Document #1080881
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The following interview was conducted with
the Southern Baptist Church representative in Israel. The interview
was held in Jerusalem on 27 April 1995.
I represent the largest evangelical
Christian denomination in America, the Southern Baptist. We have
around 38,000 congregations in America, and about 18 million
members around the world. Our church has 25 representatives in
Israel, of which 5 are located in Jerusalem.
I have been living and working in Israel
since 1973. I love living in Israel and I intend to spend the rest
of my life here. I want to be positive about Israel as a whole.
Although we had short periods of difficulties at the hand of a
small group of radicals, on the whole it has been a positive
experience to live in Israel as a Christian. It is clear to me that
there is more freedom of religion in Israel than in any other
country of the Middle East. I would also like to convey that I am
bothered by the fact that Israel has no written constitution,
although there are basic declarations of rights that deal with
religious freedom.
It has been my experience that the
government does try to provide a pluralistic society, and does try
to respect the rights of Christians, Moslem, and Jews. Only 2.5 per
cent of the Israeli population considers themselves to be
Christians. This number puts the Christian communities in a severe
minority status.
As I understand it, Israel has inherited
certain problems of relations with the Christian Churches from the
British and from the Ottoman Empire. The more recognizable Middle
Eastern Churches (Armenian, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, etc.) come
under what we call "status quo" which gives them somewhat greater
Christian rights. Our church, as well as many other, has the legal
status of "Amuta". This status provides churches with specific
rights as non-profit organizations. One of these rights is the
obligation of the police to provide protection. It would be better
for Christians if Israel had a recognized legal status for
"Church".
The problem is that religious rights are
not equally and uniformly distributed among the Christian churches
in Israel. When Israel became a State in 1948, the Christians in
general had a lot more rights, as I have been told. The best way to
express the slow decline of the rights of Christian churches in
Israel is that of an ice pic picking at an ice block a little bit
at a time. The decline has been so gradual that the Christian
communities have not opposed or argued with what has been taking
place. However, if one examines the last 47 years, there are a
tremendous number of rights that have been taken away from the
Christians communities. For example, we now receive tax bills on
Christian properties. Christian communities never received tax
bills for their properties until the last few years. Although the
Ministry of Religious Affairs says not to pay these bills, it is
another government department which sends the bills to the
churches. Churches are generally not paying these bills. If one is
aware of how the Israeli government deals with organizations that
do not pay their bills, the fear is that in the future some
government authority may try to confiscate sections of church
properties to cover these unpaid bills.
It is my opinion that secular authorities
like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Religious
Affairs are trying to help Christian communities in Israel.
However, there is a wide gap between Prime Minister Rabin and the
influence of the Orthodox religious parties. Within the Ministry of
Religious Affairs, the Department for Christians is very small in
comparison to other departments. Therefore, services to Christian
communities tend to be slow and underfunded. For example, Christian
communities are supposed to get refunds on value added tax.
However, our church has been waiting for a substantial refund for
quite a period of time. Eventually, we will probably receive the
money. In my opinion, it seems that there is pressure exercised on,
and from within, the authorities to create obstacles for the
Christian communities.
The Southern Baptist congregation is one of
the most visible and best known Christian churches in this area of
Jerusalem which is composed mainly of orthodox Jews. We have been
in this area for approximately 70 years. During that period we have
experienced serious problems. Our church's front windows have been
broken more than twelve times, we have been robbed around six
times, we have been bombed twice, demonstrated against, and
suffered arson in 1982 during which our books were piled up and
burned along with the church building. Although these are serious
incidents, I must emphasize that these acts were committed by a
small minority of Jewish radicals.
In the case of criminal arson, nobody was
arrested or brought to trial. However, we had a very good idea of
which group committed the arson and, as far as I know, the group is
currently outlawed. Similar acts have been committed against other
Christian churches. Again I must stress that in any country
radicals may cause serious incidents. During my 22 years in Israel,
I can say that in general Israelis are kind, accepting, truthful,
helpful, and have been good friends.
As far as our church is concerned, we feel
that we have freedom of religion to a great extent. However, there
are certain actions that it would be unwise to do, such as
distributing Christian pamphlets in front of the Western Wall or in
an orthodox neighbourhood. However, if people come on the church
property and ask questions, I can say whatever I like. I will
certainly share my faith as I have done in many parts of this city.
I will not force my faith on anyone, especially not on children.
For example, a child asked me for an interview on my faith and I
refused to give it unless he brought his father with him during the
interview. He brought his father, and we had a great interview. The
father conveyed his appreciation to me for having the sensitivity
to invite him. These are unwritten rules. In other words, I find
that if I make it clear to everyone about my faith in Christianity,
I am accepted by most people.
As for the Soviet immigrant community, I
think that unlike their Jewish counterparts, Christian immigrants
would have a difficult time as Christians in Israel. This is mainly
due to the fact that Israel has not yet taken a decision about what
to do with the Christian community in the country. Soviet
immigrants whose religious identity is ambiguous would also find it
difficult in Israel. I think the main question is why these people
left Russia. If they came to Israel because it was the only way for
them to leave the former Soviet Union, it is likely that they never
intended to live in this country in the first place. First, those
who are using Israel as a transit for another destination may not
give Israel a fair chance. If people come to Israel under false
pretences as self-declared Jews, and it is later found that they
are in fact Christians, that might anger Israelis. For example, I
have been told by one Russian Christian that he lost his job when
it was discovered he was a Christian.
Not unlike their Jewish counterparts,
Soviet Christians will experience integration problems. They may
have a cultural shock coming to this country. They do not know the
language, the culture, the society, and they are certainly not
prepared to live as a religious minority. In addition, they did not
learn how to live in a free society. They are coming from a society
where everything was given to them, where the State was the
provider of all the goods in the society. Once in Israel, they have
to work hard to acquire material advantages. One obstacle would be
that given the chance, Israeli Jews will probably hire a Jew from
the former Soviet Union before a non-Jew. I know I would hire a
Christian to accomplish certain tasks related to Christianity. In
other words, they are coming to Israel with integration handicaps.
However, it does not make Israel a horrible place in which to
live.
In summary, these difficulties may trigger
disenchantment, especially for those who never intended to remain
in the country in the first place. For example, I know Soviet
Jewish believers who came to Israel under the Law of Return and
they love the country. They love the country and they want to stay
because they are believers. I do not believe that Christians coming
to Israel from the former Soviet Union put their personal lives in
danger. I have never been personally assaulted. I think the
building was attacked because it stands as a symbol of the presence
of Jesus here. As a Christian, I do have rights in Israel.
I believe that one of the future challenges
of the State of Israel is to write a clear legal status for
churches which would clarify the legal rights and standings of
Christians and churches. The problem is that a significant number
of rules are not written down. It is very difficult for churches to
protect their rights when few of them are even written. It opens it
up to various interpretations of the current law according to
unwritten practices. The danger is that interpretations might vary
with changes of authorities. Hence, the need for the protection of
a written legal document guaranteeing those rights.
I am trying to provide a positive image of
Israel, but I certainly recognize that there are problems in this
country with regard to Christians. Despite the problems our church
has encountered here, I do love this country and its people. I also
feel that the secular Jews are already pushing against the demands
of the orthodox Jewish communities on them.
I just hope there can be more legal,
written and uniform rights for Christians, churches and church
property in this country.
Information on the Southern Baptist Church in Jerusalem [ISR21637.E] (Response, French)