Ukraine: DESS: Ukraine should adopt a state-church partnership model

The State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) initiated a discussion on harmonizing state-church relations. A meeting initiated by the DESS focused on changing the philosophy of relations between the state and religious organizations. Participants included representatives from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO), members of parliament, and officials from various ministries and executive bodies, as well as DESS staff, according to the Service's statement, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

Viktor Yelensky, head of the DESS, highlighted that the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations," which governs the current model of state-church relations, was adopted on April 23, 1991, under different socio-political conditions. "Since then, the Ukrainian state has made significant progress, and religious organizations have become an important aspect of the nation’s social, public, cultural, and spiritual life. Nearly every key moment in our history of independence has been marked by the active involvement of Ukrainian churches. Over nearly 30 years, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has evolved into a unique space for interfaith interaction and state-church collaboration. We can now discuss a genuine model of cooperation between the state and religious organizations," Yelensky's press service quoted him as saying.

He also noted that the DESS has conducted extensive consultations with constitutional experts, religious leaders, and representatives from ministries and academia to shape this new model. Yelensky pointed out that 19 European countries maintain a constitutional separation of church and state, yet this separation does not imply antagonism; these states and religious organizations can and do cooperate constructively. In this context, Yelensky outlined his vision for developing a partnership model between the state and the church.

"A fundamental starting point for this process could be a statement by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine affirming the transition to a state-church partnership model while maintaining the secular nature of the state, ensuring non-interference in church affairs, and preventing the misuse of religion to the detriment of society. Additionally, amendments to the Law 'On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations' should be prepared to foster deeper collaboration between the state and the church across social, humanitarian, environmental, heritage preservation, military, and prison chaplaincy, as well as education and culture," Yelensky stated.

The meeting participants agreed on the necessity of interdepartmental efforts to amend the law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations," involving Ukrainian MPs, representatives from the Council of Churches, other interfaith groups, individual churches, and all interested parties. (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 11. September 2025)