The Protestant Reformation and the Middle East
Rev. Habib Badr and the Baord of Elders of our church held a reception and dinner in honor of the participants in the International Conference on The Protestant Reformation and the Middle East, on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. It was a historical event indeed that the oldest Catholic University in Lebanon, St. Joseph (USJ) which was founded in 1881, and the oldest Protestant Theological seminary in the ME (Near East School of Theology - NEST) joined together to participate in the Luther Decade which is leading up to the commemoration of 500 years anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. (Program of the Conference)
Many distinguished guests attended the occasion. Among them were: Her Excellency Prof. Margot Käßmann, Ambassador for the Reformation Anniversary in 2017 on behalf of the Council of the EKD; His Grace Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, President, World Lutheran Federation; His Excellency Mr. Christian Clages, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
As well as many church representatives participated in this event: The Catholicos Aram I Keshishian represented by Archimandrite Huseek Mardirossian; His Grace Bishop Boulos Matar represented by Fr. Tanious Khalil; His Grace Bishop Elias Audi represented by Fr. Philip Said; His Grace Bishop Kyrillos Bustros represented by Fr. Roumanous Bou Aasi; Fr. Dr. Michel Jalkh, president of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC); Dr. George & Mrs. Lydia Sabra; Dr. Eugene Sensenig; Rev. Jonas & Mrs. Chris Weiß-Lange; Rev. Megerditch & Mrs. Seta Karagoezian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in NE; Rev. Dr. Paul Maral Haidostian, President of Haigazian University; Mrs. Rosanjela Jarjour, President of the Fellowship of the ME Evan. Churches; Dr. Rima van Saane; Rev. Nabil & Dr. Sylvie Mamarbashi; Rev. Gabriel & Mrs. Najwa Bahnan; Mrs. Najla Kassab; Dr. Chris Ferguson (GS/WCRC); Mrs. Nabila Sammak; Dr. Sami Nasr; Mr. Jean Daghe; Mrs. Leila Salibi; Miss. Rima Deeb; Mrs. Aida Abdul Samad; Mr. Nabil & Mrs. Suad Rahhal; Mr. Richard & Mrs. Nada Abdul Karim; Mr. Tony Asfour; Mrs. Gabriele Bunzel El-Khalil & Dr. Amin El-Khalil.
