Qatar has a population of approximately 3 million people. About 13.7% (409,000 people) are Christian. This includes a large number of migrant workers who follow Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant beliefs.[1] In 2000, the number of Protestants was estimated at 1% of the population and the Anglicans (being classified otherwise there) at 1.4% for the same year.[2]
A hospital was founded in Doha in 1947, in cooperation with Protestants, in particular one started by Mary Bruins Allison, (a missionary doctor from the Reformed Church of America).[3]
In May 2005, five Christian Churches (including the Anglican Church in Qatar) were officially recognized by the Qatari government of Qatar. Smaller denominations are not recognised by the government, but are allowed to hold services if they do so under the protection of a recognised church.[4]
The Anglican church was then given permission to build the Anglican Centre and the centre opened in 2013. The centre has 26 different worship spaces with 15,000 seating capacity and is used by more than 85 Christian groups, including several Evangelical, Pentecostal and other Protestant congregations.[5] During a normal week, there are between 16,000-25,000 worshippers from 65 countries in over 150 worship services.[6][7][8]
Christian religious literature in English is available in bookstores.[9] However, proselytizing is illegal, with a punishment of up to seven years in prison.[10]
The Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar (ECAQ) has approximately 1,200 members who hail primarily from the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.[11]
Denominations
edit- Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, a province of the Anglican Communion
- Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, the Anglican diocese in which Qatar is located
- Arab Evangelical Church
- Charismatic movement
- Christian Brethren and other free churches
- Church of South India[12]
- Lutheranism
- Pentecostalism
- Presbyterianism
- Redeemed Christian Church of God
Qatar has granted legal status to Anglican and Filipino Evangelical and Indian Christian churches.[13] Denominations are registered under the aegis of the Anglican Church.[14] Ninety house churches are allocated to members of the Evangelical Church Alliance in Qatar.[15]
Languages of worship
editPublic Gatherings
edit
An open air public gathering, where about 12,000 people gathered at the Asian Town Amphitheater Stadium for the Don Moen concert (festival of peace) on November 30 and December 1, 2018. It was organized by Route 58:12, a group of individuals from various church backgrounds.
Other high-profile gatherings include;
- Hillsong concert on December 10, 2016, when approximately 10,000 people gathered at Asian Town Amphitheater Stadium.
- Planetshakers concert in May 2017 with an audience of about 4,000 people at Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-06-27
- ^ Fahlbusch, Erwin; Lochman, Jan Milic; Bromiley, Geoffrey William; Barrett, David B.; Mbiti, John; Pelikan, Jaroslav; Vischer, Lukas (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity. ISBN 9789004145955.
- ^ Scudder, L. R. (1998). The Arabian Mission's Story: In Search of Abraham's Other Son. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8028-4616-7.
- ^ Harvard Divinity School website
- ^ Doha Guides website
- ^ Anglican Church In Qatar website
- ^ "Anglican Centre Website". Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ "US State Dept 2019 report".
- ^ Michael Theodoulou (November 10, 2005). "Qatar opens doors to first church in 14 centuries". Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ US State Dept 2021 report
- ^ "Evangelical Alliance Churches Qatar breaks ground on new building - Doha News". 17 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10.
- ^ The World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, Volume 1, p. 617
- ^ "Evangelical Alliance Churches Qatar breaks ground on new building - Doha News". 17 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10.
- ^ "US State Dept 2019 report".
- ^ "US State Dept 2019 report".