Church Endowments Conference in Erbil Charts Path for Heritage Protection and Inclusive Governance

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 26 May 2025 – As Iraq’s foremost academic defender of Christian heritage, the Catholic University in Erbil (CUE) convened a landmark conference on the administration of church endowments and properties, underscoring its pivotal role in strengthening Christian resilience and presence throughout the country. With President Nechirvan Barzani in attendance, CUE brought together leading clerics, legal scholars, and policymakers to deliberate on the future of Christian endowments—vital safeguards for both cultural identity and social welfare.

Building on last year’s discussions of the Personal Status Law for Christians in Iraq, this year’s conference centred on the management of temporal goods within the Church—an issue of both spiritual and legal significance. The event highlighted CUE’s commitment to responsible stewardship, constructive dialogue, and inclusive development as cornerstones of Christian continuity in Iraq.

A Pledge to Diversity and Protection

President Nechirvan Barzani, in his keynote address, emphasized the historical and cultural significance of Christian endowments, describing them as “a part of the region’s rich civilizational, cultural, and spiritual heritage.” He reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s steadfast support for its Christian community, praising their enduring contributions to the region’s social and cultural fabric. “Christians and other communities—regardless of their religion or ethnicity—are not guests in Kurdistan,” President Barzani said. “They are owners, partners, and an essential and authentic part of this land and this nation.”

The President called for the swift enactment of a dedicated law to protect Christian endowments, ensuring they are shielded from encroachment and managed in accordance with constitutional guarantees. “Such a law will be a message of reassurance to Christians that their heritage is preserved and their presence secured,” he noted.

Reflecting on the region’s broader experience, President Barzani highlighted Kurdistan’s role as a safe haven for all communities facing persecution, particularly during the ISIS onslaught. He linked this historical role to the current drive to protect Christian heritage and foster coexistence through effective legal frameworks and inclusive governance.

Guarding a “Living Mission”

Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil and Chairman of CUE’s Board of Trustees, framed the conference as a call to “faithfulness in responsibility, and transparency in administration” of gifts that are “not private property, but consecrated gifts for the service of the Church and all humanity.”

“Safeguarding church endowments is, at its core, safeguarding human dignity, religious freedom, and the beauty of diversity in our beloved Kurdistan Region, which for decades has been a safe haven for many,” he told delegates.

Turning to President Barzani, the Archbishop added: “We ask His Excellency the President to lead this initiative in both the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. We all know that when you speak, people listen; when you act, a roadmap is drawn.”

Archbishop Warda highlighted the constitutional guarantee of each faith’s freedom to manage its own endowments and stressed the distinct canonical structure of Christian endowments, where the bishop himself—elected by the Synod—is both spiritual shepherd and trustee, accountable to conscience and canon law rather than any state body. He warned that conflating this model with Islamic waqf structures could expose Church properties to “neglect, misunderstanding, or even violation.”

Calling for a standalone Christian Endowments Law that affirms the Church as a non-profit entity and shields it from unnecessary interference, the Archbishop urged delegates to launch “a legal, academic, and ecclesial process” that will protect these assets “for future generations who deserve to find a Church that is strong, faithful, and responsible.”

Church’s Rights and Responsibilities

The conference, through a theological and historical lens, examined the role of endowments in Christianity, tracing their roots to early-church practice and scriptural teaching. Offerings and endowments are essential to evangelization, to supporting the poor and the needy, and to ensuring a dignified livelihood for church servants. The Church’s right to acquire, own, and administer its assets is an inherent freedom—one that sustains its spiritual mission while respecting the intentions of the faithful. This administration spans every function needed for the institution to operate effectively, underscoring the importance of clear policies and transparent practices in managing donations, lands and other assets.

A Platform for Dialogue and Academic Leadership

Welcoming participants, Dr. Nazar Shabila, President of CUE, expressed pride in the university’s role as a convening space for dialogue and cooperation. “Your presence today embodies a shared commitment to responsible administration and an affirmation of the vital role played by religious institutions in our societies,” he said. Dr. Shabila underscored the university’s broader mission: to create transformative educational opportunities for all, particularly for disadvantaged communities, while serving as a catalyst for policy dialogue and social development. “We believe in the pivotal role of universities, not only in education, but in promoting deeper understanding and guiding policies that respond to the needs of the communities we serve,” he added.

Dr. Shabila positioned the conference as an essential milestone in the university’s annual calendar of events, one that strengthens the foundations for inclusive development and reinforces the importance of legal and administrative frameworks in managing church properties.

Sustaining Heritage Through Collective Action

The conference, attended by senior clergy and policymakers, focused on translating these principles into actionable strategies. Participants examined the intersection of civil, canon, and natural law in the management of church endowments, emphasizing the need to respect donors’ intentions while ensuring that resources serve the wider community. Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, Archbishop of Erbil and Chairman of CUE’s Board of Trustees, echoed these themes, stressing the importance of safeguarding religious heritage and ensuring that the benefits of endowments reach those in need.

Discussions centered on reconciling income and expenditure in a manner consistent with the Church’s spiritual mission, alongside transparent governance and robust legal protections. Participants underscored that the protection of Christian endowments is not merely about managing property—it is about preserving identity, strengthening social cohesion, and ensuring that communities continue to thrive on the lands of their ancestors.

Lecture series: day-one highlights

The opening day featured two specialised lectures that set the legal and historical backdrop for the three-day programme:

• Lecture One – The Constitutional Framework for the Freedom to Manage Religious Endowments in Iraq: Judge Bashar Al-Jubouri analysed constitutional provisions governing each sect’s custodianship of its endowments.
  
• Lecture Two – The History of Endowments and Iraqi Legislations: Between Reality and Aspiration: Judge Hadi Aziz traced the evolution of endowment laws in Iraq, outlining gaps between existing statutes and current needs.

Both lectures underscored the urgency of comprehensive legislation tailored to the Christian tradition while remaining harmonised with Iraq’s broader legal order.

Looking Ahead

As the first day drew to a close, participants shared a collective vision—one in which the Catholic University in Erbil remains the epicenter of expertise and advocacy for Iraq’s Christian communities. By translating dialogue into concrete policy action, the university aims to ensure that church endowments serve as both a testament to the past and a guarantor of the future.

The outcomes of this conference will guide legislative efforts, strengthen institutional cooperation, and enhance the governance of religious endowments across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq—further solidifying CUE’s standing as the leading defender of Christian rights and heritage in the nation.