Churches of Tehran

Perhaps in starkest contrast to the buzz of big-city Tehran are the peaceful gardens surrounding the Protestant church we visited in Baghdad, known as St. Peter’s Evangelical (the European missionary term for churches of the Lutheran/ Presbyterian/ Reformed persuasion).

Inside the simple but beautiful church were memorial inscriptions to several British telegraph officers who had been active in the congregation over a century and a half ago. Still, the churches here are very much alive, and varied. We happened to visit on the day of an ecumenical advent fair and craft bazaar, meeting several young women. Inside the churchyard, women do not wear the hijab or other formal coverings. Many of the churches do cooperate on events such as this. We also had a good visit with the head of the synod office and Protestant churches of Persia.

Here we learned that as individuals, Christians enjoy success in business, although they do not hold high positions in the government other than their Minister of Parliament. Evangelism is difficult, and numbers dwindle as families are smaller or people emigrate. Concern for a healthy spiritual life for families and all members and the renewal of a tiny clergy is perhaps most important to them, as well as doing positive outreach in the community. Towards this end, they have recruited library science students from Tehran University to catalog their collection and are planning to open it to the public. Unfortunately, they have few books newer than thirty years old, the age of the revolution in Iran. Our group was able to collect a few good books which we'd brought along as trip reading, and return the next day to make a gift to the church. We hope to be able to send back more in the future.