Rev. Dr. Bassam A. NassifAssistant Professor of Pastoral Theology |
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Work: 06930305
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EDUCATION |
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2008-2012 |
Doctor of Ministry – Pastoral Care & Marital Counselling |
1994-1998 |
Master of Divinity (with high distinction) |
1989-1993 |
Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering |
ACADEMIC COORDINATION |
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2015-present |
Academic Coordinator of the Bachelor of Theology Program |
2013-present |
Academic Coordinator of "Kalima e-Learning Theology Program in Arabic." |
ACADEMIC TEACHING EXPERIENCE |
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2011-present |
Assistant Professor |
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St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand |
2005-2011 |
Lecturer |
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St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand |
Courses Taught: |
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2005-Present |
Bachelor of Theology |
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- Introduction to Pastoral Life (THEO205) Year: Second - Elements in Pastoral Care (Distance Learning, KLMA228) Year: Second - Family Pastoral Care (THEO289) Year: Third - Social & Family Care (THEO284) Year: Third - Homiletics (THEO285) Year: Fourth - Pastoral Field Training I (THEO287) Year: Third - Pastoral Field Training II (THEO288) Year: Fourth
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2012-Present |
Master of Theology |
- Family Pastoral Theology and Contemporary Challenges - The Bible in Pastoral Care - Addiction: Spiritual Healing and Patristic Views |
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ACADEMIC ACTIVTIES & various publications |
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Books Published |
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1996 |
‘On the Confirmation of the Law of Moses, the Gospel and Orthodoxy’ |
On-going Project |
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2015 |
Pastoral Implications of Postmodernity on Marriage and Family Life: The Orthodox Church’s Perspective. |
Chapters in Books |
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2017 | Googling the Truth: Educating our Youth on Wisdom and Discernment (Romanian). Educaţia religioasă a tinerilor în contextul secularizării actuale, Basilica, Bucuresti, 2017, pp. 143-156. ISBN 978-606-29-0154-7. |
2016 | Mercy and Forgiveness in Pastoral Work and the Family: The Orthodox Church’s Perspective (Italian). Misericordia e perdono. Edited by Luigi d’Ayala Valva, Lisa Cremaschi e Adalberto Mainardi monaci di Bose: Atti del XXIII Convegno ecumenico internazionale di spiritualita ortodossa, Bose, 2016, pp. 235-260. ISBN978-88-8227-479-5. |
2015 | Church as Family: Patriarch Ignatius IV’s Pastoral Vision of the Church (Arabic). Patriarch Ignatius IV: The Man and His Vision. Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon. (Under Print). |
2014 | Mixed Marriages in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Christian Family and Contemporary Society. Edited by N. Dumiascu. Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2014, pp. 127-140. ISBN: 9780567657404. |
2014 | Mixed Marriages in the Orthodox Church: An Educational Approach to a Pastoral Issue. Orthodox Handbook on Theological Education and Ecumenism. Edited by Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzidis, Thomas Fitzgerald, Cyril Hovorun, Aikaterini Pekridou, ETE/World Council of Churches, Geneva, Regnum Books International 2014, pp. 794-800. ISBN 978-1-90835544-7. |
2012 | The Rhetoric Style of St. John of Damascus. Saint John the Damascene. Theology, Image and Melody. Edited by Porphyrios (Fadi) Georgi. Balamand: St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology. pp. 77-9. ISBN 978-9943-425-57-9 |
2011 |
Defending the Faith Using Logic and Pastoral Arguments: Theodore Abu Qurrah's Innovation. Byzantium in the Early Islamic Syria. Edited by Nadia El-Cheikh & Shaun O’Sullivan, American University of Beirut Press, pp. 129-146. ISBN 978-9953-9025-2-4. |
Conferences |
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2017 |
Contribution Title: Hope in the Horror of War.” Conference Title: “Rekindling Hope.” Organized by the Academic Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care - 4rd International Conference – Rhodes11-15 October 2017. |
2016 |
Contribution Title: “Googling the Truth: Educating our Youth on Wisdom and Discernment.” Conference Title: “International Congress of Theology: Religious Education of Youth in Today’s Secularism.” Organized by the Patriarchate of Romania and the Faculty of Theology of the University of Bucharest, September 3-7, 2016. |
2015 |
Contribution Title: “Pastoral Mercy and Matrimony: An Orthodox Perspective.” Conference Title: “Mercy and Forgiveness: XXIII International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality.” Organized by the Monastery of Bosé, Italy, September 9-12, 2015. Contribution Title: “Discernment: Spiritual Eyeglasses for Web Surfers.” Conference Title: “Living Water: First International Conference on Media and Orthodox Pastoral Care.” Organized by the Pemptousia Internet Network and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Athens, Greece, 7-9 May 2015. Contribution Title: “The Role of Priests in Supporting the Families of the Disabled Persons.” Conference Title: “Pastoral Seminar on Disability.” Organized by the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, and the Ecumenical Network In Support for the Disabled Persons, Balamand, May 9-10, 2015. Contribution Title: “The Orthodox Church’s View on Organ Donation.” Conference Title: “Organ Donation: Religious Views.” Organized by the University of St. Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon-February 2015. |
2014 |
Contribution Title: “Pastoral Implications of the Trauma of War.” Conference Title: “The Wound.” Organized by the Academic Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care - 3rd International Conference - Rhodes, 8-12 October 2014. |
2013 |
Contribution Title: “Church as Family: Patriarch Ignatius IV’s Pastoral Vision of the Church.” Conference Title: “Patriarch Ignatius IV: The Man and His Vision.” Organized by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon, December 2013. |
2012 |
Contribution Title: “Priesthood & Ministry in St Ephrem the Syrian and St John Chrysostom.” Conference Title: “Exegetical Schools of Antioch, Edessa, and Nisibis.” Organized by the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon, February 2012 Contribution Title: “Preparing a Couple for a Mixed Marriage in Lebanon: A Case Study in Pastoral Education.” World Council of Churches Joint Inter-Faculty Course, Balamand, April, 2012 |
2009 |
Contribution Title: “The Rhetoric Style of St John of Damascus.” Conference Title: “St John of Damascus: Theology, Image & Melody.” Organized by the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon, December 2009. |
2007 |
Contribution Title: “Defending the Faith Using Logic and Pastoral Arguments: Theodore Abu Qurrah's Innovation.” Conference Title: “Byzantium in the Early Islamic Syria,” Organized by the University of Balamand and the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. |
2004 |
Contribution Title: "Religious Dialogue in the Eighth Century." Conference Title: “VIIth International Conference of Arabic Christian Studies,” University of Saint Joseph, Saydet El-Bir, Lebanon. |
Research Articles in Academic Journals |
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2017 |
Pastoral Implications of the Trauma of War The Case of Lebanon (Arabic) |
2013 |
The Social View of the Orthodox Church: Faith and Practice (Arabic) |
2012 |
The Person & Work of Priests (English) |
2010 |
Church and Nature (Arabic & English). A 7-Year Plan for Generational Changes for a Living Planet, University of Balamand, Institute of The Environment, June 2010 |
2007 |
Toward Reinstituting the Kiss of Peace in the Liturgy (Arabic) |
2005 |
Religious Dialogue in the Eighth Century (English) Light for the World: The Importance of of St. Gregory Palamas (1296–1359) (English) |
2004 |
The Internet in the Service of Pastoral Work (Arabic) |
2003 |
An Eighth Century View on the Interpretation of the Gospel (Arabic) |
Seminars |
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Organized Seminars on Pastoral Healthcare: Pallaitive Care (2015), Caring for the Caregiver (2017), Pastoral Accompaniment of the Eldery (2016). | |
Workshops |
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Organized and Gave the Keynote Speech "Challenges Facing Christian Education of Youth" (Arabic), in Christian Education Workshop for Teachers of the Elementary and Secondary Schools in Lebanon and Syria. University of Balamand, St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, September 3-5, 2013. |
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Editorial Board | |
2015-present | Annals of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology University of Balamand, Lebanon |
2010-present | The Patriarchal Journal of the Patriarchate of Antioch, the official journal of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Damascus. |
Church Pastoral Magazines |
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2012 |
Pastoral Letters/Manuscripts of St. Joseph of Damascus (Arabic) Accompanying the Sick in Hospitals (Arabic) |
2011 |
Marital Conflicts and Harmony (Arabic) Directives for Homiletics (Arabic) |
2008 |
Helping Children in Grief (Arabic) |
2005 |
Spiritual Life of Chidlren (Arabic) |
2004 |
The Crown of Martyrdom. Christian Witness for our Days: Cancer Patients |
2003 |
Preaching Through Cinematography (Arabic) St. Ephrem the Syrian: A Distinguished Writer (English) |
2002 |
The Historical Development of the Holy Diaconate in the Orthodox Church (Arabic) The Role of Women in the Antiochian Orthodox Church (Arabic) St. Mary the Egyptian & the Spirit of this Age (English) St. Julian of Homs: Martyrdom, Pain and Love (English) Bishop Theodore Abu Qurrah: Revisiting His Biography (English) |
2001 |
The Cyberspace & the Church (Arabic) St. Andrew the Hymnographer, Author of the Great Canon (English) |
2000 |
St. Isaac the Syrian & Unbinding Love (English) |
1999 |
St. George the Trophy Bearer: A Saint for Middle Easterners? (English) |
1997 |
The Ministry of Reconciliation in Antioch (English) |
Newspapers |
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2010 |
“Seminary Studies in Lebanon,” Interview in Annahar, October, No 3, 2010. “The Date of Pascha,” Interview in Annahar, March 27, 2010. |
2009 |
“Antiochian See Monasteries,” Book Review, Annahar, February 2007. |
Pastoral Experience |
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2011-2014 |
Lecturer, Pastoral Program, Antiochian Archdiocese of Tripoli |
2003-present |
Pastor, Village of Kaftoun, El-Koura, North Lebanon |
2007-present |
Lecturer, Marriage Preparation Classes, St. Nicolas Centre, Antiochian Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon, Broumana |
2009-present |
Lecturer & Founder, Marriage Preparation Program, Sts. Joachim & Anna |
2000-present |
Pastoral Lectures: Delivered lectures on various pastoral topics in the following parishes: Amioun St Mary, Amioun St Marina, Anfeh, Batroumine, Batroun, Beit Mery, Beshmizzine, Bsarma, Bterram, Chekka, Deddeh, Dekwaneh, Douma, Jounieh, Kfarhatta Kfaraaka, Kfarhazir, Kfarkahel, Kosba, Minieh, Naccache, Rasmaska, Samiryiah. |
2005-2007 |
Regional Advisor, College Ministry, MJO, Batroun |
1997-1998 |
Director of Christian Education & Pastoral Program: Antiochian Orthodox Church, Montreal, Canada. Set up a Christian Education Curriculum for the French and Arabic-speaking youth in the Antiochian Church. Organized Sunday Schools. Coordinated events and retreats. Supported troubled youth and families in crisis, and visited abandoned elderly and shut-ins. |
Summer1996 |
Mission Work: Participated in the Mission Outreach Program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Centre (USA) to help the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia after the fall of communism. Assisted in the construction of one Church. Made pastoral visits. Lectured and preached. |
MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES |
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1998-present |
Member, The Lebanese Order of Engineers, Beirut, Lebanon |
2008-present |
Executive Secretary, Farid & Daad Karam Reserve Committee, University of Balamand |
1991-1992 |
Regional Editor, Project Magazine, the national magazine for undergraduate engineers in all Canadian universities |
1990-1991 |
Educational Commissioner, New College, University of Toronto, Canada. Organized educational events and activities, and wrote articles in the New Edition local newspaper |
Languages |
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Fluent in English, French, Arabic |