Dr. Michel Abs, MECC Secretary General, from Bkerke: What we discussed with His Beatitude Patriarch Al Rahi will form an essential part of our work towards the council’s General Assembly

Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Secretary General started his official visits to the council’s Presidents to thank them for their confidence in electing him as Secretary General for four years. Therefore, his first visit was to His Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rahi at the Patriarchate headquarters in Bkerke. He was accompanied by Fr. Gabriel Hachem, the Associate Secretary General and director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Mrs. Huguette Salameh, director of the Communication and Public Relations Department, and Ms. Nina Hallak, coordinator of the Diakonia Department in Beirut.

Dr. Abs expressed his gratitude towards His Beatitude Al Rahi for hosting the last Executive Committee meeting on September 18, 2020, and for his readiness to host the council's General Assembly, which will be held next September in Bkerke. In addition, the council’s programs, activities of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, and those of the Diakonia Department were presented, as well as the Council’s role in promoting unity and cooperation among churches.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General, declared to the media office in Bkerki: "we received the blessing of His Beatitude Al Rahi to start our new mission. We also discussed matters related to the Eastern Christian challenges, the Christian presence in the Middle East and the MECC role in strengthening this presence. We also raised various other important problems". Abs described the fruitful meeting, and added: "what we proposed to His Beatitude will form an essential part of our discussions and work in the next step, especially in preparing for the General Assembly, which will be an expanded spiritual summit”.