Final Statement
Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches
Our Lady of Balamand Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery and St. John of Damascus Theological Seminary, Lebanon
30 August 2024
The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held an extraordinary meeting to elect a Secretary General of the Council at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand and St. John of Damascus Theological Seminary in Lebanon, on Friday, August 30, 2024. The meeting was chaired by the Presidents of the Middle East Council of Churches, hosted by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, President of the Council for the Orthodox Family; His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Pedros XXI Menassian, Catholicos, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic House of Cilicia, President of the Council for the Catholic Family; His Eminence Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of the See of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox, President of the Council for the Eastern Orthodox Family; and Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Federation of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, President of the Council for the Evangelical Family.
The meeting included both physical and remote participation of the Executive Committee members from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Cyprus, representing the Middle Eastern churches that are members of the Council. Also in attendance were the Secretary General of the Council, Dr. Michel Abs, the Associate secretaries-general, and the General Secretariat team, including directors of departments, sections, and administrators.
The meeting commenced with an opening prayer and biblical reflection led by His Beatitude Patriarch John X. The agenda was reviewed, and a detailed report on the work of the Secretary General over the past four years was presented. Subsequently, Dr. Michel Abs was unanimously re-elected as Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches for a second four-year term.
The meeting emphasized the importance of upholding the values of justice and peace and implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly in light of the genocide being inflicted upon the Palestinian people and the denial of their inalienable rights. The participants noted that these issues have a significant impact on all countries in the region and on the Christian presence in the East.
The participants also praised the activities held in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Middle East Council of Churches. They expressed their commitment to strengthening relationships among churches to build a shared path for Christians and to promote moderate discourse. This includes activating common religious spaces that foster dialogue and brotherhood between Christians and Muslims alike.
The meeting expressed appreciation for the work of the General Secretariat of the Council, its departments, and sections, especially in providing relief and assistance to those in need during the challenging circumstances facing the Middle East region.
In conclusion, the participants offered their thanks to the Lord Jesus, who blessed their meeting and supported them in their endeavors. They prayed for peace in the Middle East and throughout the world, asking that the King of Peace and Security grant all people tranquility and stability and that blessings and grace may overflow. They reaffirmed their unwavering trust in the Lord, recalling His words: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!" (Matthew 14:27).