French evangelical leader named Knight of the National Order of Merit
Clément Diedrichs was proposed by the Minister of the Interior to recognise his 36 years of service to the National Council of Evangelicals in France.
Evangeliques.info · PARIS · 08 JUNE 2023 · 16:25 CET
The director general of the National Council of Evangelicals in France (CNEF), Clément Diedrichs, was recently appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit).
The distinction, which was proposed by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, recognises his 36 years of service to the organisation.
“I would say, in the words of the Apostle Paul, that if I lead the life that I lead, it is 'because of the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord'”, pointed out Diedrichs in his acceptance speech.
He also thanked the Minister of the Interior for making this proposal to the president Emmanuel Macron.
“We are honoured by this distinction given to our CEO. It is also recognition of the work carried out by evangelicals for the society”, said Erwan Cloarec, president of the CNEF.
Public ceremony
The ceremony took place at the Evangelical Baptist Church of avenue du Maine in Paris, and was attended by Etienne Lhermenault, the first president of the CNEF and director of the Nogent Bible Institute, who also received a recognition in 2015.
The authorities were represented by Clément Rouchouse, deputy director of the Department of Public Liberties and Judicial Affairs, accompanied by Juliette Part, who succeeded him in March 2023 as head of the Central Office for Religious Denominations.
Romain Choisnet, communications director of the CNEF, congratulated Diedrichs and thanked the officials of the Ministry of the Interior for their presence and Lhermenault for presenting the medal.
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Published in: Evangelical Focus - europe - French evangelical leader named Knight of the National Order of Merit