISSIONARY GROUPS POSING AS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
by Taylor Luck
Jordan Times
Feb 17 2008
Jordan
Amman: Denouncing missionary groups that present themselves as
charitable organizations, the Council of Churches in Jordan refuted
[denied] a recent article claiming the government was cracking down
on foreign Christians living in the kingdom.
An article published last month by Compass Direct News alleged
that the government expelled and refused residency permits to 27
expatriate Christians from the US, South Korea, Egypt, Sudan and Iraq
for belonging to evangelical groups.
It also claimed that the government deported Jordan Evangelical
Theological Seminary (JETS) students and denied residency applications
of JETS students in the 2007-2008 academic year.
In a statement released earlier this month, the council, the country's
highest Christian body, highlighted the long history of peaceful
interfaith coexistence in the Kingdom.
"It is puzzling that certain small groups, whose members number only
a few hundred people and which are foreign to Christians in Jordan
and to the history of Muslim-Christian relations, permit themselves
to speak in the name of all Christians and act as protectors of
Christianity as if it were in danger," the statement read.
The statement, which was signed by the Bishops of the Greek Orthodox,
Greek Catholic (Melkite), Roman Catholic and Armenian Orthodox
Churches, stressed that Jordanian Christians do not fear the government
will move away from its long-held policy of religious tolerance.
Christian citizens are free to serve in the army, the police,
security forces or any other government institution on par with Muslim
nationals, they pointed out, adding that Christian leaders enjoy good
relations with both Muslim religious leaders and government officials.
The law preserves a number of seats in the lower house of parliament
for Christian citizens, and many Christians serve as senators in the
upper house and as cabinet ministers, the statement added.
The council denounced the growing number of missionary groups that
come to the kingdom under the guise of educational, social or cultural
organizations.
The church leaders accused many foreign missionary groups registered
as humanitarian organizations of declaring themselves churches and
proselytizing among Jordanians, giving rise to religious animosity
and threatening Christian-Muslim relations.
"We hope these groups stop acting as self-appointed guardians of
Christians and Christianity in Jordan, stop describing themselves as
churches and respect the Jordanian state, its laws and its citizens,"
the Christian leaders stressed.
On the issue of deportation, the council said that the government is
exercising its right to protect citizens from harassment by foreigners,
and that visitors must respect the kingdom's laws and residency permit
regulations, regardless of religion.
Noting that the Arab Anglican Episcopal Church and the Anglican
Lutheran Church do not recognize these organizations as churches, the
council appealed to the missionary groups to end their proselytizing.
"We do not need their religious extremism or activities that harm
national unity and historical Christian-Christian and Christian-Muslim
relations," the statement said, adding that such activities have
become a threat to national security.
The church leaders went on to accuse certain missionary groups of
attracting poor and unemployed youth and implanting them with "their
own radicalism and aspirations" before sending them across the region,
causing difficulties for native Christian communities.
Jordanian Christians have never been exposed to violence or terrorism,
the statement stressed, adding that the government protects Christian
religious sites with "total care" and even provides plots of land
free to churches.
Noting that Islam is the state religion, the church leaders underlined
personal status laws that stem from Islam are only applicable to
Muslims
Denying the existence of "split" Muslim and Christian communities,
the council pointed out that the constitution grants the right of
churches to establish courts with their own jurisdiction - on par
with the shari'ah courts - in personal status matters.
by Taylor Luck
Jordan Times
Feb 17 2008
Jordan
Amman: Denouncing missionary groups that present themselves as
charitable organizations, the Council of Churches in Jordan refuted
[denied] a recent article claiming the government was cracking down
on foreign Christians living in the kingdom.
An article published last month by Compass Direct News alleged
that the government expelled and refused residency permits to 27
expatriate Christians from the US, South Korea, Egypt, Sudan and Iraq
for belonging to evangelical groups.
It also claimed that the government deported Jordan Evangelical
Theological Seminary (JETS) students and denied residency applications
of JETS students in the 2007-2008 academic year.
In a statement released earlier this month, the council, the country's
highest Christian body, highlighted the long history of peaceful
interfaith coexistence in the Kingdom.
"It is puzzling that certain small groups, whose members number only
a few hundred people and which are foreign to Christians in Jordan
and to the history of Muslim-Christian relations, permit themselves
to speak in the name of all Christians and act as protectors of
Christianity as if it were in danger," the statement read.
The statement, which was signed by the Bishops of the Greek Orthodox,
Greek Catholic (Melkite), Roman Catholic and Armenian Orthodox
Churches, stressed that Jordanian Christians do not fear the government
will move away from its long-held policy of religious tolerance.
Christian citizens are free to serve in the army, the police,
security forces or any other government institution on par with Muslim
nationals, they pointed out, adding that Christian leaders enjoy good
relations with both Muslim religious leaders and government officials.
The law preserves a number of seats in the lower house of parliament
for Christian citizens, and many Christians serve as senators in the
upper house and as cabinet ministers, the statement added.
The council denounced the growing number of missionary groups that
come to the kingdom under the guise of educational, social or cultural
organizations.
The church leaders accused many foreign missionary groups registered
as humanitarian organizations of declaring themselves churches and
proselytizing among Jordanians, giving rise to religious animosity
and threatening Christian-Muslim relations.
"We hope these groups stop acting as self-appointed guardians of
Christians and Christianity in Jordan, stop describing themselves as
churches and respect the Jordanian state, its laws and its citizens,"
the Christian leaders stressed.
On the issue of deportation, the council said that the government is
exercising its right to protect citizens from harassment by foreigners,
and that visitors must respect the kingdom's laws and residency permit
regulations, regardless of religion.
Noting that the Arab Anglican Episcopal Church and the Anglican
Lutheran Church do not recognize these organizations as churches, the
council appealed to the missionary groups to end their proselytizing.
"We do not need their religious extremism or activities that harm
national unity and historical Christian-Christian and Christian-Muslim
relations," the statement said, adding that such activities have
become a threat to national security.
The church leaders went on to accuse certain missionary groups of
attracting poor and unemployed youth and implanting them with "their
own radicalism and aspirations" before sending them across the region,
causing difficulties for native Christian communities.
Jordanian Christians have never been exposed to violence or terrorism,
the statement stressed, adding that the government protects Christian
religious sites with "total care" and even provides plots of land
free to churches.
Noting that Islam is the state religion, the church leaders underlined
personal status laws that stem from Islam are only applicable to
Muslims
Denying the existence of "split" Muslim and Christian communities,
the council pointed out that the constitution grants the right of
churches to establish courts with their own jurisdiction - on par
with the shari'ah courts - in personal status matters.