Dr. Zaki maintains that "The historical relationship between Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt (which officially represents the 18 protestant denominations before the state), and the Episcopal Anglican Church in Egypt began in the early 1940's, when the Episcopal Anglican Church asked to approve the registration of marriage contracts conducted by pastors of the Anglican Church, as well as authorization of the death certificates they issue. After studying the case, the General Council of Protestant Churches approved the registration of Anglican marriage contracts and death certificates, using the council forms approved by the Bishop and Associate Bishop of the Anglican Church. Therefore, the General Council of Protestant Churches has implicitly considered the Episcopal Church as a member of the Protestant Churches of Egypt ever since."

Dr. Anis argues that in 1944, all Anglican priests were ex-patriot and had no right to hold a registry book from the Ministry of Justice. That subsequently changed when the Ministry of Justice granted registry books to them. "We now register all our marriages independently, using our own registry books which we received from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). Each holder of a registry book is appointed as a registrar within the MOJ. This means that the government recognizes our church as an independent denomination with the right to hold registry books. Registering marriages in the 1940's did not mean putting the whole Anglican Church under the legal coverage of ECA."

Dr. Anis acknowledges that in October 10, 1980, former Anglican Church Bishop Isaac Mossad sent a request to the President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, to include the Episcopal Church under the Protestant Churches of Egypt. In February, 1982, the General Council of Protestant Churches approved his request and considered the Episcopal Church an Egyptian Protestant Church, reserving all rights and duties of Protestant Churches of Egypt.

On April 17, 1981, the Council decided to re-categorize the Protestant Churches into four groups, where the Episcopal Church was considered as one of the churches under the Protestant umbrella. The Ministry of Interior was informed of the decision as required by law.

On May 20, 1988, based on the Episcopal Church nomination, former Bishop Gaius Abd El Malek, represented the Episcopal Church in the Council, constantly attending and participating in council meetings. To date, the Episcopal Church in Egypt is officially under the umbrella of Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, with official documents proving the status." If the Council of Protestant Churches, or ECA, considered the Anglican Church as a member back in the '40's, why would the Bishop of the Anglican Church, Isaac Mossad, in 1980, request to include the Anglican Church under the Protestant Church of Egypt?

The actual story of 1982 is that when the government took over an Anglican school in Menouf, claiming that it belonged to the British who had left in 1956, our lawyer at the time, who was then the vice-president of the ECA, obtained a document that said that we were a national church, not a foreign one, writes Dr. Anis.

"The President then considered the Anglican Church to be under his authority because of this document. On October 10, 1980, Bishop Isaac Mossad was not the Bishop of the Diocese, he was actually retired. The Anglican church was without a bishop until 1984. In 1984, when the new bishop was elected, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) wrote to the diocese asking how the election happened, and if we had become independent of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who used to appoint the bishop in Egypt."

Anis said the Archbishop of Canterbury relinquished his metropolitan authority to the Provincial Synod of Jerusalem and the Middle East. "They then asked for the constitution of the central synod and they continued to correspond with us until after 1985."

"This means that the Ministry of Interior does not recognize the Anglican Church as part of the ECA but as an independent entity."

"Since 2000, after Bishop Mounir Hanna became Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, the Church began thinking of separating from the Protestant Churches of Egypt, raising a number of cases before the Egyptian courts, calling for the abolition of the Minister of Interior's decision considering the Episcopal Church as a denomination under Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt.

"The courts rejected all appeals presented by the Episcopal Church, and most recently the final verdict issued by the Supreme Court of Egypt on June 25, 2016."

Dr. Anis became a bishop in 2007, when Bishop Gaius handed over the responsibility to him, making it clear that the Anglican Church was an independent denomination, arguing that the signatory and the seal of the Bishop of Egypt was recognized by the Ministry of Interior (MOI).

"I followed his advice and sent my signatory and seal to the MOI and they immediately recognized them. Since then every document I have produced has been ratified by the MOI, until 3 weeks ago when the ECA asked the MOI not to ratify our documents. This means that during the last 16 years, the government recognized us as an independent entity, not like the rest of the Protestant Churches under the ECA who should go through the ECA before the ratification of their documents."

Dr. Anis maintains that the court verdict on June 25, 2016, his church documents were intentionally ignored by the court and that is why he is raising a new court case to present the documents afresh to the court.

"Concerning the Episcopal Church's claim that Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt has taken over some of the Church's properties, this accusation is an attempt to create confusion between the entities of Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church; which is one of the eighteen denominations under Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt."

Anis maintains this only applies to two disputed church properties involving the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a much larger denomination than the Anglican Church in Egypt.

"In Egypt, there are over 1500 Protestant churches and thousands of other properties. The Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt does not have the right to buy or sell them because they are officially owned by independent denominations/churches that are part of the Protestant Churches of Egypt."

Anis maintains that some years ago the President of the ECA raised a court case against the head of the Pentecostal Church. This case went to the Supreme Court which brought down a verdict that properties owned by the different denominations under the ECA, belong to the ECA.

"With this verdict the president of the ECA then, took over 15 churches and appointed another head for the Pentecostal Church. He not only took their properties but also divided their church." Anis said he was reminded of this several times whenever he asked for him to sort out the ownership of the church in Ismailia.

The Anglican Diocese of Egypt was made a full member within the Egypt Council of Churches in 2013. The members of this council are: The Coptic Orthodox Church, the Coptic Catholic Church, The Evangelical (Protestant) Church Association, The Greek Orthodox Church and the Episcopal/Anglican Church in Egypt. "This means that the other churches including the Evangelical recognized our independence."

Anis also maintains that the Anglican Church in Egypt is a member of Beit El Aila (House of the family). "This initiative started by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in 2011. Four Christian denominations alongside several Muslim scholars represent this council. The Grand Imam and the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox are co-chairs of this council. If we are seen by Al Azhar and other churches that we are part of the ECA, we would not be accepted by Beit Al Aila as full member. In 2015, the President of Egypt welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury and myself. According to protocol, if we are under ECA, the President of ECA should have been present at this meeting. Last October, the President met the Archbishops and bishops who came to attend the Global South conference hosted by the Anglican Church in Egypt.

*****

A LETTER from the Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis

November 6, 2016

We, the members of the Provincial Synod of the Episcopal / Anglican church in Jerusalem and the Middle East REFUSE to recognize that the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Home of Africa is part of the Council of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for the Episcopal / Anglican Church that has a regional or Provincial structure that involves twenty-two countries in the Middle East to be part of a 'local' body. This is against our Provincial constitution and would make the administrative and financial issues within the Province absolutely impossible to deal with. It would also open the door for disputes in jurisdiction and applying our Provincial rules. IN ADDITION to this, the Provincial Synod did not approve at any time since its formation in 1976 my request from the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa to be part of the Council of Evangelical Churches.

FOR THIS REASON, any request from the said Diocese to be part of the Council of the Evangelical Churches is void and unrecognizable.

THEREFORE, the Provincial Synod hereby delegates the President Bishop of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East to take action in order to correct this situation'

SIGNED: The Rt. Rev. Michael Lewis Bishop of Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf
The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Bishop of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa;
The Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani Bishop of the Diocese of Jerusalem
The Rt. Rev. Azad Marshall, Bishop of the Diocese of lran.

*****

Archbishop Anis writes letter on his situation in Egypt

November 1, 2016

Dear Friends,

I know you have been praying for our court case against the government in regard to
the recognition of the Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt's status. I am writing to
thank you for your prayers, and to keep you informed of the most recent
developments.

Today (1 November) was the date of our first hearing. At the hearing, our lawyer was
very surprised to find the lawyer of the Evangelical Church Association (ECA) was
also present, and was asking the judge to intervene. He asked the judge to refuse
our request. The judge ignored that, and postponed the hearing of our case to 13
December, 2016.

During the hearing, our lawyer explained that, for many decades, the Diocese has
been recognized as a foreign church. It is our request to be recognized as one of the
national churches in Egypt. However, the ECA (dominated by the Presbyterians)
doesn't want this to happen, in order that we would be under their authority. The ECA's
request to intervene in this court case is proof enough that it is they, rather than the
government, who want us to be under them.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for your prayers, and would ask that you
continue to pray for this.

Yours in Christ,
+Mouneer
Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis
The Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt
with North Africa and the Horn of Africa

*****

LETTER received from Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt

The relationship between Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, and the Episcopal Anglican Church of Egypt

The historical relationship between Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt (which officially represents the 18 protestant denominations before the state), and the Episcopal Anglican Church in Egypt began in the early 1940's, when the Episcopal Anglican Church asked to approve the registration of marriage contracts conducted by pastors of the Anglican Church, as well as authorization of the death certificates they issue.

After studying the case, the General Council of Protestant Churches approved the registration of Anglican marriage contracts and death certificates, using the council forms approved by the Bishop and Associate Bishop of the Anglican Church.

Therefore, the General Council of Protestant Churches has implicitly considered the Episcopal Church as a member of the Protestant Churches of Egypt ever since. On October 10, 1980, former Anglican Church Bishop Isaac Mossad sent a request to the President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, to include the Episcopal Church under the Protestant Churches of Egypt. In February, 1982, the General Council of Protestant Churches approved his request and considered the Episcopal Church an Egyptian Protestant Church reserving all rights and duties of Protestant Churches of Egypt.

On April 17, 1981, the Council decided to re-categorize the Protestant Churches into four groups, where the Episcopal Church was considered as one of the churches under the Protestant umbrella. The Ministry of Interior was informed of the decision as required by law. On May 20, 1988, based on the Episcopal Church nomination, former Bishop Gaius Abd El Malek, represented the Episcopal Church in the Council, constantly attending and participating in council meetings.

To date, the Episcopal Church in Egypt is officially under the umbrella of Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, with official documents proving the status. Since 2007, after Bishop Mounir Hanna became Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, the Church began thinking of separating from the Protestant Churches of Egypt, raising a number of cases before the Egyptian courts, calling for the abolition of the Minister of Interior's decision considering the Episcopal Church as a denomination under Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt.

The courts rejected all appeals presented by the Episcopal Church, and most recently the final verdict issued by the Supreme Court of Egypt on June 25, 2016. Concerning the Episcopal Church's claim that Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt has taken over some of the Church's properties, this accusation is an attempt to create confusion between the entities of Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which is one of the eighteen denominations under Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt.

The claims regarding the Evangelical Presbyterian Church taking over two churches, one in Suez and another in Ismailia, is a problem between two churches--the Anglican Church and the Presbyterian Church. Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt is not an involved party in the matter.

As for the Church of Suez, it has been handed over to the Episcopal Church upon the Presbyterian Church's approval. Concerning the church of Ismailia, there is still a pending case before the courts. This church was established by the British, but the land was owned by the Suez Canal Authority, which in turn handed it over to the Presbyterian Church to be used many years ago, after the nationalization of the canal and the departure of the British.

Later, the Episcopal Church claimed ownership of the church because it belonged to the British. There is currently a dispute over the ownership of the church between the Presbyterian Church and the Suez Canal Authority, overlapping the Episcopal Church.

According to the Egyptian law, the role of the Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt is limited to validating all the purchase contracts, which are signed by the different Protestant denominations' members. It does not violate the property of anyone.

All contracts are official and concluded between the legal representative of the denominations and the owner, the seller, and/or the buyer. In Egypt, there are over 1500 Protestant churches and thousands of other properties. The Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt does not have the right to buy or sell them because they are officially owned by independent denominations/churches that are part of the Protestant Churches of Egypt. On the other hand, the Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, like all other Egyptian Churches (Catholic and Orthodox), refuses to lobby foreign governments--with official representation in Egypt--to put pressure on decision makers to make decision in local disputes.

This idea is completely rejected, especially trying to put pressure on the Church and interfering with its internal affairs. All disputes are settled amicably between the involved parties or through the Egyptian courts. Based on the above and the final court verdict issued on June 25, 2016, the Central Office of the Protestant Churches of Egypt once again welcomed the return of the Episcopal Church to work with us as one of our member Churches. Bishop Mounir Hanna will be invited to participate in the General Council of Protestant Churches meetings, as a member of the Council, as well as other meetings held with member Churches' leaders.

END