French Law on Separatism Update

Huguenot Fellowship Trustee Ruth Ann Leduc talks with John-Raymond Stauffacher, President of the Protestant Reformed Evangelical Denomination and graduate of Faculté Jean Calvin, about the implications for the Church in France and how we can be praying in light of these new developments. He highlights the prayer needs in terms of creativity, unity and theology.

Watch this 12-minute interview for a helpful summary of how churches in France will be impacted by this new law. Click here to view video.

Pastors' Retreat

‘Growing in Emotional and Cultural Intelligence in your Ministry’

 This is the theme for the 3-day gathering of pastors of the UNEPREF, the Protestant Reformed Evangelical denomination in France, this Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 9-11.  Thirty pastors and 10 missionary associates currently serving in the denomination will gather at a conference center in the Cévennes mountains, north of Montpellier. About three-quarters of those serving in the denomination have done their theological studies at Faculté Jean Calvin.

Unlike a synod, this annual pastors’ retreat is not geared towards decision-making and debate, but rather a time for reflection on issues significant to ministry, fellowship and sharing of concerns common to those in pastoral ministry.

Four of the sessions on Emotional and Cultural Intelligence will be presented by Jean-Philippe Bru, occupant of the James Boice Chair of Practical Theology, and Yannick Imbert, occupant of the William Edgar Chair of Apologetics. Both of these Chairs are funded by the generosity of donors to the Huguenot Fellowship. 

Would you please pray with us for this gathering?

-   Pray for rich times of worship, prayer, sharing, relaxing and bearing of one another’s burdens;

-   Pray for the Spirit’s leading and anointing of discussions. The Enemy is ever vigilant to distract and discourage during these times of fellowship and growth.

-   Pray for protection of pastors’ marriages and families in the midst of pastoral responsibilities.  May they experience tangible signs of encouragement.

-   Pray for discernment and wisdom in navigating the complexities of cultural and societal trends, and how that affects the life of a church fellowship.    

Proposed Law on Separatism

Armed French police stand guard in front of Saint Augustin Church in Paris on October 31, 2020, in the wake of terror attacks in France.

May the Church be found Faithful 

The proposed Law to Uphold Republican Principles crossed another threshold on April 12th as the French Senate voted to uphold the bill designed to stem radical Islam that has been at the root of numerous terrorist attacks in France.  Yet these deliberations also represent a changing dynamic for the evangelicals in France, as the proposed law will present new restrictions and oversight within the evangelical church.

As Clement Diedrichs, General Director of the National Council of Evangelicals in France (CNEF) says, “…the country’s leadership no longer has any desire to protect space for any faith.”

A joint committee of parliamentary deputies and senators will meet in May to further evaluate the bill before it is voted on by the National Assembly in July for final implementation.  

Throughout the months of deliberations, French Protestant leaders have been diligent in their discussions with the government in advocating for the religious freedoms that are so deeply engrained in French society with the separation of Church and State, while also calling the Protestant church to prayer and avoiding a mentality of victimization.  

Diedrichs says, “But since they are no longer in a Christian society, French evangelicals have to be witnesses to the gospel like the first Christians were in their non-Christian society.“

May the Church in France be a faithful witness to Gospel truth, and may the Lord give wisdom to evangelical leaders in discussions with the government.   

For further information, read this report in Christianity Today:

CT Article

Pray for French Congress

Urgent Prayer Needed for the French Congress

"This is the first time, as President of the Protestant Federation of France, that I find myself in the position of defending freedom of worship. I never imagined that in my own country something like this could happen," - François Clavairoly, president of the FPF 

For weeks now, many have publicly decried this bill as extremely damaging to the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion in France. 

“Libérticide” is the phrase we like the best – “Freedom Killer” is the best translation. 

Tomorrow, this bill moves to the National Assembly where it will be voted on in approximately two weeks. Already, over 2,650 amendments have been proposed, however, several major problems remain. 

What's the problem? It’s supposed to curb radical Islam. Isn’t that good?

The first thing is that it doesn’t apply to most Muslims! In France, most mosques are dubbed “cultural centers” and organized as 1901 associations. This law applies to 1905 associations. 

So, which associations are 1905? 4,000 of the 5,000 registered 1905 associations are Protestant Churches (and 90% of Evangelical Churches are 1905 associations!)  

So, rather than limiting Islam, it is a slap in the face to Evangelicals and promotes the idea that that religion is guilty until proven innocent, houses of worship are centers of terrorism, and anything that is related to faith should be controlled and erased. 

Here are four aspects of this law that directly affect the Evangelical Church in France:  

1. Evangelical Churches will need to apply to their prefectures every five years to keep their status as a church. For any reason, the prefecture could close the church without any hearing or other legal process. 

2. Churches will need to declare foreign funds over 10,000 EUR, and “certify their accounts” which is like getting audited financials and costs several thousand euros. The churches who can’t pay? The pastor is personally fined 9,000 EUR and the church is uncompliant. 

3. Article 44 – “The government’s representative… can temporarily close a place of worship if certain positions, ideas, or theories are shared or certain activities are done which incite hatred or violence towards a person or a group of people or would justify or encourage such hate or violence.” This puts the State in a position to audit preaching and teaching in a Church. 

4. Homeschooling – although not widely practiced among Evangelicals in France as is in the US – would still be made illegal except for children with health issues, intense sports/artistic activities, live too far from a school, or have other situations specific to the child but whose parents can justify their ability to teach. There is no exception for religious or philosophical abstention. 

Please pray that the voices of the French Church are heard and that the law is rejected or approved with the modifications desired by the FPF and the CNEF. 

In Christ, 

David Broussard 

President, Impact France