Building a bridge between Western and Middle Eastern theology and humanities, reconnecting with old relationships – this was the impetus for the founding of the SiMO working group by German and Lebanese theologians in 1999. Since 2000, students from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are sent to the Near East School of Theology in Lebanon every year.
As an integral part of its educational work, SiMO is managed by Evangelische Mission in Solidarität (EMS). The study program is administered by an advisory board with an executive committee headed by a chairperson. The Executive Committee is responsible for the operational business, such as the selection and preparation of students as well as all matters that contribute to the success of the study programs. The Advisory Board meets annually and makes fundamental decisions regarding the structure and further development of the program.
Executive Committee and management:
Dr. Claudia Rammelt, Chairwoman
I studied at NEST in the academic year 2001/2002. Since then, I have been closely connected to Lebanon and NEST in many ways: through my academic work, through my involvement in civil society, and through my work on committees and boards. I became a member of the Advisory Board and later joined the Executive Committee. I have been the chair of the study program since summer.
Dr. Sara Binay, Executive Committee
I was in Beirut as a researcher from 2005-2008 and was able to use the NEST archive, where the proofs of the first Arabic Bible translations can be found.
Johannes Mieth, Executive Committee
I participated in the SiMO-programme 2017/2018, but then found a job in Beirut and stayed for another year. Since then, I kept close connections to the region and visited Lebanon and its neighbors for various professional and personal trips. I work in political education and focus on topics related to politics and religion – which remain some of Lebanon’s core issues until today.
Dr. Uwe Gräbe, Managing Director
heads the Executive Committee of the SiMO program. Rev. Uwe Gräbe is the Liaison Secretary Middle East of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) [Link zu: https://ems-online.org/en/] and Managing Director of the Evangelical Association for the Schneller Schools (EVS) [Link zu: https://schneller-schulen.ems-online.org/en/]. From 2006 to 2012, he was Provost (representative of the Protestant Church in Germany) in Jerusalem.
SiMO Advisory Board
Ad personam:
- Dr. Claudia Rammelt (Executive Committee, Chairwoman)
- Dr. Sara Binay (Executive Board, Vice Chairwoman)
- Johannes Mieth (Executive Board)
- Kirchenrat Dr. Friedmann Eißler
- Prof. Dr. Andreas Feldtkeller
- Dr. Hans-Christoph Goßmann
- Prof. Dr. Assaad Elias Kattan
- Dekan Dr. Martin Lückhoff
- Prof. Dr. Jennifer Wasmuth
- Dr. Uta Zeuge-Buberl
Institional Membership:
- Freunde der NEST e.V. (Anna-Katharina Diehl)
- EMS; Geschäftsführung (Pfr. Dr. Gräbe) (Executive Committee)
- Deutschsprachige Gemeinde Beirut (Pfarrerin Renate Ellmenreich)
- EKHN PfarrerInnenfortbildung (Pfr. Dr. Andreas Götze)
- EMW (Dr. Almut Nothnagle)
- NEST (Dr. George Sabra)
Evangelische Mission in Solidarität
Church locally and worldwide – the EMS connects people in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. 25 Protestant churches and five missionary organisations form a partnership network that is committed to combating poverty, education, theological exchange and the empowerment of women and minorities. With the international study programmes SiMO (Lebanon) and ISJP (Japan), the EMS specifically promotes the interreligious and intercultural exchange of young people. Further information can be found at ems-online.org.
Working Group SiMO+
- Johannes Mieth (Coordinator)
- Anna-Katharina Diehl
- Maximiliane Rink
- Dr. Uta Zeuge-Buberl
- Dr. Claudia Rammelt
- Dr. Sara Binay
