1. Mitri Raheb is a Palestinian Christian, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, and the founder and president of the Diyar Consortium, a group of Lutheran-based, ecumenically-oriented institutions serving the Bethlehem area.
Mitri Raheb pursued his higher education in Germany, first at Hermannsburg Mission Seminary and then at Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, where he completed his graduate studies including a doctorate in theology.
Mitri Raheb returned to Bethlehem in 1988 to serve as the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, and serving as the managing editor of the Al-Liqa' Journal for religious and heritage studies in the Holy Land.
Since 1992, Raheb has founded and led a number of projects and institutions serving the social needs of Palestinians living in the Bethlehem area, focusing specifically on women, children, youth, and the elderly.
Mitri Raheb is one of the co-authors of Kairos Palestine document together with Patriarch Michel Sabah, Rev Naim Ateek, Rifat Kassis and others.
I'm sure if we do a DNA test between David, who was a Bethlemite, and Jesus, born in Bethlehem, and Mitri Raheb, born just across the street from where Jesus was born, I'm sure the DNA will show that there is a trace.
Mitri Raheb has written 16 books and numerous articles on issues relating to interfaith dialogue, social transformation, contextual theology, and culture, many of them available in over 10 languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, English, German, and Arabic.
Mitri Raheb has researched the life of the Palestinian photographer Karimeh Abbud.
Mitri Raheb's work has been recognized by the Luther Institute in Washington, DC, Concordia University in River Forest, IL, USA, Spirituality and Health Magazine, and the Central Islamic Archive Institute.
Mitri Raheb has been interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, CNN and CBS.