An Evangelical Academic Delegation from 20 countries visits the Lebanese President General Michel Suleiman
His Excellency the Lebanese President General Michel Suleiman received a delegation of 23 Evangelical educators from all five continents who are in Lebanon to participate in ICETE's (International Council for Evangelical Theological Education) "Doctoral Consultation 2010" that is being held at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS). The delegation visiting the president was led by Rev. Dr. Salim Sahiouny, the President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon, Dr. Paul Sanders, the International Director of ICETE, Nabil Costa, the Executive Director of the Lebanese Baptist Society and the General Secretary of the Association of Evangelical Schools in Lebanon (AESL), and Elie Haddad, the President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary.
The delegation shared with his excellency the goal of the conference which is to develop together a "charter of excellence" for doctoral level theological education (Ph-D level), a global concensus on standards that take into consideration the norms set by the secular international educational community as well as the top-level leadership needs of the Church. The participants will take a serious look at standards from Europe, North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere to examine their pertinence for doctoral programs in the non-western world. They are joined in the process by experts/consultants from North America, continental Europe and the UK.
This conference which is at the core of ICETE's objective to strengthen Evangelical theological education through international cooperation, will be referred to as the "Beirut Process" at subsequent consultations to refine and develop the conclusions of this global event.
During the visit with his excellency, Nabil Costa - General Secretary of AESL - spoke about the leading role that the Evangelical educational institutions play in Lebanon, including striving at all times to present their students with a high level of education, and noting that it was Evangelical missions to Lebanon that have over the years founded the American University of Beirut, the Lebanese American University, Haigazian University, and the Middle East University.
From ABTS' perspective, it is so exciting that at this very special time in our history - as we prepare to celebrate fifty years in His service in June 2010 - our Seminary is given the privilege of hosting top evangelical educators from all over the world. We salute the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education for their faithfulness in working towards ensuring that generations to come will receive a high standard of doctoral education that is befitting of the ministries and works that the Lord has prepared for them.
March 6th, 2010
