Thirteen individuals came from Missouri Union Presbytery for the final seminar of the year at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. Meeting on December 12 and 13, the group explored issues related to the changes in the Arab world referred to as the Arab Spring or Arab Awakening.
Speakers (many present through the technology of Skype) included:
Amgad Beblawi, PC(USA) area coordinator for the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia, addressed impacts of the Arab Awakening on churches.
Roger Powers, pastor of Light Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, MD, spoke about the role of nonviolence in the Arab Awakening.
Anne Gueguen-Mohsen, UN Department of Political Affairs, spoke about the political situation in countries affected by the Arab Awakening.
Lina Abou-Habib, Executive Director of the Collective for Research and Training on Development–Action (based in Lebanon), addressed the topic of “Women in the Arab Awakening.” She described some of the roles women have played to date and identified some of the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead.
Each day of the seminar started and ended with worship. The group toured the UN headquarters on Tuesday.
Staff members of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Ryan Smith and Mark Koenig provided an overview of the United Nations and the ministry.
Missouri Union Presbytery regularly holds a seminar at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. Contact us to arrange for your group to do the same.
Photo by Kyle Kittrell