Near East School of Theology Update July 2024
DR. MARTIN ACCAD ELECTED AS NEST’S 11th PRESIDENT
The Near East School of Theology (NEST) is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Martin Accad as its 11th president, effective September 1, 2024. Dr. Accad brings a wealth of experience in theological education, interfaith dialogue, and leadership within the academic and socioreligious communities.
Dr. Accad succeeds Dr. George Sabra, who led the institution with distinction for over a decade. The NEST community expresses its deepest gratitude for his dedicated service and faithful leadership. Dr. Martin Accad is a distinguished scholar with a deep commitment to theological education and interfaith understanding. He received his Ph.D. in Islam and the History of Christian-Muslim Relations from the University of Oxford in 2001. He served as Chief Academic Officer at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon from 2001 to 2020, where he also founded and directed the Institute of Middle East Studies.
Dr. Accad's appointment marks a new chapter in NEST's distinguished history. His vision for the future includes strengthening the institution’s academic excellence, expanding its reach and impact in the region, and fostering deeper interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Under his leadership, NEST aims to build on its legacy as a premier institution for theological education in the Near East.
In accepting the presidency of NEST, Dr. Accad stated: “I am very excited about the vast possibilities afforded by this new role. The NEST is an outstanding institution of higher learning, reaching back to over 92 years of history since its founding in 1932 in Lebanon, and deeply rooted in the socio-political fabric of the country through a vibrant presence at the heart of Beirut’s Hamra district. I look forward to a renewed Christian witness, collaborating with God’s people here and everywhere, with the diverse communities of Lebanon, with the brilliant universities in our neighborhood, and with the change-makers of civil society that make Lebanon into what it is: a chaotic force for change in the face of impossible odds, a unique gem waiting to be reborn.”
COMMENCEMENT AND ORDINATION
NEST's ninety-first commencement service took place in May, graduating three students with master's degrees. Rev. Hovhaness Hovesepyan (a 2012 Master of Divinity graduate), senior pastor of the Evangelical Church in Armenia, gave the commencement address titled “Being Shaped by God.” In addition to graduating these three students, NEST recently had five graduates ordained into local church ministry.
SEMINARY SPRING RETREAT
A two-day retreat was recently held in the Evangelical Conference Center in Dhour Shweir. Altogether, 21 members of the community (students and faculty) met around the theme of “The Sermon on the Mount,” discussing and reflecting on its message about “Christian Character,” “Christian Righteousness,” and “Christian Devotion.” In addition to daily worship, social interaction, and walks in nature, the NEST community also attended the ecumenical Good Friday service on May 3 in the Shweir Orthodox Church. The town of Dhour Shweir is distinctive for its unification of the date of Easter for its Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Maronite church communities.
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THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the Near East School of Theology. All gifts of any size are welcomed to continue helping students graduate and get ordained to Christian pastoral service in the Middle East. If you want to join this incredible ministry's growing network of supporters, please send funds to The Outreach Foundation, designated “NEST.” Send a gift via mail or click the link below to give online.
