Christianity Today Cover: IGE in Vietnam

By IGE on 15 April 2007

IGE has been working with Vietnamese friends and partners to craft together a strategy for improving religious freedom and U.S.-Vietnam relations (see the Vietnam Project page). Help us in this important work through support opportunities, and learn more through the collection of articles below.

May 2007: A New Day in Vietnam

Christianity Today featured IGE's work in Vietnam in its May cover story by Mark Galli, noting that IGE's "work in Vietnam may be the most significant example of how the U.S. and global evangelicals can better expand religious freedom in repressive states."

March 2007: Constructive Advocacy

Responding to recent arrests of activists in Vietnam, IGE's Jared Daugherty argues, "the government and the outside community can move together, disagreed or agreed, through constructive debate and thus the possibility of shared solutions."

September 2006: Press Release: Vietnamese Agreement

IGE and the Vietnam-USA Society sign an agreement to deepen people-to-people diplomacy between the U.S. and Vietnam and to promote sustainable religious freedom together.

September 2006: Press Release: Religion and Rule of Law Conference in Hanoi

This first-ever conference convened experts from within Southeast Asia and abroad, addressing comparative Southeast Asian approaches to regulating religion through the rule of law.

August-September 2006: Vietnam Blog

IGE's Amy Rowe blogs from Vietnam about her experiences traveling throughout Vietnam with a delegation of pastors, businessmen, one journalist, and Vietnamese officials. (Use the links at the top of each post to move to the next post in the series.)

July 2006: Senate Testimony: IGE President to Senate Finance Committee

IGE President Chris Seiple addresses the Senate Finance Committee about Vietnam's religious freedom situation as Congress considers granting Permanent Normalized Trade Relations to Vietnam.

July 2006: Trip Report: Building Religious Freedom in Vietnam

IGE President Chris Seiple reports on his recent trip to Vietnam, where he met with government officials and faith leaders in Hanoi and remote provinces of Vietnam's Central and Northwest Highlands.

June 2006: Press Release: IGE Religious Freedom Delegation Visits Vietnam

A delegation of scholars and pastors visited Vietnam's Northwest and Central Highlands to observe religious freedom on the ground. "Each member of our delegation has been very encouraged by what we have seen," said IGE president Chris Seiple. "While progress is uneven from province to province, we look forward to working with our Vietnamese friends to sustain and expand the progress made in religious freedom throughout Vietnam."

March 2006: Press Release: Vietnamese Delegation Visits Washington, D.C.

IGE hosted a delegation of religious and government leaders to strengthen U.S.-Vietnam relations by facilitating off-the record meetings about religion and the rule of law.

September 2005: Trip Report: Religious Freedom and Reconciliation

In this report following Chris Seiple's June 2005 trip to Vietnam, he describes emerging partnerships with the Vietnamese and the establishment of a new mechanism for dialogue about religious freedom.

February 2005: Realism and Religious Liberty

Reflecting on a recent visit to Hanoi, Chris Seiple notes, "The keys to realistic advancement of freedom of religion in authoritarian environments are patience and vision, humility and boldness. Above all, engagement is sustained by strategies and solutions rooted in relationships, respect, and cooperation."

February 2004: Senate Testimony: Amb. Seiple to Senate Foreign Relations Committee

IGE Founder, Ambassador Robert A. Seiple, testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the economic and human rights situation of Vietnam, convened by Senator Sam Brownback. Seiple recommends developing a "roadmap" for human rights improvement in Vietnam, noting, "We all should be looking for a sustainable solution, and that will never happen if we attempt to impose one, alone, from the outside."

Last updated 30 January 2009