U.S. Delegation Discusses Status of Evangelical Christians During Jordan Visit

A U.S. delegation, including Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley Barnes, visited Jordan and Jerusalem last weekend to engage with local Christian leaders. The visit included stops at historic sites in Madaba and meetings with representatives from the Jordan Evangelical Council and the Jordanian Baptist Convention.

During the discussions, Emad Ma’ayeh, president of the Jordan Evangelical Council, praised the Jordanian government’s commitment to religious freedom. He requested that the government grant evangelicals their own ecclesiastical court to manage personal status matters such as inheritance and marriage. Ma’ayeh noted that approximately 10,000 evangelicals currently worship in 57 locations across the country.

Rev. Nabih Abbassi of the Jordanian Baptist Convention commended King Abdullah II for his role in protecting religious pluralism and the Christian presence in the region. Evangelical leaders expressed a desire for continued dialogue regarding the legal status of their churches, aiming to secure broader representation within national ecclesiastical frameworks. These efforts are intended to support the unity of Christian witness while maintaining the diversity of the local church community.