For the first time since the once open nation of Burma entered a phase of martial law, renamed itself Myanmar, and turned away from significant contact with the world community, a conference of more than 40 leaders of the Christian community was held in Myanmar Feb. 10 in Rangoon to express commitment to religious freedom and Christian solidarity.

The meeting was propelled by the visit of John Graz, secretary-general of the Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions and secretary-general of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA); Lincoln Steed, editor of Liberty Magazine; and Dr. Hiskiah Missah, regional IRLA director, based in the Philippines.

The Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC), the umbrella group most recognized by the government, called the meeting and invited several Christian groups not normally associated with the MCC.

Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, with just 6 percent Christians in a population of 52 million. Community resistance and government suspicion bring difficulties for Christian witness.

Smith N. Za Thawng, general secretary of the MCC, and Saw Mar Gay Gyi, president of the MCC and general secretary for the Bible Society in Myanmar, welcomed overseas guests and Christian delegations from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar, the Myanmar Evangelical Christian Fellowship, the Church of the Brethren, Myanmar Baptist Convention, the Methodist Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar and other groups.

The group discussed ways to maximize Christian cooperation in Myanmar.

“This is an important time,” said Thawng,  “because in a few days Myanmar is beginning the process of developing a new constitution.”

While the government has in the past appropriated church property and continues to restrict some church activities, most attendees see hope in recent developments. “Yes, there is a slight bias against Christian and Western influence, ” said Tin Maung Tun, head of the Church of the Brethren, “but that is changing.” He sees developing respect and an awareness that “we are Christians on a national level.”

Leaders told of many cases of individual community leaders and government officials facilitating Christian activity—and while some Buddhist priests have been hostile, others have opened their communities to them.

MCC leadership expressed thanks to the Adventist Church and Kenneth Htang Suanzanang, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director for the church in Myanmar, for working with them to make the historic gathering possible. The group committed to holding more such consultations.

The IRLA was founded in 1893 by Adventist church leaders and has developed into a non-sectarian organization dedicated to safeguarding religious civil rights around the world.