ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (ANS), Mar. 19 — Thirty years after it was nationalized by Pakistan's Islamic government, the historic Forman Christian College in Lahore is being returned to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its partner churches in Pakistan, ASSIST News Service learned Tuesday, March 19.
The Presbyterian News Service (PNS) quoted Worldwide Ministries Division (WMD) as saying that the return of the college to the church this spring - by an agreement with the government, was "a miracle."
"It's hard to over-estimate how important the recovery of Forman Christian College is to the Christian community in Pakistan - this is almost a survival issue for them. Having Forman back makes them positive players in Pakistan, rather than a tiny minority that's been pushed to the side," said Rev. Will Browne, WMD's associate director for ecumenical partnerships, in an interview with PNS.
Big Boost for Christian Community
Church analysts say the return of Forman Christian College, which was nationalized in 1972, is a big boost for the small and often persecuted Christian community in Pakistan, where more than 95 percent of the 140 million citizens are believed to be Muslim.
The news comes after Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf launched a manhunt to find those responsible for a grenade attack against the International Protestant Church in the capital Islamabad Sunday March 17 in which 5 were killed and 45 others wounded.
Islamic Militants Banned
In addition, Musharraf, has cracked down on Islamic militants in Pakistan, banning several Islamic extremist groups and arresting more than 2,000 members of outlawed organizations late last year, Ecumenical News International (ENI) said.
President Musharraf, who is himself a Forman Christian College graduate, is expected to attend the formal ceremony to mark the college's return to the church on October 5, PNS reported.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) as well as the Church of Pakistan and the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan have sought the return of the college and a dozen other church schools in the country since they were nationalized in 1972.
Heart of Community
Their efforts have intensified in the past eight years, under the leadership of S. David Stoner. "Thirty years ago, when Forman was taken away, the Christians in Pakistan felt like the heart of their community had been ripped out," Stoner told the PNS.
"What status they had in the community depended on Forman and the other schools, not to mention their (provision) of employment for Christians," he added.
Source: Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent (ASSIST News Service)
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