The Center for Middle Eastern Christianity (CMEC) has two important dates that mark its foundation. In 2004, partners and friends were invited to the inauguration service of the center in a tent on the roof of the old building of Evangelical Theological Seminary Cairo (ETSC). Dr. Rev. Kenneth Bailey was the keynote speaker, and the meeting intended to unleash the vision of founding CMEC in order to fundraise for this ambitious project. The second date was in the spring 2023, after finishing the construction work and securing the furniture and equipment of the center. A three day conference was held in the mornings for researchers and students of the Christian Arabic Heritage, and public lectures were held in the evenings to Christians from the different mainline churches. The goal of these meetings was to celebrate the announcement of the founding of the CMEC and promote its vision and mission.
The Core Values that govern our work are the Christian principles of love that manifest themselves through:
We commit to the highest academic standards that:
Mission: CMEC is essentially committed to ETSC’s goals and principles. It seeks to preserve and revive the Christian heritage of the Middle East and raise the intellectual awareness of ETSC students, graduates, and church leaders of their rich Middle Eastern heritage. It also aims to connect this rich heritage with the theological tradition of the Reformed Church in a way that further deepens theological and biblical studies around the world.
Important Undertakings: CMEC’s diploma in Arab Christian Heritage (DACH) is intended to introduce students to the rich Arab Christian heritage by expounding Christian doctrines in terms that are relevant to the local cultural and historical context. It provides a way to understand and interpret the Bible from a Middle Eastern perspective. The courses are taught in an academic atmosphere that respects Christian ecumenical relations and that builds bridges between the students and their various backgrounds and cultures. The courses are offered online, in Arabic, to students from all over the world. The program is completed in a full calendar year (12 months) on a part-time basis and welcomes students from different denominational and religious backgrounds from different countries and cultures.
CMEC’s Kenneth Bailey Library is a rich reservoir in Arab and Middle Eastern Christian studies. With over 8000 volumes, the collection is a great gift for serious researchers, due to the high quality of the academic resources and manuscripts it holds. A regular book review from the library holdings is published on the Center’s Facebook page to inform and benefit those interested in the field of Middle Eastern Christianity.
CMEC cooperates and maintains partnerships with centers and organizations working in the field of Middle Eastern Christianity, such as the Foundation of Middle Easterner New Testament Studies (FoMENTS), which was established by the late Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey.
Notable Achievements:
Future Objectives: