The MECC Executive Committee’s Meeting Will Be Held in Lebanon

On 28 and 29 November 2022

Discussing the Most important ME Issues and Christian Role in the Region

Youth Will Present Their Opinions and Expectations to the Church Leaders

In preparation for the 50-Year Jubilee of the Middle East Council of Churches, and aiming to strengthen its Ecumenical message in the region, the MECC Executive Committee will hold its periodic meeting on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022 at Saydet El Bir Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon. The meeting’s agenda will include urgent issues related to the people and Christians of the Middle East, their challenges and expectations, amidst severe crises hitting the region.

tum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs congratulates His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, on the 10th Anniversary of his Enthronement. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “Treating women: a race between progress and backwardness”, in which he talked about violence against women on the occasion of the international day dedicated for the elimination of this violence, celebrated on 25 November.

You can also find 2 reports about the field visit held by a delegation from MECC and “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands to the projects implemented by both sides in Syria within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find a news about the funeral service of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, in which MECC participated and was represented by its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “Corruption: the silent killer of culture and society” in which he denounced the corruption in Lebanon and many societies in the Arab world, speaking about its danger and the concepts of combating it.

Together Building Bridges and Restoring Hope

The Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with representatives of its partner organizations and institutions, in addition to a series of activities it implemented with them, between 2 and 5 November 2022. The video presents the point of views and aspirations of some of the MECC partners participating in the meeting. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

MECC Meets with Its International and Regional Partners

The Middle East Council of Churches met with its international and regional partners as part of a series of activities and meetings in Lebanon between 2 and 5 November 2022. What did the meetings include? And what did the attendees discuss? The video presents a brief overview of these meetings, activities, and the most important discussed topics. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

A Field Tour Held by MECC and “Kerk in Actie” in the Netherlands Delegation

Eleven years have passed since the outbreak of the severe war in Syria which have took the lives of thousands of Syrians. Not only people have been affected but also stones and buildings. The war has caused massive damage in infrastructure and impacted the economy. As well as, house, religious, educational and medical institutions have been destructed.

If stones in Syria could speak, it would talk about a history and civilization which goes back thousands of years, witnessing for a Christianity which was spread from this country to the world.

Amidst this deepening human crisis, the Church's first challenge was to shine a light in the darkness and sorrow hope in the midst of despair.

A Solemn Funeral at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia

The funeral service of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, was held on Saturday 12 November 2022 at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia, Cyprus, after he passed away on Monday 7 November 2022.

During the funeral, Churches’ bells rang in Cyprus and flags outside Churches and on all public buildings flown half-mast. The service was presided over by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome. The body of the Archbishop of Cyprus was exposed for public pilgrimage in the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas, from Thursday 10 till the morning of Saturday 12 November 2022. In addition, a Book of Condolences was opened at the Office of His Beatitude the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II.

ACT Alliance Has Many Messages to the Climate Summit, What Are They?

ACT Alliance has released many key messages to COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh. It includes: General ACT Climate Justice messaging for COP27, role of ACT as a faith based organization, climate finance, loss and damage, Paris Agreement, climate ambition and mitigation, gender & human rights, and migration.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, MECC mourns passing of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, who passed away on Monday 7 November 2022. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Modern man between science and ignorance”, which is for the occasion of the World Science Day for Peace and Development celebrated on 10 November.

As part of the annual partners meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches, which was held on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 November 2022 in Beirut, the MECC General Secretariat organized an Ecumenical tour to the Churches in Lebanon, on Saturday 5 November 2022. Participants were a delegation of representatives of MECC partner organizations and institutions, alongside the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian and the Social media Officer Chady Chata.

Towards Continuous Cooperation and a More Sustainable Role in the Region

Under the title “Partners Accompanying MECC in the Ecumenical Journey”, the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat resumed its annual meeting with the MECC partners from international and regional organizations and institutions, on its second day, Friday 4 November 2022, in Beirut.

Attendees were representatives of these partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East… They exchanged views and experiences with the participation of the MECC team and the departments’ directors, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, along with the MECC Associate Secretaries General, and members of the Executive Committee.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find details and photos about the first day of the MECC annual meeting with its international and regional partners, on Thursday 3 November 2022, in Beirut. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Concerned Ecumenical Partners”, and was the speech he delivered at the opening of the MECC annual partners meeting.

The issue also includes a news about the second day of the Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum’s annual meeting, held with the participation of MECC and many humanitarian and international organizations, between Sunday 23 and Monday 24 October 2022, in Amman.

Youth Are Ringing the Alarm Bell and Getting Ready with Act Alliance

The environment is at risk and humanity is suffering due to the effects of climate change! It is a bitter truth that we cannot conceal as long as it became a lived reality threatening the future of our generations who may inherit an uninhabitable world. However, some hopes were witnessed the past years, as voices were raised, especially with youth calling on governments and international concerned parties to work hard and faster to save people's lives and achieve the required and urgent change. But is anyone listening to all these young voices?

In fact, states’ presidents, diplomats, experts, and environmental activists meet each year in an international awaited environmental event which is the COP Climate Change Summit. It is the Conference of the Parties which aims at discussing urgent climate issues and taking all possible measures for a safer and more sustainable future. This year, the COP27’s activities will be held in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, starting on Sunday 6th of November and ending on Friday 18th of November. The summit will include many activities and sessions tackling the voices of people yearning to live in a healthiest environment, and focusing on various sectors of life.

Report: October 2022

With the world still in shambles because of the war in Ukraine, many countries are looking for energy reserves that can satisfy their consumption demands. Luckily there are untapped gas fields in the Middle East that have yet to be put to good use. This is why all eyes are turned towards the area and diplomatic efforts have been underway to preserve peace in the region. As such, ME nations can expect heightened cooperation with Western nations which will lead to a more prosperous future.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find details about the round table organized by MECC under the title "Women and Human Dignity", on Thursday 27 October 2022, at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Beirut. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “She deserved the status”, and was his opening note at the beginning of the round table.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of November 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

Awareness Sessions for the MECC General Secretariat’s Team

How Can We Fight this Disease?

“Cholera is a crime and a serious and deadly disease caused by infrastructure breakdown and pollution resulting from sewage water,” emphasized Dr. Sameer Shleweet, a gynecologist, gender-based violence and CMR trainer, and a humanitarian activist, especially in the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut office, during an awareness session held for the MECC General Secretariat’s team, on Tuesday 25 October 2022. However, in Lebanon and many countries, it became difficult to develop infrastructure due to other priorities imposed on governments as a result of local and international crises. Hence, personal prevention is very important to face cholera together and prevent its outbreak.

United in Prayer with His Family

On the Forty days’ memory of Late Gabi Habib, former Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC General Secretariat’s team, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, held a special Prayer service on the intention of his soul, asking God to raise him to share the glory of the risen Christ. Habib’s small family, his wife Kathy and two daughters Maria Gabriel and Anna Sophia, participated in the Prayer which was made on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find an invitation to attend a round table it organizes under the title "Women and Human Dignity", on Thursday 27 October 2022, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Beirut. You can participate in it via the following Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2jb2y9vy, or live on the MECC Facebook page. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “The Fragile Global Peace”, in which he tackled the danger that people and the world are facing in light of the war in Europe.

As part of his tour in Lebanon, His Eminence Bishop Dr. Udo Bentz, Chairman of the Working Group in the Middle East of the German Bishops’ Conference, visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 17 October 2022, accompanied by Dr. Daniel Legutke, Secretary of the Working Group. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs welcomed the delegation at the Council and the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar.