Middle East

Israel and Palestine buildings

The Church of Scotland has a long history in the Middle East and in Israel has two congregations, a School, Guesthouse, and Hotel.

We are active in supporting the people of the Middle East and advocating for peace in the region in political and religious arenas.

The Church of Scotland has partners in Egypt, Palestine and Israel, and Syria and Lebanon.

Egypt

Flag of Egypt

Partner church

  • Synod of the Nile of the Evangelical Church of Egypt

Partnership history

  • The Evangelical Church of Egypt is a protestant church that started as a mission of the United Presbyterian Church of North America among Muslim and Coptic Egyptians in 1854
  • It became independent in 1958 and has 400 congregations, 8 presbyteries, and about 750,000 members
  • The Synod of the Nile is Egypt's oldest and largest protestant denomination and helps run hospitals, social services and has its own seminary

Twinnings and partners

  • St Andrew's Refugee Services (StARS) provide high-quality services meeting unaddressed needs of refugees, and provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. Learn more about their work at their website.

Photos: Flickr account

Palestine and Israel

Flag of Israel and Palestine

Church of Scotland Churches and Institutions

Partner Church

Partnership history

  • The Diocese traces its roots back to the arrival of Anglican missionaries in 1841
  • Today it supports Anglicans in Israel and Palestine, as well as Syria, Lebanon and Jordan

Partner church

  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Partnership history

  • The official Lutheran Church in the Middle East
  • In 1841 a joint British Anglican and Prussian Evangelical bishopric was established in Jerusalem to service the poor and provide a proper education for Christians

Partner organisation

  • Sabeel aims to strive towards theological liberation through instilling the Christian faith in the daily lives of those who suffer under occupation, violence, injustice, and discrimination. This includes advocacy, awareness building, building unity through implementing community projects, and bringing people together to study the Bible.
  • Sabeel's Wave of Prayer is a great way to engage with their work. It provides a news update on life in Palestine, and a prayer to say together with thousands of others who are praying for peace in the Middle East.

Partnership history

  • Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation movement among Palestinian Christians, which was conceived in 1989
  • It strives to develop a spirituality based on justice, peace, non-violence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities
  • Sabeel also works to promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity, presence, and witness of Palestinian Christians

Projects

Syria and Lebanon

Flag of Syria and Lebannon

Partner church

  • National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL)

Partnership history

  • Originates in the evangelical revival in the early 19th century, which found support in the witness of Reformed missionaries from Britain and North America
  • In 1848, the Ottoman authorities recognised the Evangelical (Protestant) faith
  • The first churches were founded in Beirut and Hasbaya on the slopes of Mt Hermon
  • The synod was organised in 1920 and is the administrative body for Arabic-speaking congregations
  • Since 1959 the synod has assumed responsibility for the direction of nearly all the work of former mission bodies from Scotland, Ireland and USA among others

Partners

  • Near East School of Theology, in Beirut
  • Joint Christian Committee for Social Services in Lebanon
  • Middle East Council of Churches

Photos: Flickr account