New Publication: Christian Mission in the Middle East, Ecumenical Perspectives

The Middle East Council of Churches Participates in Its Preperation 

On the occasion of the centenary of the International Missionary Council (IMC), many studies were conducted on the situations of Christians in the world, and a new series of books was published, including a book entitled “Christian Mission in the Middle East, Ecumenical Perspectives.” This book comes at a time when the region, which is the cradle of Christianity, is witnessing several social, economic, demographic, geopolitical and environmental transformations, that have led the Church to take on new forms in its Christian mission. 

Hence, the book explains the response of Christians in the Middle East to all the changes surrounding them and how they are jointly exploring new paths in mission and how they are relating to other faiths, especially Islam. In this context, the book emphasizes the extent to which Christian communities in the region strive to persevere, cling to the land, and bear witness to Christ. 

Noting that this new publication was edited by Reverend Wilbert van Saane and Reverend John Holdsworth, and published by Regnum Books International, under license from the World Council of Churches (WCC). The Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) took actively part in the preparation and elaboration of the volume. Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, from the Evangelical Church in Beirut, authored an article on the Cooperation in Creation Care, and the Director of the Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar wrote in collaboration with Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, the Coordinator of the MECC EcoJustice Unit, a study on Monasticism and Mission in the Middle East. 

It is worth mentioning that the International Missionary Council (IMC) was founded in 1921 at Lake Mohonk, USA. It has its origin in the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC).