Viktor Yelensky: Ukraine is working on transitioning to state-church partnership model
"On October 6, Mohamed Elsanousi, the Commissioner of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, visited DESS for a support visit. He was accompanied by leaders and staff from Finland's largest humanitarian organization, Finn Church Aid (FCA). Among the attendees were Patricia Maruschak, Director of Finn Church Aid in Ukraine; Milla Perukangas, Leading Advisor on Cohesive Societies and Inclusive Peace at Finn Church Aid; and Kerttu Auvinen, Advisor on Programs for the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers," the DESS's statement reads.
DESS Chairman Viktor Yelensky expressed gratitude to the guests for their support of Ukraine and discussed the unique aspects of the country’s religious landscape. He addressed the state of interchurch dialogue, the involvement of churches and religious organizations in assisting both frontline and rear areas, and their efforts to support vulnerable populations.
Yelensky highlighted some of the most pressing issues that faith communities in Ukraine are actively working to address, including providing humanitarian aid to displaced persons, supporting hospitals, and establishing shelters for children from frontline areas to continue their education.
He also noted that the churches in Ukraine are engaged in extensive social projects and mentioned that the Ukrainian government is working to improve legislation to facilitate a transition to a state-church partnership model.
During the meeting, the guests shared their own efforts to advocate for Ukraine in their respective countries. They discussed their search for dialogue platforms that could enhance interchurch cooperation and expressed their support for the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations during its international visits.
The meeting was attended by Bohdan Movchan, the Deputy Head of the Office of the Ukrainian World Community and Humanitarian Initiatives, as well as the Head of the Humanitarian Initiatives Division within the Department of Public Diplomacy and Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
