10/31/2018 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – A new bill being drafted in Indonesia, pertaining to religious education, would require churches to obtain government approval for activities such as Sunday school, bible classes, and confirmation classes.

The draft is meant to regulate how schools and religious institutions teach religion. This has garnered much protest from the Christian community as they believe the responsibility of the state is to “ensure that every religion can propagate their activities and not to regulate and restrict them”, Fr. Vinsensius Darmin Mbula explained to UCA News.

Church leader’s emphasis that informal education activities such as Sunday school and Bible classes are an extension of church services and should not be regulated as formal schools. Instead, the church should be able to apply its own standards.

The church in Indonesia worries that if the new bill is passed into law, it could be used by other groups opposing of Christianity to harass Christians.

For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].