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Bahrain a ‘model of religious harmony’
Bahrain stands out as a shining model of friendship between religions, says a high-level delegation from the Reformed Church of America (RCA).
They also praised Bahrain’s deep commitment “to be hospitable and welcoming”.
The five-member delegation is headed by the Reverend Wesley Granberg Michaelson, RCA general secretary, which is the highest leadership position in the 378-year-old church.
Other members of the delegation are RCA Global Mission Programme director the Rev Bruce Menning, New Brunswick Theological Seminar dean Dr Virginia Wiles, senior pastor at Fort Washington Collegiate Church in New York City the Rev Charles Dennison Morris and pastor of Christ Community Church of Palos Heights, Illinois, the Rev Paul Pratt.
“We are proud to be in Bahrain, where the National Evangelical Church (NEC), affiliated to the RCA, is celebrating its centenary,” Rev Michaelson told the GDN.
“The visit of our missionaries to Bahrain more than 100 years ago resulted in the establishment of the American Mission Hospital (AMH), Al Raja School and the NEC.
“These three institutions respectively contribute to the development of people’s body, mind and spirit.”
The RCA institutions flourished in Bahrain, thanks to the constant support of the late rulers and His Majesty King Hamad, under whose patronage the NEC is celebrating its 100 years’ service to the community, said Rev Michaelson.
“We are sad that Bahrain is observing a mourning period following the death of Shaikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa,” he said.
“We were honoured to meet Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and offer the RCA’s condolences.”
“We have been amazed to see the NEC as a worship centre for 22 different congregations of different nationalities. It is very unusual and unique in the RCA network,” Rev Michaelson said.
“RCA, established in Manhattan, US, in 1628, is now the oldest ongoing Protestant denomination in the US with 950 congregations and a total membership of about 300,000.”
Rev Michaelson underlined the need for forging closer links between the churches in the US and the people of the Middle East.
“Better understanding between people belonging to Christianity and Islam contributes towards world peace, and Bahrain is playing a commendable role in this direction,” he said.
Rev Menning said the RCA, through the Cyprus-based Middle East Council of Churches, opened a centre in Jerusalem earlier this month to help Palestinian refugees.
Dr Wiles said the visit had helped clear some misconceptions about the Middle East. “As a single woman when I walked around the streets of Manama, I realised Bahrain is one of the safest places in the Middle East,” she said.
The RCA delegation left for Muscat last night at the invitation of the Omani government.
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