Conceptual model of state-church relations in modern Ukraine
Authors: Kopylova Maryna 
Published: December 2024

The article summarizes and analyzes the basic concepts related to state-church relations, the models of these relations, and proposes the author's conceptual model of state-church relations for modern Ukraine. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that in Ukraine the share of citizens who declare themselves believers is more than 70%, the church is a public institution with a high level of trust from society, and the presence of 35,778 religious communities in Ukraine. However, the insufficient conceptual justification of the model of relations that would be effective in modern conditions is noted. First of all, it is noted that although the concept of "state-church relations" is often used in scientific discourse, it is not enshrined in either international or domestic legislation. The analysis of regulatory documents and scientific sources allowed us to establish that these relations concern the relations between public authorities and religious organizations. The main regulatory legal acts that regulate the issues of state-church relations are summarized. It has been established that although religious organizations have separate state regulation, they can use all the rights provided for by law for public associations. This opens up great opportunities for socially beneficial initiatives of religious organizations. The following models of state-church relations are summarized: 1) antagonistic: ignoring the state's hostile attitude towards the church; 2) separation of the church from the state: the state does not identify itself with any of the religions (churches); 3) state church: legally enshrined privileged position of one of the religions (churches); 4) cooperative: the church and the state are separated, but interact; 5) partnership: the church and the state interact on a partnership basis; 6) subordination of the church to the state; 7) primacy of the church: dominance of the church in all spheres of public life; 8) separation: the state does not create special legislation regulating state-church relations; 9) syncretic: assumes the possible existence of a state church; 10) theocracy: political power in the state belongs to the clergy or the leadership of the church; 11) caesaropapism: the head of state is simultaneously the head of the church. In Ukraine, the model of autonomy in state-church relations is legally enshrined. However, in practice, a partnership model is already being implemented: after all, memoranda are concluded between state and religious organizations, advisory bodies are created, cooperation is carried out in the social sphere, etc. Taking into account this trend, it is proposed to implement in practice a partnership model of state-church interaction. This model combines the principles of separation of the church from the state with elements of cooperation and partnership in specific areas of public life. The model provides for state support for the initiatives of religious organizations, if they do not contradict the legislation. Within the framework of the model, a set of principles is proposed that allow state-church relations to acquire a modern meaning and bring more social benefit to the society of Ukraine