[Anglican Communion News Service] Five different churches in Egypt — including the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church — have joined together to form the Egypt Council of Churches after one year of deliberations and meetings between the churches.

The announcement was made in a press release by the Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, bishop of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

“It is so important that this council is born at this time while Egypt is going through a very challenging circumstance politically, socially and economically,” he said. “It means a lot for the churches to face these challenges together with one heart and soul.”

The launch of the council took place on Feb. 18 and was hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, known as the “Mother” church of Egypt.

“The first goal of the Egypt Council of Churches is to enhance the bonds of love and the spirit of co-operation among the member churches,” explained Anis. “There are 15 different committees that will be active in the areas of faith and unity, youth, Sunday schools, community development and women among others.”

The primate acknowledged the importance of such collaboration among churches. “Each church in this council will enrich the others with its heritage,” he said. “It is important to affirm the principle of inter-dependence of each church.”

FULL STATEMENT BELOW

On Monday 18 February 2013, the Egypt Council of Churches was launched!  After one year of meetings and much discussion, five churches joined together to form the Egypt Council of Churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Anglican Church.  His Holiness, Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the “Mother” church of Egypt, hosted the launch of this council.

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East said, “It is so important that this council is born at this time while Egypt is going through a very challenging circumstance politically, socially and economically. It means a lot for the churches to face these challenges together with one heart and soul.”  Bishop Mouneer went on to say that “the first goal of the Egypt Council of Churches is to enhance the bonds of love and the spirit of cooperation among the member churches.”

There are 15 different committees that will be active in the areas of faith and unity, youth, Sunday schools, community development and women, etc…  Bishop Mouneer said at the launch of the Egypt Council of Churches, “that each church in this council will enrich the others with its heritage.”  He also said that “it is important to affirm the principle of inter-dependence of each church.”

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis
Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa
President Bishop of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East