Presler Lecture on Justice and MIssion

Rev. Najla Kassab, president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Kassab will discuss the ordination of women and Christian witness in the Middle East. The event is free and open to the public. Rev. Najla Kassab President, World Communion of Reformed Churches Najla Kassab has a bachelor of Arts degree in Christian education from the Near East School of Theology and a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her career has revolved around Christian education at the synod level and, through conferences and workshops, she has encouraged women in ministry for 24 years. The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon offered Kassab a preaching license in 1993 and, in March 2017, awarded her full pastoral ordination. Kassab has served as a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) Executive Committee since 2007. Having spent much of her career encouraging women to enter the ministry of the church, Kassab felt compelled to accept the nomination for WCRC president when it was suggested to her at the General Council in Leipzig. It’s a fight that she believes has taken far too long. “We cannot think that a bird can fly with only one wing,” said Kassab. Just as Martin Luther admonished the 16th century church for failing to live up to biblical teaching, Kassab believes she has been placed in this position at this time to insist the modern church take seriously its responsibilities when it comes to equality and justice. “Martin Luther is a symbol of speaking up,” said Kassab. “To speak your mind in freedom, that is essential. This is why I said, ‘This could have been Martin Luther’s 96th question to the church. Not why is there a woman in this pulpit, but why did it take so long?’ This is not just a struggle of equality. This is a struggle of justice.” But Kassab, who is a native of Lebanon, believes the most important qualification for her presidency of the WCRC may be her nationality. “The WCRC talks a lot about justice,” Kassab said. “I come from the Middle East, and let me tell you, I know what injustice looks like.” Kassab plans to look for ways to strengthen the work done within the WCRC’s regions. Ultimately, Kassab believes that change will come over time. And, if the WCRC is willing to engage in the work—and engage all of its leaders, both male and female—justice is possible. “Change is not about documents,” she said. “It requires physical presence. And if we don’t want to be present, well, we should just stop talking about justice.”