Protestant Churches of Egypt issue new statement on the situation

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

The Protestant Community of Egypt Rejects the Establishment of Religious Parties
and Opens its Hospitals to Treat the Wounded

The leadership of the Protestant Community in Egypt announced its full and absolute support of the achievements of the youth of the 25^th of January in accomplishments that contributed to the fulfillment of a people’s revolution that eliminated all of the forms of corruption, and came out with Egypt to a bright future. Also, the leadership announced its support of all of the decisions and steps taken by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in order to achieve security and stability, and to allow for the peaceful transition of authority to a civilian leadership to govern the country. This came in the conclusion of the second meeting of the Executive Committee of the General Protestant Council of the Community, that was held last Tuesday 15^th of February under the leadership of Rev. Andrea Zaki, Ph.D., Vice President (and Acting President) of the Community, in the presence of those representing the different protestant denominations of Egypt.

Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki stated that it had been arranged that the hospitals of the Protestant Church in Cairo and Tanta be open for the treatment of the wounded of the past events, free of charge, in addition to providing full support to the families of the victims and the injured. He added that the statement issued by the Community asserted the following:

That the Protestant Community stresses that, no matter how much it says or does, it cannot do justice in offering the due gratitude and appreciation to the martyrs, the sons of the country. Also, the Protestant Community in Egypt calls upon all of its churches of all denominations, inside and outside the Arab Republic of Egypt, to hold a day of fasting and prayer for Egypt and the families of the martyrs, next Sunday, the 20^th of February, 2011.
The Protestant Community expresses, quite clearly, its full support for a civil state, and its absolute rejection of the establishment of religious parties, and that is to prevent the confusion of the absolute and relative and to stress that general humanitarian principles that are agreed upon, and also the international charters for human rights are what should be the fundamental reference to the Constitution and the Law.
The necessity of the church providing all of the forms of support possible to the families of the injured. And the church, as it opens the door to treating the injured, free of charge, in the Protestant hospitals in Cairo and Tanta, at the same time, encourages its local churches in their different locations to continue in the restoration and rebuilding of the governmental organizations that were damaged, and also to establish small projects for day-based-workers, and to work on cleaning and beautifying the different areas of the country.
The Protestant Community stresses, again, on the basic human rights, such as the right for education and freedom of expression, and also freedoms of beliefs and worship, and worship observance for all. Also, the right for a life of dignity for all citizens, and giving top priority to scientific research, for the building of the modern country.