“At the annual meeting of the European Methodist Council gathered in Copenhagen from 7th-11th September 2018, the members of the Council were shocked to hear in detail of the proposed changes in Bulgaria law which will have serious impact on and severely limit the work of the Evangelical Methodist Episcopal Church in Bulgaria and the Church of the Nazarene (member Churches of the European Methodist Council ) and of all other churches with a membership less than 1% of the population.
The European Methodist Council therefore expresses its great concern of the violation of the Bulgarian Constitution’s provision of the separation of Church and State and of the right of independence of all religious organisations provided by the Bulgaria Constitution.”
The United Methodist Church in Central and Southern Europe covers churches in 16 countries, including Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Methodist Church is concerned that proposed amendments to the Religious Denominations Act would dramatically affect whether United Methodists could receive international support essential for their operation as churches, also possible effects about those allowed to serve as pastors. The proposed changes would give the Religious Confessions Directorate control over donations, religious institution accreditation and education.
More details – or ask Sue Marshall-Jennings.