Q&A on Shincheonji Church of Jesus
Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease
(COVID-19)
To Rectify Distorted
about Shincheonji
□ About refusal to be tested
To cooperate with the public health authorities and ensure the health and safety of its congregation, Shincheonji Church of Jesus took measures to ban members who have not been tested for COVID-19 from attending service even when church services are back to normal.
To those whose occupations are in medicine, nursing homes, and public facilities, the church stressed that they must be tested voluntarily even if they have no symptoms. All other congregants were told to be tested as well.
Due to these measures, Shincheonji members are asking to be tested at screening centers, but they are rejected in some cases since those with symptoms should be tested first. This is the same for people employed in medicine and public health.
Please refrain from reporting that congregants working in medicine and nursing facilities are avoiding being tested intentionally.
□ About congregants who are out of contact
Some local governments have announced that there are Shincheonji members remaining out of contact. We would like to explain some cases in this regard.
Some congregants are classified and reported as “out of contact” for the following reasons: 1) contact information in the church register is not updated (wrong contact information), 2) the line is busy, 3) the person is on an overseas business trip, 4) the health center calls the wrong phone number, 5) in case the address in the church register and the actual place of residence are different, health centers of two or more jurisdictions contact the person, but this information is not shared between the health centers.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued 25 formal notices to urge its congregation members to cooperate with the public health authorities, and the church is checking the condition of the members with a 24-hour emergency system.
However, there are clearly limits. Shincheonji is a church for faith and worship; it is not an organization for collecting personal information. Upon entering the church, each member’s address and phone number at the time are registered in the church register, and the update frequency is irregular. In case a member moves to a new place or changes his or her phone number, the church cannot know unless it is notified, and such changes are not updated in the church register in real time. This would be the same for any religious group or company.
Also, a church is a gathering of various individuals. Among the congregation, there are members who have not attended service for a long time, who are on overseas or regional business trips, whose phone numbers have changed, and who are not answering calls from the church.
However, Shincheonji Church of Jesus promises to overcome these limitations and make every possible effort to fight COVID-19 for the health and safety of congregants, communities, and citizens.
□ Regarding the expression “residential compound of Shincheonji”
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has never encouraged its members to engage in communal living, and the church has no reason to do so. There are some residences provided for instructors and evangelists for their welfare, but it is not true that the church bought certain housing complexes and had congregants live there.
It is possible for congregants of any religion to reside near their church, and they do so out of their free will. The church does not intervene in the personal lives of congregants. Using the expression “a residential compound of Shincheonji” may cause citizens to misunderstand that such a place is run by the church, so please use a more accurate wording.
□ About withdrawing permission for the corporation of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and tax investigation on real estate
On 9 March, the Seoul city announced that it would go through a procedure to withdraw its permission for the corporation, Jesus Mission of New Heaven and New Earth the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. This corporation is a different entity from Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is an unincorporated, nonprofit organization. Thus, even if the permission for incorporation is withdrawn, Shincheonji Church of Jesus is not dissolved. The Constitution and laws of South Korea guarantee the continued existence of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the church will continue to enjoy its rights granted by law.
Jesus Mission of New Heaven and New Earth the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is only a missionary corporation belonging to Shincheonji Church of Jesus. Most of the churches in South Korea are unincorporated, nonprofit organizations, and depending on their needs, they may have a separate corporation.
Also, on 10 March, the Seoul city notified that it would launch a tax investigation on twenty real estate holdings of Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
At a time when efforts should be focused on quarantine, we cannot but suspect a misuse of the power to investigate against Shincheonji Church of Jesus that they hastily assumed to be an illegal organization.
The Framework Act on Local Taxes stipulates that tax investigations shall be conducted “to the minimum extent necessary to achieve appropriate and fair taxation” and not for any other purposes. Also, it states that the taxpayer to be investigated shall be notified at least 15 days prior to such investigation. Conducting a tax investigation on facilities that have been shut down since 18 February would only interfere with quarantine efforts.
As many confirmed cases of COVID-19 have occurred among Shincheonji members, causing fellow citizens much anxiety, Shincheonji Church of Jesus is making its utmost efforts with a deep sense of responsibility. However, we object to attempts at making a political issue of the COVID-19 outbreak when people’s lives and safety are at stake. We earnestly ask the local governments to focus on quarantine efforts.
□ About the claim that Shincheonji attempted to enter a closed-down building (Busan Andrew Training Center) using disinfection as an excuse
Shincheonji Church of Jesus did not attempt to enter a closed-down building for disinfection. The training center of Shincheonji Andrew Tribe in Busan was closed down until 11 March. The Andrew church gave an opinion to the Busan Dong-gu Office that the training center should be disinfected on either 9 or 10 March and got permission.
The Andrew church contacted a disinfection service company and heard from them that they do not have enough staff and want the church to assist with ten of its members. On 9 March, ten church members wearing protective clothing waited for officials of the health center to arrive. Upon hearing from the officials that Shincheonji congregants cannot enter the building, they left immediately.
The church made such preparation as there was a request from a company specialized in disinfection service. It was not an attempt to enter a closed-down building.
□ About claims that Shincheonji Church of Jesus supports a certain candidate or has connections with politicians
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has about 210,000 members in South Korea. The church is a gathering of people of faith. The members are on their own in doing social activities, and their political inclinations are varied. This is no concern of the church, and the church does not interfere. Congregation members can support politicians they wish to support, but the church does not support a certain candidate.
If Shincheonji Church of Jesus had connections with politicians, it would not be oppressed as now. Even constructing one church building is not easy for us. We have been looking continuously for a location that can serve as a treatment center for mild cases of COVID-19 among Shincheonji members in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do region but could not find one. Since the church has much difficulty in constructing a building, it does not have a facility fit for this purpose. The church’s donation has been rejected as well. These things would not have happened if we had connections with politicians.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus has carried out various activities for social contributions, interfaith harmony, and peace to become the salt and light of the world as taught by Jesus. For such activities, it is necessary to seek solidarity with different sectors of society. This would be the case for any organization. Please do not distort the good intentions to practice peace and love through interaction and solidarity.
- To Correct Misreport about Shincheonji
