Overview
The Kingdom of Bhutan – or Druk Yul (‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’) as it is known locally, is a small, landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas, with China to the north and India to the south. It has a population of around 770,000.
Bhutan has a constitutional monarchy and in 2008 implemented a new constitution which established a parliamentary government with an elected National Assembly and a National Council.
Buddhism is the state religion and Buddhists make up about 85% of the people. The country’s constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, in practice, the government restricts non-Buddhist missionary activity and non-Buddhist missionaries are barred from entering the country. The construction of religious buildings is also restricted, with no opportunity for the legal registration of Christian churches.
What it means to be a Christian in Bhutan
The monarch of Bhutan regards himself as the defender of the Buddhist faith. Christians are often viewed as followers of a foreign, Western religion and can be subject to various forms of discrimination. Many Christians are forced to practice their faith in the home or in secret. Christians make up about 2% of the population and the majority of these are of a Nepali background: an ethnic minority which has suffered a form of cleansing in Bhutan, many being forced to flee the country.
Persecution
Life can be difficult for a Christian in Bhutan. Church buildings are illegal and Christians are not entitled to the same benefits as Buddhists – for example, free education for their children. Evangelistic work that seeks the conversion of Buddhists is also illegal. Bhutanese Buddhists who become Christians can even lose their citizenship.
Converts to Christianity endure threats and pressures from local community leaders and Buddhist religious leaders. While able to pray and worship privately in their homes, meeting in congregations is constantly difficult. Christians have lost jobs or have been unable to find employment because of their faith.
Voice of Persecuted Christians work
Voice of Persecuted Christians supports a senior Bhutanese pastor who is the president of the only theological seminary in Bhutan. This pastor has, in the past, been imprisoned for his active faith and witness. Our support (referred to as ‘Operation John’) is aimed at helping him develop the seminary and provide discipleship training for church leaders.
