Russia: They Put the Red in Redtape

Bureaucracies in every country are known for their red-tape. In my last entry, I noted that our seminary has renewed it registration with the Federal Registration Services. This registration gives us the legal right to exist as an organization.

Yesterday, we submitted our application with the Ministry of Education that will officially grant us an additional status of an undergraduate school (and not just a religious organization that does seminars). Very quickly we were asked which organization is applying for a license. See if you can figure it out.

• Religious Organization Eurasian Theological Seminary of Association of Christians of Evangelical Faith "Church of God"
• Religious Organization "Eurasian Theological Seminary of Association of Christians of Evangelical Faith "Church of God"

One version (without the extra quotation mark) is in our legally binding constitution, the other version is in the certificate from the Registration Services. Such precision can only be truly appreciated by a lawyer. (And this is true of lawyers all around the globe.)

So....we are faced with a challenge of changing " -- our bid for an academic license could stumble because of "

To be fair, the authorities are working with us in making the corrections. And for this fact, I am thankful that we have been given divine favor in Moscow. Unfortunately, other former countries use such tactics to make evangelical ministries cease and desist.