MECC Regional and International Partners Meeting
Standing Together Towards a More Sustainable Partnership
The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with its international and regional partner organizations and institutions, online, on Thursday, March 24, 2022. The meeting aimed at exchanging point of views and experiences in order to develop the MECC role and to ameliorate the work mechanisms in order to achieve the desired goals, and work together for a more effective future partnership.
The meeting was held at a time when the MECC General Secretariat is preparing for the Council’s 12th General Assembly, which will be held in Wadi Al Natrun in Egypt from 16 to 20 May, at the generous invitation of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.
In fact, the meeting aimed also at conveying the concerns of the international ecumenical partners to the Eastern Christian leaders who will be gathered in the General Assembly.
With the blessing and presence of H.E Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon and President of MECC for the Evangelical Family, the meeting was moderated by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. Participants were leaders and representatives of partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as the USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East… in addition to MECC Associate Secretary Generals, Directors and staff members.
The meeting started with a Prayer by Rev. Martin Pühn, Head of the Middle East Desk - The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), followed by a word of introduction delivered by chair of session 1 Ms. Berit Hagen Agoy, Director of Council on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations-Church of Norway.
During the first session, Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs presented a brief overview about the circumstances in the Middle East. Then, he presented the MECC's projects and future programs to be implemented, in addition to the ongoing preparations and activities towards the Council's 12th General Assembly, that will be held between 16 and 20 May in Egypt.
Afterwards, the reports of the MECC Secretary General, General Secretariat and departments were presented. The Directors of the finance department, Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Theological and Ecumenical Department, Communication and Public Relations Department, and the Service to Palestinian Refugees Department, reviewed their ongoing activities and future prospects.
The second session was chaired by H.E. Rev. Habib Badr, and included a discussion on partnership strategies, urgent international crises and future expectations for working together. Questions were answered by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and the Directors of Department. The meeting ended with a closing Prayer.
