Country Profiles

JORDAN

Today, approximately 5% of Jordan’s population (around 6.5 million) identifies as Christian. In the mid-20th century, the figure was 30%. The Greek Orthodox church has the largest presence here, followed by the Catholic church. In addition, the Anglican church is relatively large in Jordan, at least partially because of its many development projects -- one example being the HLID!

Jordan has an admirable history of strong inter-faith relations. King Hussein (r. 1952 - 1999) occasionally attended a Christian church. King Abdullah II, the current monarch, has repeatedly stressed the importance of harmonious relations between Christians and Muslims -- and all peoples of faith (check out the “Amman Message,” or read his book). 

Also admirable is the presence of Jordanian Christians in the country’s political sphere. Nine of the 150 Parliamentary seats are reserved for Christians. Several months ago, I was privileged to attend a dinner at the house of Dr. Abu Jaber, Jordan’s former Foreign Secretary (equivalent to the US Secretary of State) under King Hussein. Dr. Abu Jaber is a Greek Orthodox believer, and he directs the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies. 

As I said in a previous post, there is still tension, still religious injustice. But there are also many signs of hope, many blessings for which we should be grateful.  

SYRIA

Approximately 10% of Syria’s population (around 22.5 million) identifies as Christian. As in Jordan, the percentage was higher in years past. The majority of Syrian Christians are Orthodox.

Many of you are familiar with the current plight of Syrian Christians. Under the Assad regime (both the current ruler and his father), Christians enjoyed security. They are hesitant to support the opposition, as they are anxious about the unpredictability of a new regime/system. These sisters and brothers need our prayers. 

LEBANON

The most religiously diverse country in the Middle East. Approximately 20% of Lebanon’s population identifies as Maronite Christian (one of the oldest Eastern Catholic churches, if not the oldest). Another 20% identifies with other Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. The country’s Muslim population is equally diverse. 

Lebanon’s modern history has been marked by political strife -- a Palestinian refugee crisis, Israeli occupation, civil war. It has also been marked by religious tension, intra-Islam and inter-faith. 

PALESTINE

As previously mentioned, Palestinian Christians comprise 1 or 2% of the population. Statistics will vary, but we’ll say somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000. Most of these are concentrated around Ramallah (home base for Palestine’s political leadership) and Bethlehem. Approximately 35% of Bethlehem’s population identifies as Christian.

Based on my knowledge and experience, the vast majority of Palestinian church leaders are adamant pacifists. This is certainly true of Palestine’s Evangelical leadership. 

A little-known fact: several thousand Palestinian Christians live in Gaza, one of the most miserable places on earth (two little-known facts?). 

EGYPT

The Christian Church in Egypt was established by St. Mark in the mid-1st century. Today, approximately 10% of Egypt’s population (8 million of 80 million) identifies as Christian, and most of these are Coptic Orthodox. 

Just recently, President Mohammed Mursi invited the Heads of Denominations in Egypt to an official dialogue. Thirteen bishops and pastors attended, representing the Coptic Orthodox, the Greek Orthodox, the Catholic, the Anglican, and other Protestant churches. President Mursi has hosted two such dialogues in two months’ time (which apparently hasn’t happened in thirty years). At this most recent dialogue, church leaders raised grievances about sectarian clashes and about the ignorance and deviant teachings that fuel them. Church leaders also assured the president that they pray for him regularly, and he expressed his deep appreciation for these prayers. In turn, he assured the church leaders that his Islamic faith commands him to be gracious and just with people of other faiths. (This information comes from http://www.jmeca.org.uk/great-hopes-egyptian-christians.)

You shouldn’t have to look far on the online databases of major news networks to find information about the sectarian clashes to which the church leaders refer. It’s not as bad as Iraq, but it’s pretty bad. Speaking of...

IRAQ

The Christian Church in Iraq is as old as it is in Egypt: St. Thomas launched Christian churches on his way to India. Most Iraqi Christians are Eastern rite Catholics who are ethnically Assyrians, speaking Jesus’ native language of Aramaic to this day. 

Before the war in 2003, there were approximately 1.5 million Christians in Iraq. Now, I believe, the number is around half a million. I highly recommend reading this piece by my commencement speaker, a long-time Anglican vicar in Baghdad: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/canonandrewwhite/9307626/Iraq_The_most_dangerous_place_in_the_world_for_Christians/. 

These sisters and brothers (and this country!) desperately need our prayers. 

IRAN

Although the majority population isn’t Arab, but Persian, this is nevertheless a good opportunity to mention the little-known fact: there are Christians in Iran. Well over a hundred Armenian Orthodox churches, in fact. Even more surprisingly, there are Protestant churches in Iran. Three Anglican churches, including one in Tehran. The following quote is from the Jerusalem and Middle East Church Association: 

“There have been Christians in Iran since the earliest days of the Church and the indigenous Churches continue as minorities in this predominantly Muslim country. The Anglican presence arose out of missionary work by the Church Missionary Society and there is a small Church which looks to the Bishop for spiritual leadership. The diocesan institutions - schools and hospitals and work among the blind - have gone but the tiny Church persists. Members of the Church need much prayer for strength to witness to their faith and for protection from the opposition. There have been martyrs since the Revolution, and the situation can only really be described, in human terms, as unpredictable.” 

Welcome to the Church in this part of the world.