International Protestant pastoral delegation impressed by Vietnam’s vibrant religious development

Pastor Bob Roberts, Chairman of the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE), USA, and Head of the International Protestant Pastors Delegation. (Photo: Thu Trang)

Speaking with The World & Vietnam Report, Pastor Bob Roberts, Chairman of the US-based Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) and leader of the International Protestant pastoral delegation currently visiting Vietnam, expressed his admiration for the country's vibrant, free, and robust development of religions.

Could you share the purpose of your delegation’s visit to Vietnam and your impressions of the country?

I first visited Vietnam in 1995 and currently lead two organizations operating here. The first is Global Ventures, a network that connects people based on their professions—for example, teachers with teachers or business leaders with their counterparts—building bridges between cultures through humanitarian work.

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The second is the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE), which focuses on global religious freedom and has been active in Vietnam since 2004.

Returning after 20 years, I’ve brought an international delegation of pastors to witness Vietnam’s progress as it emerges as a model nation, innovating and finding solutions to transformative challenges.

This visit serves two primary purposes. First, the global Christian community has a significant presence, and Vietnam has a large Catholic, Protestant, and other Christian population. We aim to connect with Vietnam's Christian communities. Our delegation includes religious leaders from countries such as India, Indonesia, and Australia, who seek to engage with Vietnamese churches, observe their activities, and meet with relevant institutions.

Second, we want to showcase Vietnam's remarkable development to our international colleagues. When I visited 30 years ago, bicycles dominated the streets. Now, you see cars, motorcycles, and other modern vehicles. I want my colleagues to witness this transformation and connect with Vietnam's Christian community.

How do you perceive the lives of Protestant believers in Vietnam? What is your assessment of Vietnam’s policies on ensuring religious freedom?

Visiting churches in Vietnam has always been a positive experience for me. Churches here are dynamic, growing steadily, and achieving remarkable milestones. Stories of vibrant church life in Vietnam resonate globally.

I’m particularly impressed by how believers deeply understand and live by the Bible, maintaining a strong scriptural foundation.

It’s heartening to see Protestant believers actively participate in their religious communities and contribute as good citizens to Vietnam’s prosperity. Both Protestant and Catholic churches in Vietnam are thriving.

I’ve met Pope Francis several times and even encouraged him to visit Vietnam, emphasizing the strength and vitality of the Catholic Church here.

Vietnam's Government has made significant strides in religious matters. Since 2001, several laws have been enacted to promote religious freedom, protect churches, and support religious organizations—not just for Christianity but also for Buddhism and others.

What I admire about the Vietnamese Government is their willingness to confront challenges. Religious freedom is an ongoing effort worldwide. Even in the US, we face issues like Islamophobia and anti-semitism, and building places of worship can be contentious.

Vietnam, too, encounters challenges, especially in rural areas where misunderstandings about laws might arise. However, the key is addressing such issues swiftly, and Vietnam has done this effectively.

I am committed to sharing Vietnam's progress with the US Government and State Department. Many American diplomats working in the field of religious freedom acknowledge Vietnam’s substantial progress in addressing these challenges compared to other nations.

As part of the working agenda, Pastor Bob Roberts met with leaders of VUFO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs; and visited the Aquila Protestant Group and the Hanoi International Fellowship (HIF) Church in Hanoi on December 4. (Photo: An Le)

Twenty years ago, IGE and the Vietnam-USA Society under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on religious cooperation. How do you view the changes in Vietnam’s religious landscape and the impact of this cooperation on bilateral relations?

I’ve been involved with IGE since the early 2000s and witnessed the signing of the first MOU. Over the past 18 months, as IGE President, I’ve seen firsthand the excellent relationship between IGE and the Vietnamese Government.

We’re not just collaborators but close friends, working diligently on legal and practical issues while fostering mutual respect. IGE’s model of cooperation in Vietnam is now being applied in other nations like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sudan, and Pakistan.

For IGE, Vietnam is not only a place where we can assist those seeking religious freedom but also a partner in learning and sharing experiences globally. It’s extraordinary!

Could you share your future plans for fostering collaboration between IGE, VUFO, and other organizations to promote religious dialogue and peace?

We’re eagerly planning several initiatives. Last year, we signed our third MOU, focusing not just on religious freedom but also on religious responsibility and collaborative community projects.

We’ve visited church-run rehabilitation centers supporting individuals overcoming addiction and aim to facilitate exchanges among pastors, churches, and government leaders. For example, we recently discussed organizing delegations with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, inviting 100 pastors to teach philosophy and witness life in Vietnam, and reciprocally, inviting Vietnamese scholars to the US to discuss Christianity and share Vietnam’s story.

Our dream is to deepen people-to-people exchanges, enriching bilateral ties at a profound level.

Thank you!

The Head of the International Protestant Pastors Delegation speaks with a reporter from The World and Vietnam Report. (Photo: Thu Trang)

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