RUSSIA: How will re-training of foreign-trained clergy be implemented?

[Tbs77]

I got a feeling this is going to be an interesting event this October....
 
12 May 2021
Victoria Arnold, Forum 18
From October, when new Religion Law amendments come into force, all clergy, religious teachers and missionaries employed by religious organisations who have trained abroad will need to undertake a course in "state-confessional relations in the Russian Federation". They will then need to be re-certified by a centralised religious organisation before being permitted to begin work for the first time. How the amendments will be applied in practice "is a big question", commented Stanislav Kulov of the Slavic Centre for Law and Justice.
 
On 5 April, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a set of amendments to Russia's Religion Law which will impose re-training and re-certification requirements on clergy, religious teachers and missionaries employed by religious organisations who have trained abroad. The requirement will apply to all individuals – whether Russian or foreign citizens – who take up such roles for the first time after the amendments enter legal force on 3 October 2021.
 
See link: https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2657
 
IMHO, This law is going to be earthshaking!
 
The ROC better be careful about what it’s asking for!

[Shawnster]

12 minutes ago, Tbs77 said:

IMHO, This law is going to be earthshaking!

What do you expect to happen that will make this earth shaking?

[Tbs77]

What do you expect to happen that will make this earth shaking?

Will this law be forced on our Russian brothers that went to SKE and Gilead so the KOTN can use another tool (law) to harass the brothers in the land of Decoration? Let’s see what develops six months from now...

[Shawnster]

1 hour ago, Tbs77 said:

Will this law be forced on our Russian brothers that went to SKE and Gilead so the KOTN can use another tool (law) to harass the brothers in the land of Decoration? Let’s see what develops six months from now...

Perhaps, but right now we're not allowed to preach, period.  For this law to be enforced, then Russia would have to recognize Jehovah's Witnesses as having a right to practice their religion in Russia.  But, perhaps the Russians could use this as a coercion tactic.  We will legalize you and stop the persecution if you take our indoctrination classes.

 

It would depend on whether they are open to stopping the persecution or not.  Such a class would legitimize  Jehovah's Witnesses and they may not be willing to go that far.

 

So, in the end, not much different than what we're experiencing now.

[shali]

2 hours ago, Tbs77 said:

Will this law be forced on our Russian brothers that went to SKE and Gilead so the KOTN can use another tool (law) to harass the brothers in the land of Decoration? Let’s see what develops six months from now...

I wouldn't think so because it used the word "employed".  All clery and religous teachers who are "employed" by an organization should receive this training and recertification.  Our elders are employed and receive no compensation for what they do.  I imagine if Russian gets wind of that though, they will change the wording so that it will have to include us.  Of course, when you consider our past history with Russia (1950's, being exiled to Siberia), you'd think they would know from the get-go that we can't be "re-trained".

Edited May 12, 2021 by shali

[shali]

I meant to say "our elders aren't employed".

[Shawnster]

3 hours ago, shali said:

I wouldn't think so because it used the word "employed".  All clery and religous teachers who are "employed" by an organization should receive this training and recertification

I wouldn't hang my hat on the word employed. The world doesn't understand how we operate without employees. Plus, this is the Russian government. They aren't favorable to most religions and I doubt they will give a free pass to us because we aren't paid.