An Exciting Time in Vietnam, Religiously and Economically.
The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) has just completed its visit to better understand religious freedom in Vietnam. Hosted by the Vietnam-USA Society (VUS), the IGE delegation visited four provinces in the Northwest and Central Highlands of Vietnam. In an interview with Vietnam - US Magazine, IGE presisent, Chris Seiple explains why this is very exciting time here in Vietnam, religiously and economically in the relationship between two countries.
You were in Vietnam last year. Do you have the same purpose for this year's trip?
It's the same purpose. IGE and VUS have been working together to discuss and tackle a sticky issue between Vietnam and the US relations and it is the issue of religious freedom. It takes place in the context that is very exciting time here in Vietnam, religiously and economically, in the relationship between two countries. So we plan to remove this sticky issue and seize the bright future together.
What kind of changes have you realized since the last year trip in Vietnam?
Some things never change about Vietnam. The hospitability is wonderful, as well as the industriousness of the people. I've never seen people who want to work harder, who are more proud of their nation. It inspires me.
In terms of the issue we're working on, we have been to 4 provinces in the last six days, two in the Northwest and two in the Central Highlands. I visited the central Highlands before. We were all able to visit the people's committees, committees for religious affairs and local churches in each of the four provinces. And in each of the four provinces, we did see progress and significant change made since last year.
For example, we were in Daklak two days ago. Since I visited there last year, there were 3 churches that have been registered. And now there are 8 churches and 29 meeting places that have been established for people of Christian faith to meet freely. And they are developing training courses and inform the government officials. And that had not been started when I was here a year ago. Gia Lai province is a tremendous example. It now has 29 churches and 339 meeting places for Christians. We also met with provincial authorities and the local religious leaders. There is such a tremendous mutual understanding from both parties. And when there are any differences, as there always will be in human condition, they talk and they find the way to do with that for all the people of the Gia Lai province. It is really an amazing example of what can be possible to our entire country.
Could you please specify your activities in order to promote the mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and American people in terms of religious issues in Vietnam?
First, I need to say something about our organization. The Institute for Global Engagement is a Christian organisation but we do not evangelize. We work for religious freedom all around the world with governments, through local partners such as the VUS. Our desire is to develop religious freedom in a manner that is consistent with faith, consistent with culture, rule of law, security and development. And our approach to religious freedom is the holistic one. We do not see one element separated from another. You have to work with all these elements together simultaneously.
The way that we tackle the issue together is to respect each other. Respect is consistent with what we believe in Christianity, which is the teaching of Christ Christ said to love neighbours, including global neighbours. So how can we not love you, or not work with you?
It's also consistent with Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh – late President of Vietnam), by the way. Uncle Ho said we can have Mars, Engel and Jesus Christ sitting around the same table. That's also what we can see in Vietnam. We're working in a manner that is consistent with that the faith and with the rule of law here in Vietnam.
Does lEG have other plan of cooperation with the VUS?
We've been in many discussions through our visit here with the VUS. There are numbers of things that I think that could take place. One is ongoing reciprocal visits. We would like to see our American scholars come here and partner with the Vietnamese scholars to work in provinces and talk about the issues there and tell the world that story in a scholarly manner. That is very important We very much want to see community to community relationships. And frankly, there are no better hearts in American community than in church. The Churches contain all the sectors of the society because the America is a very religious society, very spiritual society, just like VN. You bring the experts over through establishing NGOs here in VN with the government permission and work with the counter part in Lao Cai province. And here is the advantage of doing that if we bring Americans over to different parts of Vietnam, they come back with their pictures and they put them in their blogsites, or their websites. These individuals will to see to the change of American perception that is too often crowed by bad VN war movies. So the reciprocal visits are very important.
We're looking at the ongoing conference. And we also hope to find a way to partner with the church through provincial authorities, to strengthen and encourage the seminary. If you have better trained pastors, theologically-trained pastors, that prevents the manipulation of the people in the rural areas who often as not as well¬trained as people in the urban areas. That prevents unrecognised church from spending money increasing converts. So pastors, more pastors, is better for the church, increasing churche's contribution to the society, strengthening social stability and those are good for the state. And that is the next thing that we are excited about working on as we do reciprocal visit, church to church relations, community to community relationships and work through the church in the seminaries. And about the question about other faiths. It's very important as well. Religious freedom is not only for Christians. It's the right to be atheist. And we have to respect that.
Protestantism first came to Vietnam in the late 19th century when France was establishing its rule over Indochina. However, Protestant Army Chaplains organizations of France and England did not succeed. It was not until 1911 that the Christian and Missionary of Alliance (CMA) - a small missionary organization set up in New York in 1885 - could open its branch in Da Nang and begin missionary work among the Vietnamese in Da Nang, Sai Gon, My Tho, Hai Phong, Ha Noi and then among ethnic minorities in the Central Highland (K'Hor community in Da Lat in 1929).
CMA considered evangelizing not only as its duty but also its purpose and holy favour. Overcoming cultural, religious, manners and customs and language barriers in Vietnam, it was able to take advantage of the new faith which is strong but simple in rituals, dignifying women's role in religious practice. Moreover, it gained great support from the international Protestant Church and favorable social environment in Vietnam in war time. Protestantism has spread throughout Southern Vietnam. By 1975, there were about 300,000 followers in the South, of which 50,000 from ethnic minorities were members of Vietnam Protestant Church (accounting 80% of followers), Baptist Church, Mennonite Church and Jehova Church...
Due to differences in political system, though Protestantism was favorably treated, it nearly did not develop much in Northern Vietnam. When the General Confederation of Vietnam Protestant Church was re-established in 1955, there were only 20 pastors and approximately 5000 followers. From 1975 to 1990s, Protestant organizations, denominations and congregations in the South were not permitted to operate, except for the Vietnam Protestant Church directly under the General Confederation and Orlando Seventh-day Adventist Church. The affair of Protestantism in Vietnam has been raised as nearly an official topic in international negotiations (for WTO membership, for instance), and in relations between Vietnam - U.S., Vietnam - EU.
The Instruction 01/2005/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister comprehensively show the policy on Protestantism, which inherits the people's tradition of forgiveness, harmony and solidarity and Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on religion and national great unity. That policy has been approved by a majority of pastors and followers, reflecting the nature of "the State of the people, by the people and for the people".
In the Central Highlands, by May, 2006, the General Confederation re¬established and established 57 Protestant branches. More than 700 places of worship at villages and hamlets have been registered, classes of theology training have been opened and 40 pastors were consecrated. In addition to 245,000 published copies of the complete Bible, the Vietnam Protestant Church is preparing for the first publication of 10,000 bilingual Vietnamese - Bana copies of the Bible for Bana followers. The General Confederation is also having the book translated into Jrai and Ede. In the North, after a preparation period, some Protestant sites have registered with the authority.
In Vietnam, it's a freedom of citizens to choose to follow or not or change their faith. It could not be denied that the new faith has brought ethnic minorities good progress. However, evangelizing must not be misused to act against the interests of Vietnamese people and State.
Source: Vietnam – US Magazine July – August 2006
