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Evangelical Theological
Seminary
and
St. Andrew's United Church
Egypt is home to a rich Christian history and
heritage. With a population of over 60 million, it is one of the largest Islamic countries
in the world. The Christian community, while large, is a small percentage of the
population. The Coptic Orthodox Church claims six million members, or ten percent of the
population. Other Christian churches, although small, are vital and active.
The Evangelical Synod of the Nile was founded
in the 19th century by American Presbyterian missionaries. The original impulse
of the Western missionary movement was to the world of Islam. Nonetheless, the converts
were almost entirely from the Orthodox Christian family -- creating a source of irritation
and distrust that exists to the present day.
The seminary for the Evangelical Synod of the
Nile is called The Coptic Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo. It
is the largest Christian Arabic-language theological training institute in the world. It
is located in Cairo, Egypt, and serves Arabic-language needs of Evangelical and Protestant
churches of the Middle East with multi-level education for men and women. It trains
pastors, teachers, and musicians for Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan. There is a
traditional four-year Bachelor of Theology degree and a Diploma in Theological Studies for
persons completing 100 hours of academic studies in evening classes.
The Evangelical Theological Seminary
publishes theological books and Christian education materials in Arabic for the Middle
East Christian community. It also offers theological education and Christian education for
the laity.
St. Andrew's United Church
of Cairo is an international English-language ministry of word and sacrament which
provides English-language services and other ministries to the international and
expatriate community of Cairo. St. Andrew's also cooperates with other expressions of the
Egyptian Christian community in dialogue with and witness among Muslims.
For many years, St. Andrew's Congregation has
hosted an educational and advocacy ministry among African refugees in Egypt. Most of the
refugees have fled their homes in the Sudan and Horn of Africa due to war or famine, in
order to seek safety and well-being in a nearby country. The African refugee ministry
began as part of the ongoing ministry of St. Andrew's United Church of Cairo. Now it is
separately constituted and has its own board, though local members of St. Andrew's are
also active in the ministry. The refugees themselves are involved in the administration of
the program whenever possible.
Those who are in charge of the ministry are
very skilled at relating to the various diplomatic missions in Cairo in order to assist
the refugees in relocation and immigration to Europe and North America. The congregation
and the refugee ministry are both watched carefully by Egyptian authorities, and great
care is taken to abide by the regulations of the Egyptian government. Accurate and
confidential records are kept, which is very important in dealings with the government.
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