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Al Azhar Conference and Christian Muslim Relations
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Rev. Habib Badr was invited by Al Azhar to participate in two-day international conference on freedom, citizenship, diversity and integration. Scholars, church leaders and thinkers have come from different countries to promote peace and dialogue. The conference was co-organized by UAE’s Muslim Council of Elders and Al Azhar global's seat of Sunni Muslim Learning, and took place in Cairo, from February 28th till 1st of March. Rev. Badr had the opportunity to address the subject of Christian Muslim coexistence and the diversity experience in Lebanon.
World Day of Prayer in Lebanon 2017
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The World Day of Prayer (WDP) this year was celebrated at the Near East School of Theology, Beirut on the 3rd of March. The theme was prepared by the women in Philippines and inspired by the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16, "Am I being Unfair to You?" The message of the day affirmed that in order to build and sustain a community, it is necessary to practice compassion and care for one another. Maybe this is the key to answer the question “Am I Being Unfair to you?” The speaker of the day was Dr. Renée Ghattas, a member of WDP's committee in Lebanon. Another member of WDP's committee from our church who helped in organizing this day is Mrs. Samia Boulad.
Guests from Württemberg Church in our Church
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From Friday March 10 to Monday evening March 13, the NECB hosted a group of 24 church leaders from the diocese of Württemberg in southwest Germany. The group included the regional bishop (Prelat) of the Heilbronn district, Rev. Harald Stumpf, 13 assistant bishops (Dekans) with their spouses, and the officer for ecumenical and foreign relations in the governing Synod of the Württemberg diocese, Rev. Klaus Rieth. They were also accompanied by Rev. Dr. Uwe Gräbe, the ME liaison secretary at EMS. On Friday morning the group visited NEST and met with Dr. George Sabra. Later, accompanied by Rev. Badr, they were received by Maronite Archbishop Paul Sayyah in Bkirki who spoke on the current situation. Afterwards they were briefly greeted by Patriarch Bechara Raii. On Saturday morning Rev. Badr gave them an introduction to our church and its role in society, followed by Dr. Muhammad Sammak, who briefed them on the recent document issued by Al Azhar on “The Muslim-Christian Coexistence”. On Sunday the group joined our worship service at church where Rev. Rieth preached. A reception followed that included church council members and several evangelical church leaders from the larger community.
On Monday the group spent the whole day in Schneller School where they participated in the inauguration of the new computer library and football field. Of course the visit was interspersed by sightseeing trips to Byblos, Baalbek, the Chouf cedars, the National Museum, etc. All in all it was a most successful visit wherein both churches in Beirut and Württemberg benefited and celebrated their longstanding partnership.
