The Head of the Evangelical Denomination Receives the German Government Commissioner and the German Ambassador to Cairo
———
Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki:
The Evangelical Church and the Evangelical Organization are national partners in consolidating the values of community dialogue and sustainable development.
International dialogues reflect the full and accurate picture of the Egyptian reality.
———
German Government Commissioner:
We value the national role of religious institutions and civil society in supporting coexistence and community dialogue.
———
Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki, Head of the Evangelical Denomination in Egypt and President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), received a high-level official German delegation as part of an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, aimed at discussing a number of issues related to community dialogue and the role of the Church and civil society in promoting the values of coexistence and social peace.
The delegation was headed by Mr. Thomas Rachel, the Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion or Belief, and included Mr. Jürgen Schulz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Cairo; Mr. David Dirksen, Assistant to the German Government Commissioner; Mr. Thilo von und zu Gilsa, Cultural and Education Counselor at the German Embassy in Cairo; and Ms. Maha Weissa, Officer for Culture and Science. The visit reflects the German government’s interest in institutional dialogue with religious leaders and civil society in Egypt.
The meeting addressed the activities of the Evangelical Church within Egyptian society, as well as the developmental and community role played by the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, and its ongoing projects in the fields of education, health, economic empowerment, and community peacebuilding, in addition to the local and international partnerships supporting these efforts.
Both sides also discussed the role of the Evangelical Church in supporting interfaith dialogue, promoting a culture of coexistence and acceptance of others, and the nature of its engagement with various religious communities, within the framework of a nation-state based on citizenship and the rule of law.
Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki affirmed that the Evangelical Church is an independent national entity committed to supporting the values of citizenship and human rights, stressing that international dialogues aim to present a comprehensive and objective vision of the Egyptian reality based on partnership and mutual respect.
For his part, Mr. Thomas Rachel expressed his appreciation for the role played by the Evangelical Church and the Coptic Evangelical Organization in supporting coexistence and social peace, emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue with national religious leaders as one of the key pathways to enhancing mutual understanding and building trust.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Samira Louka, Head of the Dialogue Sector at CEOSS; Mr. Michael El-Dabaa, Head of the Investment Sector at CEOSS; Sheikh Essam Wassef, Director of Public Relations at CEOSS; Counselor Youssef Talaat, Legal Advisor to the Head of the Evangelical Denomination; and Mr. Youssef Edward, Media Director at CEOSS.
