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BosNewsLife
Oct 9 2014
Turkey Threatens Deportation Of American Pastor
Thursday, October 9, 2014 (12:40 pm)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- An American evangelical pastor in
Turkey faced uncertainty Thursday, October 9, after authorities
reportedly cancelled his long-term residence permit and ordered his
deportation.
Local police also sealed the premises of Pastor Patrick Jensen's 'New
Life Church' congregation in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, said
the church leader and other Christians.
Jensen was detained for some 30 hours on September 14, before being
permitted to return to his home. His Turkish residence permit -- valid
through to November of 2015 -- was cancelled, but a temporary 30-day
permit was issued until the court rules on his appeal, BosNewsLife
learned.
The pastor said he was ordered to pay 3,043 Turkish lira (some $1,331)
for allegedly violating the country's labour laws, which require a
work permit for legal employment status.
In published remarks Jensen made clear he would not pay the fine as he
was only "a volunteer serving in the church." He said Labour Ministry
officials had "mistakenly classified the church as a place of
business."
SMALL CONGREGATION
The pastor started the small congregation of up to 40 adults nine
years ago when he and his family moved to Gaziantep, among the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world.
However, "It seemed we were being viewed negatively, as if we were
enemies. Some pressure is being put on us, although our open presence
and activities here had not been an issue before," he said.
Jensen isn't the only foreign church leader experiencing problems. "It
is not clear according to which criteria they say yes or no,"
explained General Secretary Umut Sahin of the Association of
Protestant Churchescps. "Currently, only four Protestant church
leaders have been able to obtain this visa status."
Following last month's police crackdown, the New Life Church
congregation has been meeting informally in a park and in private
homes.
Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), an advocacy group supporting
"persecuted Christians" noted that the fledgling congregation has not
yet applied for official status as an association, "which is the only
legal option open to register new Christian congregations."
WIDER CRACKDOWN
Despite an estimated 5,000 Protestant Christians meeting in 120 small
congregations in Turkey, the state prohibits institutions for the
theological training of their clergy, according to activists.
The same ban apparently prevents traditional Orthodox, Armenian and
Syriac communities from opening seminaries for their local priests and
church workers.
Christians comprise less than 0.2 percent of the country's over 80
million mainly population, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA), and church leaders have expressed concerns about Islamic
threats and violence against Christians in the Muslim-majority
country.
Turkey has come under international pressure to improve religious
rights following several deadly attacks against priests and
missionaries.
TURKEY DENIES
However Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?Ä?an has strongly denied
U.S. suggestions that his nation supports Islamists fighters such as
Islamic State, which has been known for killing Christians and others
it does not like.
American Vice-President Joe Biden apologised Tuesday, October 7, to
Saudi Arabia, after already making apologies to Turkey and the United
Arab Emirates, for saying that they have supported terrorism in the
Middle East.
Amid the standoff, VOMC urged fellow believers to bring Jensen's
"difficult situation to our Lord in prayer, trusting that His will be
done on earth as it is in " a reference to Bible verse Matthew 6:10.
The group also urged prayers for "peace", that authorities will
"overturn the fine and deportation order" and that " this congregation
will continue to meet for worship despite this latest obstacle, and
that God will provide another suitable location for their services."
http://www.bosnewslife.com/33857-turkey-threatens-deportation-of-american-pastor
From: A. Papazian
Oct 9 2014
Turkey Threatens Deportation Of American Pastor
Thursday, October 9, 2014 (12:40 pm)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (BosNewsLife)-- An American evangelical pastor in
Turkey faced uncertainty Thursday, October 9, after authorities
reportedly cancelled his long-term residence permit and ordered his
deportation.
Local police also sealed the premises of Pastor Patrick Jensen's 'New
Life Church' congregation in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, said
the church leader and other Christians.
Jensen was detained for some 30 hours on September 14, before being
permitted to return to his home. His Turkish residence permit -- valid
through to November of 2015 -- was cancelled, but a temporary 30-day
permit was issued until the court rules on his appeal, BosNewsLife
learned.
The pastor said he was ordered to pay 3,043 Turkish lira (some $1,331)
for allegedly violating the country's labour laws, which require a
work permit for legal employment status.
In published remarks Jensen made clear he would not pay the fine as he
was only "a volunteer serving in the church." He said Labour Ministry
officials had "mistakenly classified the church as a place of
business."
SMALL CONGREGATION
The pastor started the small congregation of up to 40 adults nine
years ago when he and his family moved to Gaziantep, among the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world.
However, "It seemed we were being viewed negatively, as if we were
enemies. Some pressure is being put on us, although our open presence
and activities here had not been an issue before," he said.
Jensen isn't the only foreign church leader experiencing problems. "It
is not clear according to which criteria they say yes or no,"
explained General Secretary Umut Sahin of the Association of
Protestant Churchescps. "Currently, only four Protestant church
leaders have been able to obtain this visa status."
Following last month's police crackdown, the New Life Church
congregation has been meeting informally in a park and in private
homes.
Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), an advocacy group supporting
"persecuted Christians" noted that the fledgling congregation has not
yet applied for official status as an association, "which is the only
legal option open to register new Christian congregations."
WIDER CRACKDOWN
Despite an estimated 5,000 Protestant Christians meeting in 120 small
congregations in Turkey, the state prohibits institutions for the
theological training of their clergy, according to activists.
The same ban apparently prevents traditional Orthodox, Armenian and
Syriac communities from opening seminaries for their local priests and
church workers.
Christians comprise less than 0.2 percent of the country's over 80
million mainly population, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA), and church leaders have expressed concerns about Islamic
threats and violence against Christians in the Muslim-majority
country.
Turkey has come under international pressure to improve religious
rights following several deadly attacks against priests and
missionaries.
TURKEY DENIES
However Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?Ä?an has strongly denied
U.S. suggestions that his nation supports Islamists fighters such as
Islamic State, which has been known for killing Christians and others
it does not like.
American Vice-President Joe Biden apologised Tuesday, October 7, to
Saudi Arabia, after already making apologies to Turkey and the United
Arab Emirates, for saying that they have supported terrorism in the
Middle East.
Amid the standoff, VOMC urged fellow believers to bring Jensen's
"difficult situation to our Lord in prayer, trusting that His will be
done on earth as it is in " a reference to Bible verse Matthew 6:10.
The group also urged prayers for "peace", that authorities will
"overturn the fine and deportation order" and that " this congregation
will continue to meet for worship despite this latest obstacle, and
that God will provide another suitable location for their services."
http://www.bosnewslife.com/33857-turkey-threatens-deportation-of-american-pastor
From: A. Papazian