Southern Baptist leaders have written to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a member and former official of their denomination, urging him to support Ukraine in Russia’s war against its Eastern European neighbor.
“As you consider efforts to support Ukraine, we humbly ask that you consider the plight of Christians,” wrote the leaders, who either have ties to the SBC’s Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary or to Ukrainian Baptists. “The Russian government’s decision to invade Ukraine and to target Baptists and other evangelical Christians in Ukraine has been a tragic hallmark of the war.”
The letter, sent Monday, was signed by Daniel Darling, director of the seminary’s Land Center for Cultural Engagement; Richard Land, the namesake of the center and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Yaroslav Pyzh, president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary; and Valerii Antoniu, president of the Baptist Union of Ukraine.
Johnson is a former trustee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, serving when Land — who also is a former commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom — was its president.
In February, the Senate passed a $95 billion package for funding Ukraine, Israel and other allies, with $60 billion earmarked for Ukraine. But Johnson, whose tenure as House speaker may rely on his handling of the bill, has yet to schedule a House vote on the funding measure.
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Conservatives in the House who oppose funding for Ukraine on “America First” grounds, led by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, have threatened to trigger a vote to remove Johnson from office.
“Speaker Johnson has a really difficult job right now, maybe the most difficult a speaker has ever had,” Darling said in an interview with media. “I think he does in his heart want to support Ukraine.”
But Darling noted that Johnson, whose office did not immediately respond to the letter, is trying to balance the differing views of House members.
The Baptist leaders told the speaker in their letter: “We believe that God has put you in this position ‘for such a time as this.’”
Darling said he hopes the letter will serve as an encouragement to Johnson while also ensuring that he and others are aware of religious liberties being violated in areas of Ukraine that Russia has occupied since 2014.
“Evangelicals and Baptists are being mistreated in the Russian-occupied territories significantly,” he said. “We’ve lost probably 300 churches. Pastors are really struggling over there, wherever Russians have taken over.”
Hannah Daniel, the ERLC’s director of public policy, told media in a statement that Southern Baptists have long opposed authoritarian regimes’ prohibitions of religious freedom.
“The resolve of our lawmakers to stand with Ukraine has wavered, despite the brutal persecution of Christians, particularly Baptists, the kidnapping of children, and the destruction of churches because of Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” she said. “Congress must look past any hesitation or obstinance and overcome division to swiftly pass such a package.”
Globally, religious freedom experts are concerned about the war’s effects on Ukraine’s faith communities.
“The Russian military has indiscriminately bombed churches, monasteries, kingdom halls, mosques, synagogues, cemeteries, and other religious sites,” said Nury Turkel, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a quasi-governmental watchdog group, at a hearing in March, “and the Russian soldiers have abducted and tortured religious figures because of their leadership role.”
Darling said he and the other signatories realize “the details have to be worked out” but they chose to write to Johnson because of their desire to see continuing congressional and U.S. support of Ukraine, even as Baptist entities have spent millions in donations to support refugees now living outside the war-torn country.
“He has said he’s committed to doing it so I think he will,” Darling added. “But we wanted to encourage him as well and not just be another person just throwing stones at him but to say, hey, we’re supporting you, we care about you.”
Adelle Banks es editora de producción y corresponsal nacional de Religion News Service.
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23 Respuestas
Lots of money for the invaders and the world. None for Americans. Nobody is allowed to discuss that in 2014 a legitimately elected govt was overthrown thanks to the Zionist and the WH. Get your heads out of the sand American evangelicals. I’ve listened to “Russia bad” since the sixty’s. And the Baptist now think Ukraine needs the money and we Americans don’t. Your the poster children for why people are leaving the church.
the Baptist now think Ukraine needs the money and we Americans don’t
William,
Republicans who oppose funding Ukraine’s defense are not doing it to free up money to help Americans in need.
The Republicans who oppose Ukraine aid are the ones cutting health care to the American poor and cutting summer lunch programs for kids not getting school lunches in those months.
Don’t kid yourself (or us).
Ohh you played the republicans are bad card. Yes it’s all those darn gop who have destroyed LA and SF and Detroit and NYC and Baltimore etal. Yup Them darn red staters.
And you reply with “big cities that vote blue are bad”, while ignoring that red states rely on the tax money from those “big bad blue cities” for their own welfare.
I won’t get into the oversimplified argument of how it’s been DECADES of failed leadership – including eras when these cities had Republican leadership – that have led to their decline.
Sigh. It baffles me how people who hate oversimplified labels reply with oversimplified labels of their own.
The U.S. needs to stand with Ukraine against the invaders or risk handing all of Europe over to Russia. It’s shocking how American “christians” are on the side of Putin.
Yes indeed. It is truly shocking to witness, but is the logical extension of what has been coming since 2016. Disturbing in every way.
Russian troops crushing Evangelical churches in Ukraine is a serious matter. Unless a church is Russian Orthodox that church is in trouble.
It is interesting that Russian Orthodox priests bless Russian troops as they commit war crimes in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson is blocking Ukraine aid in the House, so why are Baptist leaders asking Johnson to do the right thing? Speaker Johnson gets his directions from Donald Trump.
The large majority of U.S. white evangelicals support a thug like Trump.
The Baptist leaders need to talk to their own congregations to STOP supporting a thug like Trump. That will never happen as most pastors are scared of their own congregations.
It is interesting Trump dumped the Pro-Life movement in the last two weeks and white evangelicals still love him. What a bunch of hypocrites.
Trump also suggested that Ukraine give up parts of its country to Russia to make peace. Kind of like “Peace in Our Time.” where Czechoslovakia was forced to give up the Sudetenland in 1938 to another authoritarian strongman. We all know how that turned out.
Putin used the same playbook. First, he claimed that ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine are being marginalized and became their “advocate”. Then Push for “autonomy” with the ethnic Russian leaders (both real and contrived (aka Russian assets)). Finally, get automony (and annex the provinces) as a condition to ending/preventing war. Read up on the Sudeten Crisis.
Since Putin supporters like W.W. parroted the lie about 2014, I shall point out that Russia annexing the Crimea, and those eastern provinces of Ukraine violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. In exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons, the following was agreed to (among other things) by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the US, and the UK:
1) Respect the signatory’s independence and sovereignty in the existing borders (in accordance with the principles of the CSCE Final Act).
2) Refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of the signatories to the memorandum, and undertake that none of their weapons will ever be used against these countries, except in cases of self-defense or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
3) Refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus and Kazakhstan of the rights inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind.
Well, I’m not sure even Orthodox churches in Ukraine are any safer… there’s pretty much a full blown schism between the ‘Russian’ part of Eastern Orthodoxy and the other parts… Patriarch Kirill of the Russian part is medieval in his corruption and debasement to Putin and has no Christian love for any ‘Orthodox’/Christian who doesn’t bow the knee to Putin. (Just like a lot of christians here, he has the Gospel/God’s Kingdom all mixed up in his mind with mother Russia…)
Speaking of – Johnson’s not going to listen to any fellow ‘christians’/brothers in Christ on this one or much of anything else. Our version of Putin/Kirill, the wanne-be god-man Trump has J dancing to the strings he’s pulling.
Of course, Patriarch Kiril is a Russian FSB/KGB asset and always has been.
“Russian troops crushing Evangelical churches in Ukraine is a serious matter. Unless a church is Russian Orthodox that church is in trouble.”
Per: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/october/ukraine-law-ban-russian-ukrainian-orthodox-church-uoc.html
“Ukraine Passes Law to Ban Russia-Linked Orthodox Church
Law 8371 would give Ukrainian authorities power to examine the connection of religious groups in Ukraine to the Russian Federation and to ban those whose leadership is outside of Ukraine.”
It would appear any Russian Orthodox church inside Ukraine, is also in serious trouble.
“It is interesting that Russian Orthodox priests bless Russian troops as they commit war crimes in Ukraine.”
Source please? Are the Ukrainian Priests condemning the actions of the Ukrainian troops committing the same acts?
When the Russian Orthodox church in Ukraine’s leadership are nothing but KGB/FSB assets and have FSB asset like Kiril as their leader, it makes sense. How is that any different from banning entry into the US of imams whose mosques are in places like Iran?
So these KGB/FSB assets where such a big security threat to Ukrainian country, that the Ukraine government/intelligence agencies did nothing for years to stop the spy ring. Instead they waited until the country was at its’ most vulnerable to address the situation? Why wait?
Same reason why the US did not move against Charles Coughlin, German spies, etc. until WWII was declared. Same thing with the German spies in the UK. They were under observation, but unless war is declared various governmental powers do not come into play.
The Ukraine had various laws procedures regarding arrest, probable cause, admissible evidence, etc. And like the US, in conditions of war or invasion, those are modified, curtailed, etc.
Second, only when the invasion happened, is when these suspected foreign operatives tipped their hand, exposed themselves. Finally, they may not have known the extent of the Russian FSB penetration into these sectors of society until the unknown Russian assets they sprang like termites from the woodwork as they and the Russians thought the war would be over in a week. But once the cockroaches reveal themselves, it is easier to squash them.
This is not rocket science.
Really? Eastern European countries are using WW2 counter espionage techniques. and strategies? That is quite concerning, and explains a lot.
“the Russians thought the war would be over in a week.”
Are you referring to this: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/putin-says-ukraine-would-last-a-week-if-western-military-support-stops
“Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine could not survive for more than “a week” without Western military and financial aid, a claim made on the same day as a European Union official warned that the bloc could not replace the funding gap if support for Kyiv from the United States dried up.”
Or:https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-ammunition-military-b263dfaceef57fb2c1f74c53861734da
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top general for U.S. forces in Europe told Congress Wednesday that Ukraine will be outgunned 10 to one by Russia within a matter of weeks if Congress does not find a way to approve sending more ammunition and weapons to Kyiv soon.
@Thomas
The article is about evangelical churches in Russian Occupied lands, but if you want to defend Putin’s actions go ahead. By the way, evangelical churches in Russia itself are under immense pressure, and not just the churches in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Here is one out of many articles about the role of the Russian Orthodox church and its crimes against Ukraine. A simple search on the web will reveal many.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/russian-orthodox-church-declares-holy-war-against-ukraine-and-west/
What is shocking to understand are all the U.S. white evangelicals who support Putin and the Russian actions against Ukraine. I just assume they are part of the Trump cult.
Pointing out that allies are involved in the same persecution of Christians, as enemies, is not support, it is pointing out hypocrisy.
Your deflection by trying to liable my character, by claiming I support an anti-American government, based on the presentation of information is interesting.
The elephant in the room, no one is discussing is what started this whole mess, which was the overthrowing of the elected government of Ukraine in 2014. Who is responsible for that event?
Your article is dated April 9, 2024, which is several months after Law 8371 went into effect, and could be a direct response to Law 8371 being passed.
Have you talked to any of the military aged males/females that fled Ukraine, as to why they left, instead of fighting for their country? Their answers might surprise you, but if you are refusing to have a open dialog because you are making self professed assumptions of a persons motives for presenting information that doesn’t support your narrative, that is your choice.
Incorrect. What started this mess was when Russia violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances to begin with regarding the Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian provinces. But then that would conflict with your flawed narrative.
Charles Mallet
You had your say above and it was responded to. You do not need to “white knight” for Mr. Jansma, he is quite capable of having a conversation, and presenting counter points/arguments. If you would like to post your claim above, we can continue our conversation.
It seems oddly selfish that Baptists aren’t concerned about the entire population of Ukraine. Biden’s timidity and foot-dragging has led to the current stalemate resulting in a war of attrition that Ukraine can’t win. Eventually the West’s ability to keep funding such a war will diminish as US budget deficits threaten to wreck the economy. The military-industrialist complex is the happy recipient of such funding. Of course there’s much more to the deficit. That’s what some of the pushback is about. Russia can outlast the West in a war of attrition. Sanctions haven’t worked. Can we afford to keep this up for at least three more years? “The authors concluded Russia could sustain its current rate of attrition for up to three years and maybe longer.
The report also detailed how, despite international sanctions, Russia’s economy had proved resilient and it had ramped up defense spending for 2024.” https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/europe/russia-sustain-war-effort-ukraine-analysis-intl/index.html#:~:text=The%20authors%20concluded%20Russia%20could,up%20defense%20spending%20for%202024.
Meanwhile in the rest of the world, we pray for the safety of real Christian’s in Russia, Ukraine and America regardless of their church politics.
The bottom line is that Russia violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and the 1997 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, regardless of Russia’s claims about the overthrow of the 2014 government (and supporters of that erroneous assertion like W.W. and A.T.). It was Russian interference (economic and political violations of said treaties (along with brutal crackdowns) that led to the 2014 overthrow. This same government that was overthrown also allowed Russian troops into the Crimea, enabling Russia to annex it.
Now before the Putin apologists counter that the US expanded NATO eastward in violation of an agreement, I will point out it was not formalized in a treaty or formalized in the Two Plus Four Treaty signed for the reunification of Germany. Even Gorbachev stated later that no such guarantees were made. The only thing specified in the Two Plus Four Treaty was that non-German NATO forces would not be permanently stationed in the former GDR portion of a reunited Germany.
The SBC now aligns with war mongers. Nothing they do surprises me. (Former SBC Pastor)