The FRME is an organisation being largely led by Canon Andrew White, who has worked in the Middle-East region since before the Gulf War. The organisation is the only evangelical body in the world, which is running both the religious track of the Middle-East Peace Process, as well as working on the complex search for peace in Iraq. In addition to this, the organisation runs the Israeli Palestinian Institute of Peace, and is at the forefront of peace making in Iraq with the Iraqi Institute of Peace.
A highly distinguished board has graced the FRME, with several former ambassadors of Middle Eastern countries, and the Chairman is Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury.
In addition to the FRME’s political and diplomatic work, it is also running one of the largest churches in Baghdad, as well as supporting the evangelical church in Gaza.
Canon Andrew White is the leader of St George’s Church in Baghdad, where earlier this year in September, the entire lay leadership of the church are feared dead after going missing. Canon White said he had been told on 13 September that the Anglican team was attacked while returning from Jordon on the notoriously dangerous road linking the Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.
“It is the most dangerous area in Iraq,” he had previously reported. “One of two things must have happened. They either got kidnapped or they died. But we have had no ransom demand or anything.”
Canon Andrew White is perhaps the most distinguished Christian working in the Middle-East, and works in close contact with the administrations of the US and UK governments as well as Iraqi, Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. Canon White has also been presented by the US Supreme Military of the Order of the Knights of Jerusalem, their highest award – the Cross of Valour. Canon White is the only recipient of this high honour in living history, for his extraordinary heroism beyond the call of duty involving personal hazard and danger and the voluntary risk of his own life for his compassion towards others in the region.
Christian Today, in an exclusive interview with Canon White, managed to find a little more regarding the works of the FRME and the peace process in the Middle-East. The full interview can be seen below:
CT: Please tell us a little bit about what your next plans are for FRME, and where you plan to take it?
AW: Well FRME is a relatively new organisation which seeks to promote peace in the Middle-East as a whole and so work in Iraq, Israel, Palestine and other areas also. So we are right in the heart of the conflict areas and our aim is to do whatever God sends us to do.
