Discussions on Lebanon’s Circumstances at the “Protestant Church in Switzerland” Station in the Networking Zone of the WCC 11th General Assembly

The World Council of Churches 11th General Assembly is being held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022, under the theme "Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity". The Assembly organized a Networking Zone dedicated for vibrant music, a lively dialogue, calming atmosphere, or a quiet coffee, and aimed at engaging participants to communicate together in a more relaxed and social zone away from the plenaries.

In fact, the Networking Zone presents four different stations and three spaces devoted for interaction. The Protestant Church in Switzerland—the birthplace of the Reformed churches—is one of these stations. It exhibits, as the World Council of Churches website mentioned, “key figures and some challenging histories in its development as a church. The space also offers a variety of conversations on topics such as carbon footprints to gender justice. The talks include practical activities and games to help the information sink in.”

Lebanon was also talked during the discussions of “The Protestant Church in Switzerland”. Catherine McMillan Haueis, a pfarrerin at Reformierte Kirche Kanton Zürich, gave some feedback on her Facebook page:

“Lebanon was the "Switzerland of the East". Now 70% live under the poverty line. A teacher's salary is not enough to cover the petrol to get to work. 1-2 hours of electricity a day, savings are trapped in the banks and inflation is 178%. Most health care workers have left. The explosion in the Beirut port, a corrupt political class, Covid-19, war in Syria (1,5 million refugees) and now in the Ukraine (wheat and gas) have led to this. Rev. Josef Kassab says: " We are re-charged as a church to be a better church." The small minority Protestant churches run schools, nursing homes, clinics, medical centers and social action centers. They are giving hope in a time of literal darkness.They embrace the people with God's love, as a man embraces his wife to comfort her. Rev. Raffi Messerlian says: "Education is the only way for young people to have a future. We teach the values of patience, perseverance and hope so that they can face the situation." Kassab adds: "There are two ways to fast change in the Middle East. One is a military coup. The other is democracy. That is the safer way for the future of the country." HEKS partners with these churches. #evrefk22 #WCC2022”

Source: Catherine McMillan Haueis personal Facebook profile.