The Baptist Church in Jordan chose Rev Nabeeh Abbasi as the new president of the Jordan Baptist Convention, replacing Rev Suheil Madanat, who completed two terms, the maximum period allowed under the Baptist convention’s bylaws, the church said in a statement.
The convention also elected Rev Shukri Shoroosh as deputy president, Rev Samer Batarseh as secretary, and Emad Shehadeh, Kamal Khlaief, and Rev Philip Sahawneh as board members.
Outgaining president Madanat praised Abbasi as “experienced with wide-ranging international relations”, and as “quiet and wise.”
Abbasi said he looked forward to working with all for the common goals of the Christian community in Jordan.
Rev Abbasi, who was elected without any competition, said that he was aware of the challenges that he faces due to the absence of evangelicals in the appendix of the 2014 law, regulating Christian life in the Kingdom.
“Things are going in the right direction, and we have warm and continuous relations with all government agencies,” he said. “We are determined to solve this issue knowing fully well that under (His Majesty) King Abdullah our rights, as proscribed in the sixth article of the constitution guarantee all Jordanian citizens equal rights, irrespective of their faith.”
Abbasi was president of the Jordan Baptist convention for two terms between 2003 and 2007. The Baptist denomination in Jordan was registered in 1951, and its registration was published in the official gazette. Some 20 churches throughout Jordan belong to the Baptist Convention, and according to a recent book by Haider Halaseh, 3,000 Christians regularly attend Baptist churches throughout Jordan.
This story was first published on Jordan News and is used with permission.