Peanut Gallery: For most of the “Arab Spring,” Coptic Christians have been without a spititual leader. These are perilous times. Coptic Christians live under continual Islamist threat in Egypt. The latest riots only aggravate their already precarious position.

After the death of Pope Shenouda III in March, Coptic Christians are preparing to elect a new Pope in December. As the article below notes, it is not an enviable position.

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5.1-5 ESV

Please pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and direct the election process for the new Coptic Pope… that he would a man chosen by God and an effective shepherd of God’s people.

The article below (The Christian Post) puts this election process in context –

New Coptic Christian Pope to Be Number One Target of Radical Islamists?
By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter – September 14, 2012|4:11 pm

Egypt’s Coptic Christians are getting ready to vote on a new pope in December to replace the deceased Pope Shenouda III who died in March – but some are worried that choosing a new Christian leader in the region may only incite more violence from their Muslim neighbors.

“A new pope will not offer any additional protection for the Egyptian Christians. In fact the election may well incite Muslims to more violence. The last thing they want is any hope or solidarity among ‘infidels.’ The new pope could certainly find himself the new #1 target,” said Christian Freedom International (CFI) in a statement emailed to The Christian Post. Continue reading “Please pray for Coptic Christians preparing to elect Pope” →