Vietnamese Christians object to new ordinance

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship (VEF) recently released a statement on Vietnam’s new Ordinance on Religion, due to take effect Nov. 15. The VEF is an organization of about 30 unregistered house church organizations representing many hundreds of house churches.

The Aug. 30 letter states, “This ordinance will create many problems and disadvantages for the church, especially for our gatherings for worship. At the same time, it is likely to permanently outlaw our house church organizations, none of which have been recognized since 1975.

Many articles in this ordinance will also provide a legal basis for local authorities to hinder and persecute the church. It is a courageous statement, especially in that it asks prayer for the government of Vietnam to withdraw the ordinance issued on June 18, and to stop all forms of persecution and hindrances to the church’s activities.”