On the International Day of the Family

Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh:

“To commit to Christian principles and human values is to form ideal Christian families in society”

Report by Elia Nasrallah

Translated by Mary Yahchouchy

The Middle East is facing today a daily worsening stifling wave of crises and disagreements as many social changes have been imposed on different levels during an era that has become tainted with spite, violence, hatred and injustice... This era left the family’s fate to the unknown, forcing it to face family ties threatening challenges that negatively affect education and the preservation of human values. The International Day of the Family this year, on May 15th, came with the burden of heavy concerns on the family, the primary element in building and developing societies.

From here, the Church exerts its efforts in order to accompany families and help them adapt to current circumstances, allowing them to step on the land of safety. It accompanies families spiritually, psychologically, socially and financially from before marriage and through the upbringing and raising of children... Its goal is to strengthen communication between individuals and consolidate their faith by spreading the values of love, solidarity, respect and acceptance of others... in order to reach an advanced society filled with stability and reassurance. It is important to mention that His Holiness Pope Francis launched the "Year of the Family" on March 19, 2021.

The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, for instance, supports families and helps them overcome obstacles with great hope and positivity. Are there any special programs the church carries out? How does it work on Christian formation? Questions that we looked for answers to with the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh* in a special interview with the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, where he presented the importance of proper formation and human values amid the difficulties that Christian families are going through today.

Family Is the First Cell of Society

First, Dr. Gerges Saleh expressed his happiness in celebrating the International Family Day noting: "God created Adam and Eve since the beginning of time, to make the family the first nucleus of society, and taking care of family is to form a complete and rising society." He pointed out that the culture of intimidation, violence, hate speech, and the challenges that the Christian family faces today negatively affect the life of youth. He thinks that the role of the Christian family lies in maintaining upbringing through good education based on correct Christian foundations and principles, for Christianity does not know spite and hatred.

Dr. Saleh expressed the need to adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the upbringing of family, citing his words to his disciples: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), and as St. Paul called on us: "Be Imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11: 1). According to him, we must follow the path of the Bible, spreading love speeches, peace, and openness to others... and "strive to have a healthy upbringing based on human values ​​that would reflect in society as a whole."

Dr. Gerges Saleh said: “family should focus on the formation of good citizens in the country, following the teachings of the Church.” When education is based on the principles of peace and acceptance of the other, as he put it, it builds a strong and cohesive society. He added: "In the Coptic Orthodox Church, through the curricula of Christian education schools, Sunday schools, we seek formation that develops human values ​​among young people from a young age, as Christ asked us to love one another. Love is for everyone, it is necessary to help children enhance their abilities and help them feel like role models in society and an important part of it for people to see their good deeds and glorify their Father who is heaven.”

According to dr. Saleh, this is where the love of the homeland lies and the awareness of our rights and duties as citizens, "spiritual formation programs prepare us to be good and loyal citizens of society." Therefore, he says that the spiritual and human formation is accompanied by the national and cultural upbringing, because the human being is a wholesome being, citing the saying of His Holiness Pope Shenouda: “Egypt is a country that lives in us, not a country we live in.” God's love must also be embodied in the love of the land, and man must strive in his behavior and relationships to build a good society and work for its development.

The Coptic Orthodox Church and Christian Initiation

Back to the tasks of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Dr. Gerges Saleh explained that it accompanies the family and contributes to the upbringing through Sunday schools, ecclesiastical education and special programs for the family and its education... It also includes a family care institute in the Family Counseling Department, offering in its curricula several materials and lectures centered on youth service, educational counseling, psychology of the elderly, family social service, the Christian family, primary family concepts, preparation for marriage, Christian marriage and marital communication skills and finally the psychology of the child and adolescent. Therefore, it is necessary, according to Dr. Saleh, to participate in a full course at this family counseling institute to obtain a marriage permit and build a successful family away from conflicts and problems.

Dr. Gerges Saleh added that the Coptic Orthodox Church organizes meetings for couples who are engaged to be wed and holds family conferences... To engage in Christian principles and human values ​​is to form cohesive Christian families that are role models in society. He referred to the Egyptian family household bringing together Christian and Muslim partners of the country and leaders of the two religions, indicating: "There’s a committee that works with the youth from both sides to develop the common space that brings them together and get rid of the problems that surround them through openness to others." The church also hosts meetings between young people from the Orthodox, Anglican and Catholic theology colleges and students of the Sharia faculty at Al-Azhar University. The Holy Synod has a special committee for the family to monitor all family programs and hold meetings to develop work mechanisms.

At the end of his interview, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh applauded the council’s role in accompanying people, preserving their dignity, and accompanying families in light of the difficult conditions that the Middle East is going through, through the programs and activities it has been keen to implement since its foundation in 1974. He also praised the work of Communication and Public Relations Department in highlighting the Council’s message and pressing humanitarian issues.

* Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh

-Coordinator of the relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Middle Eastern Churches

-Secretary of their Holiness Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs’ Permanent Committee

-Old Testament Professor at the Seminar College, the Institute of Coptic Studies, and Institute of Pastoral Care and Education

-Vice President of Theology Department at the Institute of Coptic Studies

Communication and Public Relations Department