When we learned this spring that our closest partner church in Azerbaijan was being taken to court and threatened with closure, we knew we had to pay them a visit, if only to emphasize that we stand with them in Christian solidarity.
To the right: Children's choir from the threatened Greater Grace Church in Baku.
Some churches have previously benefited from state funding in EU countries, but due to the European Eurovision Song Contest held in the capital Baku in May, these funds have been cut off. The granting authorities saw Baku's glittering surface and decided there was no need to support those trying to do good among the country's poor, who remain as poor as before the Eurovision Song Contest. That's why help is needed from organizations like the Danish European Mission.
I had conversations with four church leaders from different denominations and they all reported great difficulties in their dealings with the country's authorities. The New Life Church in Baku lost their case about the legality of their activities in two courts, but they have appealed the case to the Supreme Court and thus at least gained time, and their services have continued as before in the old German Lutheran church, which is public property and serves as a rehearsal and concert hall for the state music conservatory.
In addition to Sunday services, the church is active in various social work. Both this outreach work and the Sunday services take place outside the church's legal address, which is illegal for churches registered under the new laws. New Life Church is trying to argue that its original registration with the authority previously responsible for the registration of religious communities cannot be revoked by the new laws that require registration with a different authority.
The new laws will mean that if a church runs a center for rehabilitation of alcohol addicts, for example, and the center does not have the same address as the church is registered at, this work will be illegal and those responsible will be fined several times a month's salary. The same could happen if the authorities discover that some of the church members are gathering for Bible study in a private home.
One of the leaders of one of the registered denominations told me that it is actually worth considering giving up registration and operating as an underground church because the fines for such activities will be significantly lower when you not is a member of a registered religious community!
I was asked to bring many loving greetings to all those in Danmark who are praying for the Christians in Azerbaijan. Some of those I met have also been to Danmark and they fondly remember their stay and the meetings they have had around the country, and they thank me for the prayers - but not without encouragement to keep praying for the church and the Christians in Azerbaijan!
