The Middle East Council of Churches' General Assemblies
The Middle East Council of Churches has held 11 General Assemblies till now: 8 in Cyprus, 2 in Lebanon, and one in Jordan. In the below text, you can find main information about these assemblies such as their themes, dates, locations, and the General Secretaries who were elected at each one of them.
1- Inaugural Assembly:
“Our Common Christian Message Today”
Nicosia – Cyprus 30 May 1974
An Executive Committee of 15 members was elected to direct the Council's work and services during a transitional period of twelve to eighteen months. The presidents of this committee are:
Rev. Hovhannes Aharonian, President of the Near East School of Theology in Beirut and representative of the Armenian Evangelical Union.
Metropolitan Ignatios Hazim from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch.
Bishop Samuel from the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Rev. Albert Isteero was elected as general secretary of the Council in its new form.
2- Second General Assembly:
“…And He gave us the Service of Reconciliation”
Broummana – Lebanon 1-4 March 1977
Prayer service: His Eminence Metropolitan Georges Khodr, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon
Opening session: His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatius Hazim
Speech: Bishop Youssef el Khoury
General Secretary Rev. Albert Isteero. Mr. Gabriel Habib was elected as the new general secretary.
3- Third General Assembly:
“Let Your Kingdom Come”
Nicosia – Cyprus 28 November – 4 December 1980
General Secretary Mr. Gabriel Habib
4- Fourth General Assembly:
“The Living Hope”
Nicosia – Cyprus 13-19 February 1985
5- Fifth General Assembly:
“Keep the oneness of the soul in the bond of peace”
Nicosia – Cyprus 22-28 January 1990
The Catholic Church joined the council
Mr. Gabriel Habib was reelected as general secretary
The new presidents are:
His Holiness Ignatios I Zacca was of the Syrian Orthodox Church
His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Khoury of the Maronite Church
His Beatitude Ignatios IV Hazim of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Antioch
His Grace Bishop Samir Kafity of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
His Holiness Karckin II, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Cilicia, who was elected honorary President of the Council.
6- Sixth General Assembly:
“Peace I leave for you, My peace I give you”
Limassol – Cyprus 15-21 November 1994
General Secretary Mr. Gabriel Habib. Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour was elected as general secretary
7- Seventh General Assembly:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”
Notre Dame du Mont, Fatka, Lebanon 26-30 April 1999
General Secretary Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
Presidents of the council:
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
His Beatitude Patriarch Michel Sayyah
Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni
His Eminence Metropolitan Vasilios Karagiannis (representing His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysanthos, Bishop of Limassol)
8- Eighth General Assembly:
“Hold my love”
Limassol – Cyprus 1-5 December 2003
The elected presidents are:
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
His Beatitude Patriarch Peter VII
His Eminence Bishop Youhanna Kolta
Rev. Dr. Safwat al-Bayadi
Mr Gergis Saleh was elected as general secretary
9- Ninth General Assembly:
“Let us seek as ambassadors of Christ as if God were preaching to us”
Paphos – Cyprus 26-30 November 2007
General Secretary Mr. Gergis Saleh
Presidents of the council:
Eastern Orthodox Church: His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
Orthodox Church: His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III
Catholic Church: His Eminence Archbishop Boulos Matar
Evangelical Church: Rev. Dr. Safwat al-Bayadi
10- Tenth General Assembly:
“And all who believed were one heart”
Paphos, Cyprus 29-30 November 2011
Fr. Dr. Boulos Rouhanna was elected as general secretary
The elected presidents of the council are:
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia
His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem
His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church
His Grace Bishop Munib Younan, Bishop of the Lutheran Evangelical Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
11- Eleventh General Assembly:
“Praise the Lord for His mercy is forever good”
Amman, Jordan 6-8 September 2016
General Secretary Father Michel Jalkh
The four presidents:
Eastern Orthodox Church: His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
Orthodox Church: His Beatitude Patriarch Youhanna X Yazigi
Catholic Church: His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael Sako
Evangelical Church: Rev. Dr. Habib Badr