The conference takes stock of the changes Christian and Christian churches Conference Objectives encounter by the double challenge of globalization and the Arab uprisings. The conference brings together both leading church representatives from Arab countries as well as academics from the region and beyond who work Five years into the Arab uprisings the Middle East is a region under great on this topic. The conference focuses inter alia on: distress: Politically, economically, culturally. The status quo is widely considered to be unsustainable, as the Arab Human Development Reports  The impact of current transformation dynamics on Christians and have warned already a decade ago with a view to the uneasy integration of Christian Churches in the Middle East the region into an increasingly globalized world. The Arab transformation  Relations between Christianity in the Middle East and other process – triggered by both globalization and the Arab uprisings since 2011 - religions, in particular Islam varies from country to country, ranging from bloody war to laboratories of  Relations between the different Christian Churches in the Middle peaceful change. But one should not get confused. If there is one thing this East transformation shows then it is the fact that the region is ripe for a new  Inclusion and exclusion of Christians in daily life throughout the social contract – one that is more pluralist, human rights based and inclusive Middle East in various social spheres than the authoritarian, post-colonial social contract that defined most Arab  Continuity and change in formal and informal relations between countries since they gained independence from the erstwhile colonial Middle Eastern States and Churches powers. This post-colonial authoritarian social contract will not endure, yet  Continuity and change in how Christians in the Middle East live as in all great transformations the road to a new social order is bumpy and and practice their faith in a modern and globalized world twisted.  The situation of Christians in selected countries/regions of the Middle East (Holy Land, Lebanon, Egypt, Gulf countries, BETWEEN WORLD SOCIETY AND Iraq/Syria) REGIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS

Christians, Christian Churches and Religion in a Changing Middle East

International Conference organized by the Chair of International Politics and Conflict Studies at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich on behalf of the German Bishops Conference Research Group on International Church Affairs

Rome – 24-26 February 2016

(Photo: Stephan Stetter; Poster in Jerusalem’s Old City on the occasion of the visit Conference organizers by Pope Francis to the Holy Land, May 2014)

Professor Stephan Stetter University of the Bundeswehr Munich - Member of the German This transformation bears uncertainty on many levels. Yet, it affects in Bishops Conference Research Group on International Church Affairs particular ethno-national and religious minorities throughout the region. Christians as a particularly important and significant religious minority in the (Photo: Helena Burgrovà; Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church (Hanging Church), Old Cairo, October 2010) predominantly Muslim Arab countries are central here. And not only Dr. Mitra Moussa Nabo because Christianity originates from the Middle East and is, since two Research Assistant, University of the Bundeswehr Munich The conference language is Arabic and English (simultaneous interpreting is thousand years, a cornerstone of the region’s rich social, economic, cultural, provided). The conference proceedings will in due course be published in and spiritual fabric. both Arabic and English.

Day 1: Wednesday 24 February 2016 10.30 am Coffee break Day 3: Friday 26 February 2016 3. 00 pm Registration of delegates 7.30 am Holy Mass (Latin Rite), Main Celebrant: H.E. Cardinal Leonardo 11.00 am THEMATIC WORKSHOPS Sandri 3. 30 pm Welcoming and opening remarks by H.E. Archbishop Ludwig Workshops are scheduled simultaneously and participants can Schick (Archbishop of Bamberg and Chairman of the German choose to participate in one of them. Each workshop is chaired 8.00 am Breakfast Bishops Conference Commission on International Church Affairs) by a Church representative and an academic. 8.45 am COUNTRY WORKSHOPS ON THE SITUATION OF CHRISTIANS 3. 45 pm Welcoming and opening remarks by Professor Stephan Stetter WORKSHOP 1: The Tension between Inclusion and Exclusion of AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES (University of the Bundeswehr Munich) Christians in Everyday Live Workshops are scheduled simultaneously and participants can - H.E. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian (Armenian choose to participate in one of them. 4.00 pm OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS Orthodox Church, Aleppo) WORKSHOP 1: The Holy Land (Israel, Jordan, Palestine) - Professor Heiner Bielefeldt (Friedrich-Alexander- - Dr. Fiona McCallum (St. Andrews University) - Father Rifaat Bader (Director of the Catholic Press University Erlangen-Nuremberg and UN Special WORKSHOP 2: The Tension between Integration and Non- Office, Amman) Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief) Integration of Church/State Relations - Dr. Walid Shomaly (Bethlehem University) - Professor Antoine Messara (University of Lebanon WORKSHOP 2: Lebanon 4.45 pm OPENING PANEL 1 and the Saint-Joseph University, Beirut) - Professor Charles Chartouni (Lebanese University, Five Years into the Arab Uprisings: Stock-taking of the Situation of - Father Fadel Sidarous SJ (Coptic Catholic Church, Beirut) Christians and Christian Churches in the Region – Chair: Dr. Mitra Cairo) - Father Karam Rizq (University of the Holy Spirit, Kaslik) Moussa Nabo (University of the Bundeswehr Munich) WORKSHOP 3: The Tension between Modern Christian WORKSHOP 3: Egypt Roundtable with: Subjectivities and Collective Religion - Dr. Vivian Ibrahim (University of Mississippi) - H.B. Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai (Patriarch of - Professor George Thomas (Arizona State University) - Assistant Professor Angie Heo (University of Chicago) Antioch and Head of the Maronite Church) - Ms. Barbara Soliman (Coptic Orthodox Papal Office - Mr. Guirgis Saleh (Coordinator Coptic Orthodox Church - H.E. Metropolitan Ignatius Alhoshi (Orthodox Church for Projects and Relations, Cairo) and the Middle East Churches, Cairo) of Antioch, Diocese in Western and Southern Europe) WORKSHOP 4: Countries in Civil War (Iraq, Syria) - Professor Stephan Stetter (University of the 12.45 pm Lunch - Mr. Ghassan Al-Shami (Journalist, Al-Mayadeen Bundeswehr Munich) Satellite Television Channel, Beirut) - Mr. Ghassan Al-Shami (Journalist, Al-Mayadeen 2.15 pm Plenary presentation and discussion of the findings of the - Father Amir Jajé OP (Provincial Vicar of the Vicariate of Satellite Television Channel, Beirut) workshops the Arab World, Iraq) - H.G. Bishop Pavly (Coptic Orthodox General Bishop, WORKSHOP 5: Gulf Countries Cairo) 3:15 pm Coffee break - Professor Hilal Khashan (American University of Beirut) 6.00 pm End of today’s conference proceedings - H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder (Apostolic Vicariate of 3.45 pm PANEL 3 Southern Arabia, United Arab Emirates) 6.45 pm Holy Mass (Latin Rite), Main Celebrant: H.E. Archbishop Ludwig A Multi-Confessional Christianity: Dialogue and Relations Schick between the Christian Churches in Arab Countries – Chair: 10.30 am Plenary presentation and discussion of the findings of the 7.30 pm Dinner Professor Dietrich Jung (University of Southern Denmark) workshops Roundtable with: Day 2: Thursday 25 February 2016 - H.E. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (Prefect of the 11.15 am Coffee break 7.30 am Holy Mass (Maronite Rite), Main Celebrant: H.B. Patriarch Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Rome) Bechara Boutros Al-Rai - Father Michel Jalakh (General1 Secretary of the 11.45 am CLOSING PANEL 4 Middle East Council of Churches, Beirut) Christianity between Orient and Occident: Social, Political, 8.00 am Breakfast - Assistant Professor Mariano Barbato (University of Economic, and Religious Implications – Chair: Professor Stephan Münster and University of Passau) Stetter 9.00 am PANEL 2 - Professor Assaad Elias Kattan (University of Roundtable with A Multi-Faith Middle East: Relations between Jews, Christians, and Münster) - Professor Georges Tamer (University of Erlangen- Muslims and the Impact on the Societal Coexistence in Times of - H.E. Metropolitan Ignatius Alhoshi (Orthodox Nuremberg) Domestic and Regional Disorder – Chair: Dr. Thomas Scheffler Church of Antioch, Diocese in Western and Southern - Professor Harald Suermann (Director of the Scientific (Orient-Institute Beirut) Europe) Institute, Pontifical Mission Societies Missio, Aachen) Roundtable with: 5.15 pm End of today’s conference proceedings - H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder (Apostolic Vicariate of - H.E. Archbishop Nikodimos Daoud Sharaf (Syrian Southern Arabia, United Arab Emirates) Orthodox Church, Mosul and Kurdistan) 7.00 pm Dinner - H.E. Bishop Antonios Aziz Mina (Coptic Catholic - H.E. Mgr. William Sholamy (Aux. Bishop of the Latin Church, Guizeh) Patriarch of Jerusalem) - Professor Mahmoud Ayoub (Hartford Seminary) 1.00 pm Summary remarks by Professor Stephan Stetter - Professor David Thomas (University of Birmingham) 1.15 pm End of conference - lunch and departure