wfn.org | WCC NEWS: WCC visit to Egypt: Church unity and interreligious dialogue

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 26/06/2008 16:49:39

CHURCH UNITY AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE DISCUSSED AT WCC VISIT
TO EGYPT

Challenges facing Christians today are too strong for a divided
church, said World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia in Egypt recently as he called for church
unity both locally and globally. Kobia was speaking during a
16-21 June visit to WCC member churches in the country. 

Among the most urgent challenges for Middle Eastern churches are
the regional peace process and the migration of Christians, both
of which are addressed by the 2007 Amman Call, a document in
which some 130 representatives of churches and Christian
organizations from six continents agreed on guiding principles
for their work in the region. 

A WCC delegation led by Kobia was welcomed to Egypt by the
Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, from the Coptic Orthodox Church.
He greeted the visitors on behalf of patriarch Pope Shenouda III
who was abroad for health treatment. 

The group met Rev. Dr Safwat al Bayady and chairpersons of the
different councils of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of
Egypt, also known as the Synod of the Nile. Kobia expressed
appreciation of the Synod's contribution to the ecumenical work
in the country. 

The WCC general secretary greeted the Faith and Order Standing
Commission, whose members were meeting in Cairo from 16-22 June.
The delegation attended a session of the Commission, in which
they discussed a study project on moral discernment. 

The WCC delegation as well as the members of the Faith and Order
Standing Commission was received by Pope Theodoros II, Greek
Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. Pope Theodoros
bestowed on Kobia the Cross of the Patriarchate and congratulated
him upon his contribution to the WCC. Kobia will be leaving the
WCC at the end of 2008.

Interreligious dialogue must aim to preserve human dignity

The delegation met the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar University and
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque Dr Mohammad Sayyed Tantawy with
whom they discussed the prospects for Christian-Muslim dialogue.
"An accurate mutual understanding of religions can only be
achieved if Christians and Muslims see each other as human beings
rather than as representatives of different faith groups," said
Kobia. 

Tantawy briefed the delegation on cultural and interreligious
dialogue initiatives between the Coptic Orthodox, Anglican and
Roman Catholic churches and the Al Azhar Mosque, considered by
many one of the most influential Sunni Muslim institutions.
"Preserving human dignity and procuring a safe environment for
living together should be the aim of all interreligious
dialogues", Tantawy said. 

The Minister of religious affairs Dr Mahmoud Zakzouk met the
delegation and emphasized the importance of communication in
order to modify negative perceptions of Islam. "Islam is a
religion of love, respect and peace; we reject all aspects of
violence", stated Zakzouk. 

In turn, Kobia emphasized the role of interreligious dialogue in
overcoming misunderstandings and prejudices. "Christians and
Muslims form together more than 55% of the world's population. If
we find ways of dialogue and we live peacefully together then we
will contribute to global peace", he said. 

For this goal to be achieved, Kobia and Zakzouk agreed,
interreligious dialogue cannot be confined to leaders, scholars
and intellectuals only. Ordinary people living in interreligious
settings need to be involved in interreligious dialogue if this
is to have an impact on people's lives. 

A meeting with the secretary general of the League of Arab
Nations, Amro Moussa was an opportunity to discuss a possible
cooperation in the search for peace and justice in the Middle
East and in Palestine/Israel in particular.

Members of the WCC delegation that visited Egypt: 

· Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary 
· Mr Guirguis Saleh, Middle East Council of Churches general
secretary
· Ms Sophia Shokry, WCC commission on youth in the ecumenical
movement (ECHOS) member
· H.G. Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria, Church of Cyprus
· Mr Michael Spyrou, Church of Cyprus
· Ms Carla Khijoyan, WCC programme consultant for Ecumenical
Solidarity and Regional Relations

WCC member churches in Egypt:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/middle-east/egypt.html
( http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=4744 )

>WCC work with churches in the Middle East:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3113

WCC programme on Interreligious Dialogue:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/programmes/interreligiousdialogue.html

See also the WCC press release of 12 June 2008: "Egypt visit to
highlight WCC Middle East focus":
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/egypt-visit-to-highlight.html

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith,
witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical
fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings
together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches
representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110
countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic
Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from
the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.