Rev. Rifaat Fikry: The Evangelical Conference of Cairo is Part of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile

The MECC 12th General Assembly in Egypt Is a Blessing

Last week, the Evangelical Church in Egypt witnessed new elections. The Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Rev. Rifaat Fikry was elected as a new president by acclamation of the Evangelical Conference of Cairo in its 159th session, which was held on February 25, 2022. Thus, we can ask many questions; what is the Evangelical Conference of Cairo? and what is the mission of the new president?

Fikry, the “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) and Head of the Council for Dialogue and Ecumenical Relations in the Evangelical Church in Egypt, took his new ecclesiastical responsibility as a message of hope at a time when our region, including Christians, are facing more than ever before considerable challenges, crises and conflicts.

Rev. Rifaat Fikry answered the questions of the Communication and public Relations Department, and highlighted the preparations in Egypt towards the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Short Bio

Rev. Fikry, born in January 1969, received two bachelor’s degree in Theological Sciences and Communication. He is now working on a master’s degree at the Institute of African Studies and Research at Cairo University, in Politics and Economics, on the following subject: “The Theology of Liberation and its Impact on the Liberation of South Africa”.

Rev. Fikry is also a lecturer on many humanitarian topics, including citizenship and human rights, the author of several weekly articles published in Egyptian newspapers and websites, and wrote many books. He chaired the Synod of the Nile in 2018 and 2019, and was the Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Abu Hammad, Sharqia Governorate, in 1997 and 2000, and of the Evangelical Church in Ard Sharif, Shubra, in 2000 and 2015.

Fikry shed light on the Evangelical Conference of Cairo as "one of the eight councils that are part of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile, and includes an average of 120 Evangelical Presbyterian churches. Noting that some churches of the Conference may host several meetings related to the Week of Prayer for Christian unity." Hence, he mentioned that “the ecumenical youth day is hosted this year by the Evangelical Church in Nasr City, Cairo.”

Concerning his new responsibility as president of the Evangelical Conference of Cairo, Fikry indicated that he was elected for one year, and said “I represent the Conference in all the various assemblies and ecclesiastical celebrations such as the ordination of priests, elders and deacons. I also moderate the Conference’s administrative sessions and the meetings of its Executive Committee.”

In another hand, we asked Rev. Fikry about the role of the Council for Dialogue and Ecumenical Relations in the Synod of the Nile. He explained that it was established almost 11 years ago and works in the context of the Islamic-Christian dialogue and Christian-Christian dialogue. He added that "the Council has 8 committees all over Egypt. These committees usually organize meetings in the Said villages and all regions in the Arab Republic of Egypt, aiming at spreading the values of tolerance and acceptance of others."

At the end, Rev. Rifaat Fikry tackled the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, which will be held under the title “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27) with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, between 16 and 20 May 2022. He mentioned that the preparations in Egypt for the Assembly are “ongoing aiming at receiving the participants from the Middle Eastern countries, through finishing their travel procedures and all matters related to their transportation from the airport to the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natrun.

He added, "the Evangelical Church considers that the MECC General Assembly is a blessing hoping that it will have a positive impact on all the Churches and countries of the East and all Christians."

Some pictures from the elections' session of the Evangelical Conference of Cairo