C a i r o / A m m a n – In spite of the tense economic situation and uncertain future, Baptists in Egypt are not downhearted. Such was the impression of three representatives of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) during a brief visit to Egypt. EBF President Hans Guderian (Berlin), General secretary Tony Peck (Bristol) and Assistant General Secretary Helle Liht (Tallinn) met with 20 Baptist pastors and also carried on talks with representatives of the umbrella organisation of the evangelical churches. As these three reported at the meeting of the EBF Executive Committee, from March 23 to 26 in the Jordanian capital Amman, the country is suffering under economic decline. Long lines are forming at gas stations, tourism has nearly died out. Many people are so poor that they try to make ends meet financially by sorting garbage. Many people are trying to leave the country. However, for most Baptists that is not possible. In addition, they are trying to alleviate the needs of the people and have started appropriate aid programs. At the same time, many Baptist churches are not able to cover the salary of their pastors, who must earn their living in secular occupations.

After the political overthrow and the first free elections, Christians are concerned about the growing influence of Islamic political parties, who have collected over 70 percent of all votes cast. In the elections, the Muslim Brotherhood won 45 percent of all seats; the radical Islamic Salafists took 25 percent. In this situation, the Protestants held trust-building talks with representatives of the Muslim Brothers. The EBF visitors were informed about the talks by the vice-president of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt, Dr. Andrea Zaki. As a result, there is now a joint-declaration from both sides. In it, they refer to each other as “Partners in a common destiny and a common future”. Equal rights are accorded to all Egyptians. To quote the document, “Egyptian society is built on solidarity, integration, and compassion throughout the nation, that includes all citizens without discrimination. For this reason, values such as tolerance, solidarity, and diversity of opinion are communicated in education.” Protestants as a minority hope that the representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood will also put this declaration into action, said Peck.

Ninety percent of the 82 million inhabitants of Egypt are Muslim, the rest are Christians. Among them, Coptic Christians are the majority. The Evangelical Church of Egypt has about 300,000 members. Other protestant groups, such as Pentecostals, the Brethren movement, and the Episcopalian Church include altogether about 70,000 members. About 19 churches with 2,000 members belong to the Union of Baptist churches.