In this article Rūlā Sulaymān discusses how she became the Arab world’s first female pastor for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Tripoli, Lebanon.  She compares the situation in Egypt with that of Lebanon and explains how women can overcome the barriers of obtaining ecclesiastical professions.

Sulaymān begins the discussion by saying that Jesus and the Evangelical teachings did not discriminate in their treatment of men and women. The ordination of a woman priest and her appointment as preacher or pastor is subsequently not forbidden. She stressed that the problem of discrimination is strengthened by habits and customs and the extent to which Arab societies accept the idea of discrimination. This is a challenge that needs to be faced by women themselves.

Before Sulaymān was appointed pastor of the Evangelical Church in Tripoli she was already working in the service of the church. When the pastor had to travel abroad there was no one to take over his position. The position of pastor and preacher was not officially issued to Sulaymān by the administration of the Evangelical Church, but she carried out the duties for approximately a year and half until she was officially appointed in August 2009 with the consensus of the Board of Directors. There were no reservations or opposition to the decision because of the preceding period in which Sūlīman had already taken up all the tasks and responsibilities. As such, the people were accustomed to the idea of a female pastor and preacher.

Sulaymān stressed that the situation in Egypt is preferable to the case in Lebanon because there is a decision from the Synod of the Nile, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt, the highest order of the Evangelical Church, that a woman priest can be ordained. The decision however, has not been implemented until now.

According to Sūlayman, the reason the decision of the Synod of the Nile has not been implemented until now is because there wasn’t enough information for women to in fact apply for any ecclesiastical positions. Sūlayman explains how this poses a problem related to women themselves: women must show the spirit of initiative and courage to apply for ecclesiastical positions.

Sūlayman calls herself a believer in gradual and slow steps in order to bring about changes. She explains that if women participate in society and gain work experience then this will win over any typical traditional thoughts that dissuade them from participating. It is true that people have thoughts and customs, but they also their minds to evaluate. Sūlīman calls on the women of Egypt to apply for ecclesiastical positions without being afraid. Maybe there will be problems in the beginning, but, as Lebanon proved, the experiment will succeed in the world (Muhammad Māhir, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Apr. 2, p.15). Read original text in Arabic.