In Celebration of God's Creation
The Middle East Council of Churches Holds an Ecumenical Prayer Service on the Occasion of the “Season of Creation”
With the Participation of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian
MECC Organizes in Cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME)
A Conference Entitled “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change”
4-5 October 2023
Let Us Participate Together in These Environmental and Theological Activities!
On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” celebrations in the Middle East and the world, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) culminates this season in an Ecumenical Prayer Service, with the participation of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family. The Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, which marks the “Season of Creation” closing, at 5 pm Beirut time, in the Pope John Paul II Amphitheater at the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon.
The Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in the Prayer Service, at the Holy Spirit University - Kaslik, stressing on the slogan of this year’ “Season of Creation”, “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, asking God the Creator to open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace, and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us, and all creation. Noting that this Prayer, which MECC will hold annually, will be broadcasted through media and live on the MECC Facebook Page.
In this context, and stemming from its belief in the importance of preserving God’s creation, working to protect our common home, and enhancing environmental Theological awareness, especially in preparation for the UN Conference on Climate Change COP28, the Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), is organizing a symposium entitled “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change”. Participants will be specialists in the fields of environment and Theology from Lebanon, Egypt, and European institutions.
The symposium will be inaugurated on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at 5:30 pm Beirut time, in the Pope John Paul II Amphitheater at the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon. Its sessions will begin with welcome addresses delivered by Reverend Dr. Talal Hachem, President of USEK, Dr. Michel Abs, MECC Secretary General, and M. Reverend Dr. Jack Khalil, President of ATIME, and Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the Balamand’s University in Lebanon.
The symposium will be introduced by Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, Professor of Practical Theology at Near East School of Theology in Lebanon. Then, Reverend Dr. Dave Bookless will deliver the Keynote Speech, entitled “Climate Change: Biblical and Theological Perspectives”. Afterwards, Reverend Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, will present the Middle East Churches Statement that will be addressed to the conference of parties COP28 in Dubai.
This first day of the symposium will be concluded with an Eco-Exhibition that includes various initiatives and activities in the environmental field and creation care, which are implemented by many organizations and youth movements.
The sessions of the symposium’ second day will be held on Thursday 5 October 2023, starting 9 am Beirut time and ending at 5:30 pm Beirut time, at the François Bassil Amphitheater in the Saint Joseph University (USJ) – Beirut.
The symposium will begin with a welcome address delivered by Reverend Dr. Salim Daccache, President of USJ, which will be followed by five sessions centered on various environmental and Theological topics, with the participation of specialized speakers in the environmental and Theological fields from the Middle East and the world. The first session is entitled “Climate Change and Social Justice”, and the second session is entitled “Climate Change and Care for Creatures”. The third session will revolve around “Climate Change and Nature”. In the fourth sessions, some students from Colleges and Theological Institutes will present researches they prepared about the topics presented at the conference. The final session will focus on “Church Commitment to Creation Care and Ecojustice”, in which concerned international organizations will participate.
The symposium will be ended with conclusions and recommendations, and its sessions will be broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page. Noting that English-Arabic-English translation will be available during the symposium.