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2009-01-20 issue:

Vietnam: members still imprisoned

by Mennonite World Conference

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The legal status recently granted to the Vietnam Mennonite Church (VMC) was formalized in a government-approved General Assembly held Nov. 15-17, 2008. Before being granted legal status, this group functioned mostly as “house churches.” It will now be permitted to build houses of worship, establish training facilities and become partners with other denominations in joint projects, as well as with Mennonite Central Committee.

This new legal status, however, did not include all those in Vietnam who have been drawn to the Mennonite family of faith in recent years. A prior “organizing conference” was held in July 2003 that included 47 church leaders desiring to identify with the Mennonite church.

During the following year several members of this newly organized church were imprisoned following a confrontation with security police at the office and home of Pastor Quang. Pastor Quang was one of those arrested. While he was still in prison, steps were begun by the government to offer legal status to the Mennonite church. A significant number of Pastor Quang’s associates chose not to participate in the process because of this and other circumstances that led to a division into two groups. The division has continued to the present.

Both groups continue to claim Mennonite identity. However, still more recently, some of Pastor Quang’s associates have joined the process of legalization and have become part of the legalized church.

The nonrecognized Mennonite church continued to operate during Pastor Quang’s imprisonment. Pastor Quang was released from prison and is now active in organizing training and education programs for church leaders in that church as well as for other nonrecognized evangelical house  churches. 

As does the recently legalized church, the non-recognized church has locations where they meet for worship and ministry. They are organized into districts around the country and include many minority believers in addition to ethnic Vietnamese. Although at present the nonrecognized churches enjoy relatively more latitude for their ministries than earlier, several of their members are in prison. These churches have sent a request to the government, signed by 101 leaders, asking for release of imprisoned members on humanitarian grounds. Two people have already been released. The others are reportedly under consideration for release or reduction of sentences.