Egypt’s Evangelical Synod decided to postpone ordination of women to the priesthood until the 126th session of the Synod next year, Youm7 reported Tuesday
“The church found that the studies undertaken on the matter are not enough, and it needs further and deeper studies, so the issue was postponed until next year for deeper studies,” Pastor Nady Labib, Vice President of Synod, told The Cairo Post.
In May 2014, Egypt’s Evangelical Synod decided to refer the issue of the ordination of women to the executive commission of the synod to conduct studies and seminars in this regard, Youm7 reported.
The Cairo Evangelical Synod decided to allow the ordination of women priests during its session conducted Jan. 19, 2012.
Pastor Eid Salah, the Head of Evangelical Constitutional and Judicial Council, said in a statement to VetoGate news website that the decision of the council overturned the decision taken by the Cairo Synod. He added that such decisions should be taken by the Supreme Synod of the Evangelical Church.
On the other hand, Deputy Chairperson of Egypt’s Evangelical Church Andrea Zaki, in 2014, told The Cairo Post, “The Synod delayed the decision to pave the way for more studies in this regard.” He stressed that the issue is delayed and not cancelled.
The female priesthood has sparked much controversy among churches in Egypt, due to the differences in their policies in this regard. The Orthodox and Catholic Church expressed their rejection of the idea due to their faith, while there is a state of division inside the Evangelical Church in this regard.
