Manama (Behrain), SVM News, November 26, 2007: At least ten churches including two episcopal churches and seven pentecostal churches in Behrain face severe crisis of eviction in Manama. Government authorities have given them two weeks to come up with documents that show they have been given permission to operate in Behrain.
The St Paul's Mar Thoma Church and the Church of South India (CSI, which follows Anglican hierarchy) are the two episcopal churches.
Pentecostal churches are Sharon Fellowship Church, Church of Philadelphia, Immanuel IPC (Indian Pentacostal Church) church, Church of God, Assemblies of God (AG) church, The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) and The Word of Life Church.
Church of Christ is the other one.
Abdulmajeed Al Sebea'a, municipal councillor of Manama claims some of the churches in Segaiya don't have a licence from the Manama Municipality, the Social Development Ministry or the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry.
Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty has now called a meeting of the churches at his office to study the issue in detail. Representatives of the churches requested him in a letter to take up the issue on an urgent basis.
Shetty wanted to know whether the main issue relates to parking problems that the churches are causing, or if it was simply that they are not registered. "I have to study the issue in detail before taking it up with the authorities concerned," Shetty said.
"Some of the churches have applied for registration that would legalise their existence, but are still waiting for a response," said Pastor P.C. Verghese, president of the Sharon Fellowship Church. "We appreciate the magnanimity of the landlords in this area who have been supporting us for conducting prayer meetings in their buildings," he continued.
"We, Indian Christians have been worshipping in Behrain for a long time as different Christian groups," Alexander, one of the leaders of a church said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "We would like to confirm that we don't have any business other than worshipping God. We do not disturb the neighbours. We have also made necessary parking arrangements without causing any problem to neighbours or local friends in the area," they added.
Out of the 10 churches, half of them are understood to have registered with the Social Development Ministry.
Municipal Councillor Al Sebea'a revealed that he had been contacted by a number of church heads - some saying they can prove their legal status and other asking him for help in getting registered within the next two weeks. He said he had also received letters from Christians in Bahrain.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries urging Manama Municipailty and Social Development Ministry through an advocate to find an immediate and amicable solution in favour of Christians rather than evict the churches. Otherwise, the fanatics may misuse the situations and persecute christians.
SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews277.html
The St Paul's Mar Thoma Church and the Church of South India (CSI, which follows Anglican hierarchy) are the two episcopal churches.
Pentecostal churches are Sharon Fellowship Church, Church of Philadelphia, Immanuel IPC (Indian Pentacostal Church) church, Church of God, Assemblies of God (AG) church, The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) and The Word of Life Church.
Church of Christ is the other one.
Abdulmajeed Al Sebea'a, municipal councillor of Manama claims some of the churches in Segaiya don't have a licence from the Manama Municipality, the Social Development Ministry or the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry.
Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty has now called a meeting of the churches at his office to study the issue in detail. Representatives of the churches requested him in a letter to take up the issue on an urgent basis.
Shetty wanted to know whether the main issue relates to parking problems that the churches are causing, or if it was simply that they are not registered. "I have to study the issue in detail before taking it up with the authorities concerned," Shetty said.
"Some of the churches have applied for registration that would legalise their existence, but are still waiting for a response," said Pastor P.C. Verghese, president of the Sharon Fellowship Church. "We appreciate the magnanimity of the landlords in this area who have been supporting us for conducting prayer meetings in their buildings," he continued.
"We, Indian Christians have been worshipping in Behrain for a long time as different Christian groups," Alexander, one of the leaders of a church said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "We would like to confirm that we don't have any business other than worshipping God. We do not disturb the neighbours. We have also made necessary parking arrangements without causing any problem to neighbours or local friends in the area," they added.
Out of the 10 churches, half of them are understood to have registered with the Social Development Ministry.
Municipal Councillor Al Sebea'a revealed that he had been contacted by a number of church heads - some saying they can prove their legal status and other asking him for help in getting registered within the next two weeks. He said he had also received letters from Christians in Bahrain.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries urging Manama Municipailty and Social Development Ministry through an advocate to find an immediate and amicable solution in favour of Christians rather than evict the churches. Otherwise, the fanatics may misuse the situations and persecute christians.
SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews277.html
No comments:
Post a Comment