United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam

United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationReformed
TheologyCalvinist
PolityPresbyterian
AssociationsVietnam Evangelical Alliance[1]
RegionVietnam
Origin1988
Branched fromPresbyterian Church (USA)
Congregations120 (2012)[2]
Members7,500 (2012)[2]
Official websiteupcv.org

The United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam (UPCV) is a Presbyterian denomination, established in Vietnam in 1988 by Pastor Ho Tan Khoa.[2][3]

History

In 1996, from a mission by a Korean-American pastor, a Christian group emerged in Ho Chi Minh City.[4] One of the group's members, Ho Tan Khoa, became pastor and founded the United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam in 1998. However, at the time, the denomination was not allowed by the government of Vietnam. As such, it spread with a network of house churches.

The denomination asked the Presbyterian Church (USA) to help train and train pastors, which began in 2002.[2]

In 2010, the denomination reported suffering religious persecution by the authorities in Vietnam.[5][6][7]

In 2012, the denomination had 120 congregations and 7,500 members.[2]

Inter-church Relations

The denomination is a founding member of the Evangelical Alliance of Vietnam, which in 2012 elected Rev. Ho Tan Khoa (also president of the IPUV) as its president.[1]

In addition, it receives help from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Presbyterian Church of Taiwan.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Evangelical Alliance Vietnam". December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Erin Dunigan (June 26, 2012). "History of the United Presbyterian Church of Vietnam". Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Smith, Gary Scott; Kemeny, P. C. (July 2019). The Oxford Handbook of Presbyterianism. ISBN 978-0-19-060840-8. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Support from the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan and Presbyterian Church (USA) to the United Presbyterian Church in Vietnam". Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Report on Religious Freedom in Vietnam" (PDF). Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Vietnam authorities act to prevent protestant Christmas events". December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Vietnam authorities act to stop Protestant Christmas events". Christian Post. 23 December 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2021.