Europe East
EnglishConnect in Armenia
Summary
July 2, 2020
EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now
The Religious Community of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Armenia, an Armenian religious organization (the “Religious Community”), can carry out the EnglishConnect novice program EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now) in Armenia as long as advertising is limited, the program is conducted informally, and there are no certificates of completion (see below). The EnglishConnect program will be part of the Self-Reliance activities already taking place in Armenia. Missionaries in Armenia may use the EnglishConnect program, as long as they are conducting the program in keeping with the guidelines below, and as long as they are following mission rules about proselytizing. We recommend that the Religious Community provide a disclosure to each participant that EnglishConnect courses will contain religious content, that they will not carry accredited value, and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The EnglishConnect program in Armenia was reviewed by local counsel. Based on that review, it should be operated with the following country-specific guidelines:
• EnglishConnect should only be advertised by word of mouth or by handbills/posters hung inside the Church building. The program should not be advertised in the mass media (i.e., newspaper, radio, social media).
• EnglishConnect classes should contain religious content (see below), and be structured informally, as discussion groups, rather than “classes” or “courses.”
• The Religious Community may not issue certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses.
In addition to the country-specific guidelines above, the program should be operated in Armenia according to the following general program guidelines:
• Obtain parental consent for each student 18 years old or under (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.[1]
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• At least one-third of all teaching must contain substantial religious content (i.e., religious content should take up 20 minutes of each hour of instruction or 30 minutes of each 90 minutes of instruction).
• Require instructors to complete the required Church training, “Protecting Children and Youth,” and follow all local country standards for the vetting and calling of teachers of youth for any EnglishConnect instructor who will be teaching anyone under 21.
• Follow all program guidelines contained in the Leader and Teacher guides.
If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using an Church Account, he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.
EnglishConnect 3
BYU-Pathway Worldwide (“BYU-PW”) can offer EnglishConnect 3 in Armenia. Because BYU-PW will offer EnglishConnect 3 through the Pathway program, it must operate under the same conditions as Pathway. For more information on EnglishConnect 3 and the Pathway program, please refer to the Pathway Program Report, under the Church Education key topic for Armenia on InfoGuide. (In the past, Brigham Young University – Idaho was the entity that offered Pathway programs, but it transferred its Pathway activities to BYU-PW in 2019.)
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Belarus
Summary
May 5, 2020
EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now
Religious Community #1 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Minsk, a Belarusian religious organization (“RC Minsk #1”), can carry out the EnglishConnect novice program (EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now) in Belarus as long as it is ONLY offered to Church members. The EnglishConnect program will be part of the Self-Reliance activities already taking place in Belarus. EnglishConnect should not be used as a missionary tool in Belarus. RC Minsk #1 may issue OGC-approved certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses. We recommend that RC Minsk #1 provide a disclosure to each participant that EnglishConnect courses will contain religious content, that they will not carry accredited value, and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The EnglishConnect program in Belarus was reviewed by local counsel. Based on that review, it should be operated with the following country-specific guidelines:
• EnglishConnect should only be offered to Church members.1
In addition to the country-specific guidelines above, the program should be operated in Belarus according to the following general program guidelines:
• No mass media advertising of the program targeting the general public:
○ I.e., no newspaper, radio, or broadly distributed social media advertising;
○ Handbills, posters, announcements in Church, or “pass-along” cards are acceptable.
• Obtain parental consent for each student 18 years old or under (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.2
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• At least one-third of all teaching must contain substantial religious content (i.e., religious content should take up 20 minutes of each hour of instruction or 30 minutes of each 90 minutes of instruction).
• Require instructors to complete the required Church training, “Protecting Children and Youth,” and follow all local country standards for the vetting and calling of teachers of youth for any EnglishConnect instructor who will be teaching anyone under 21.
• Follow all program guidelines contained in the Leader and Teacher guides.
EnglishConnect 3
BYU-Pathway Worldwide (“BYU-PW”) can offer EnglishConnect 3 in Belarus. Because BYU-PW will offer EnglishConnect 3 through the Pathway program, it must operate under the same conditions as
Pathway. For more information on EnglishConnect 3 and PathwayConnect, please refer to the Pathway Program Report, under the Church Education key topic for Belarus on InfoGuide. (In the past, Brigham Young University – Idaho was the entity that offered Pathway programs, but it transferred its Pathway
activities to BYU-PW in 2019.)
- By virtue of its registration as a religious organization, RC Minsk #1 may only carry out religious activities aimed at meeting the religious needs of its members. As long as EnglishConnect courses are grounded in Church teachings and only provided to Church members, RC Minsk #1 can offer them.
- If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using an Church Account, he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Estonia
Summary
September 25, 2019
EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now
The Estonian Congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an Estonian religious organization (the “Estonian Congregation”), can carry out the EnglishConnect program in Estonia. The EnglishConnect program will be part of the Self-Reliance activities already taking place in Estonia.
The Estonian Congregation may issue OGC-approved certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses. We recommend that the Estonian Congregation provide a disclosure to each participant that EnglishConnect courses will contain religious content, that they will not carry accredited value, and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The authorization of the EnglishConnect program in Estonia has been made by OGC pursuant to an expedited review process (approved by Associate General Counsel - International on May 15, 2018) without specific review by local counsel in Estonia.
The conditions of this approval are that the program be operated in Estonia according to the following guidelines:
• No mass media advertising of the program targeting the general public:
○ I.e., no newspaper, radio, or broadly distributed social media advertising;
○ Handbills, posters, announcements in Church, or “pass-along” cards are acceptable.
• Obtain parental consent for each student 18 years old or under (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.1
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• At least one-third of all teaching must contain substantial religious content (i.e., religious content should take up 20 minutes of each hour of instruction or 30 minutes of each 90 minutes of instruction).
• Require instructors to complete the required Church training, “Protecting Children and Youth,” and follow all local country standards for the vetting and calling of teachers of youth for any EnglishConnect teacher who will be teaching anyone under 21.
• Follow all program guidelines contained in the Leader and Teacher guides.
• Any mission which has never used English teaching as a contacting method must obtain specific OGC approval before beginning to use EnglishConnect materials, in order to avoid threats to missionary visas or the Church’s legal status.
If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using a Church Account, then he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Kazakhstan
Summary
February 4, 2022
EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now
The Local Religious Association “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Astana City” and The Local Religious Association The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in Almaty City (the “Associations”), can carry out the EnglishConnect novice program EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now) in Kazakhstan. The EnglishConnect program will be part of the Self-Reliance activities which will be offered in Kazakhstan. The Associations may issue OGC-approved certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses. We recommend that the Associations provide a disclosure to each participant that EnglishConnect courses will contain religious content, that they will not carry accredited value, and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The EnglishConnect program in Kazakhstan was reviewed by local counsel. Based on that review, it should be operated with the following country-specific guidelines:
• EnglishConnect should only be offered to Church members.1
• In addition to the country-specific guidelines above, the program should be operated in Kazakhstan according to the following general program guidelines:
• The program may be advertised through mass media (newspaper, radio, paid social media ads) or by handbills, posters, announcements in Church, or “pass-along” cards, provided the advertisements contain:
○ Prominent placement of the Church’s name;
○ A statement that there is no cost for EnglishConnect novice programs; and
○ A statement that EnglishConnect novice programs are not accredited.
• Obtain parental consent for each student under 18 years old (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.2
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• At least one-third of all teaching must contain substantial religious content (i.e., religious content should take up 20 minutes of each hour of instruction or 30 minutes of each 90 minutes of instruction).
- Although there is no prohibition against EnglishConnect activities (and Self-Reliance activities generally), Kazakh authorities may view these activities as an evasion of the main religious purpose of the Associations, or, alternatively, as a special form of missionary activity – both of which could draw negative attention from the government and law enforcement and could cause issues with existing missionary visas. These risks are mitigated if the program is limited to Church members only.
- If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using an LDS Account, he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Moldova
Summary
April 13, 2020
*This summary applies to EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now only.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of Moldova, a Moldovan religious organization (the “Moldova Church”), can carry out the EnglishConnect novice program (EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now) in Moldova, as long as the EnglishConnect program does NOT include any religious content. The EnglishConnect program will be part of the
Self-Reliance activities already taking place in Moldova. Missionaries in Moldova may also use the EnglishConnect program. The Moldova Church may issue OGC-approved certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses. We recommend that the Moldova Church provide a disclosure to each participant that EnglishConnect courses will not carry accredited value and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The EnglishConnect program in Moldova was reviewed by local counsel. Based on that review, it should be operated with the following country-specific guidelines:
• Because EnglishConnect is considered to be “non-formal” education under Moldova’s education code, it should not include any religious content.
• Applications for long term stay permits for missionaries who will be teaching EnglishConnect should specify that those missionaries are authorized to engage in the Church’s “social and educational activities.”
In addition to the country-specific guidelines above, the program should be operated in Moldova according to the following general program guidelines:
• No mass media advertising of the program targeting the general public:
○ I.e., no newspaper, radio, or broadly distributed social media advertising;
○ Handbills, posters, announcements in Church, or “pass-along” cards are acceptable.
• Obtain parental consent for each student 18 years old or under (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.1
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• Require instructors to complete the required Church training, “Protecting Children and Youth,” and follow all local country standards for the vetting and calling of teachers of youth for any EnglishConnect instructor who will be teaching anyone under 21.
• Follow all program guidelines contained in the Leader and Teacher guides.
If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using a Church Account, he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Russia
Summary
September 18, 2018
*This summary applies to EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now only.
As of September 18, 2018, the Church Office of General Counsel has given a “no-implementation” status for EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now in Russia.
____________________________________________________________________________
EnglishConnect in Ukraine
Summary
February 28, 2019
*This summary applies to EnglishConnect 1, EnglishConnect 2, and Learn English Now only.
The Religious Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine, a Ukrainian religious organization (the “Religious Organization”), can carry out the EnglishConnect program in Ukraine., as long as the courses do not provide any type of accreditation. The EnglishConnect program will be part of the Self-Reliance activities already taking place in Ukraine. The Religious Organization may issue OGC-approved certificates of completion to participants who successfully complete EnglishConnect courses. We recommend that the Religious Organization provide a disclosure to
each participant that EnglishConnect courses will contain religious content, that they will not carry accredited value, and outlining the cost (if any) of EnglishConnect course materials.
The EnglishConnect program in Ukraine was reviewed by local counsel. Based on that review, it should be operated with the following country-specific guidelines:
• Written materials describing EnglishConnect, including advertisements, should include the following note: “EnglishConnect is a charitable activity of the Religious Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine aimed at improving the lives of its members.”
In addition to the country-specific guidelines above, the program should be operated in Ukraine according to the following general program guidelines:
• No mass media advertising of the program targeting the general public:
○ I.e., no newspaper, radio, or broadly distributed social media advertising;
○ Handbills, posters, announcements in Church, or “pass-along” cards are acceptable.
• Obtain parental consent for each student 18 years old or under (using the parental consent form attached as Appendix A):
○ Obtain both parent signatures where possible;
○ If someone 18 or under is actually living on their own, parental consent is not needed.
• Provide every student a hard copy of the Church’s Privacy Notice (attached as Appendix B) and be sure they read it.1
• Do not charge any fees or costs to the participants for program participation:
○ Program materials can be provided for free (by on-line download where possible) or purchased through regular distribution channels by local units or directly by participants.
• At least one-third of all teaching must contain substantial religious content (i.e., religious content should take up 20 minutes of each hour of instruction or 30 minutes of each 90 minutes of instruction).
• Follow all local country standards for the vetting and calling of teachers of youth for any EnglishConnect teacher who will be teaching anyone under 21.
• Follow all program guidelines contained in the Leader and Teacher guides.
• Any mission which has never used English teaching as a contacting method must obtain specific OGC approval before beginning to use EnglishConnect materials, in order to avoid threats to missionary visas or the Church’s legal status.
If a student has registered online for EnglishConnect using a Church Account, he or she need not be provided a hard copy of the Privacy Notice.