Hosted by the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut

His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh: "Let us work to enhance cooperation and solidarity to serve the little brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ with honesty and dignity"

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: "It is necessary to serve people with dignity and protect their rights"

With the blessing and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut and Delegate of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches to the Diakonia and Social Service Department, and in coordination with MECC, the Lebanon Forum of the International ACT Alliance held its annual meeting on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4, 2025, hosted by the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.

In the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, participants were representatives of the members of ACT Alliance in Lebanon from various Church Families, associations, local, regional and international organizations.

After the opening Prayer, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs welcomed the attendees, thanking His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh for his hospitality. He also introduced His Eminence to the participants, emphasizing his long Ecumenical career in the Middle East Council of Churches where he held many responsibilities, as well as in the Ecumenical world which he realizes its importance today in networking and cooperation. Professor Abs also mentioned the necessity of serving with dignity and preserving human rights.

As Part of the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”

Drama Therapy and Psychological Support

In light of the daily pressures surrounding our societies, children became in dire need of a safe space in which they can feel free to express themselves. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop their abilities and skills and teach them valuable skills which can elevate them to better heights once they reach adulthood. Hence, the Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in cooperation with the international organization Mennonite Central Committee - MCC, launched 10 drama therapy sessions over a period of 3 weeks, for a group of 7 children.

The aim was to empower the participants, build skills for self-expression and self-regulation, which can in turn boost self-confidence, enhance empathy and social skills, reduce stress and anxiety, and foster cognitive development.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18: 20).

With these Holy Words, the team of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut continues its periodic meetings headed by the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, raising Prayers to the Lord Jesus for the intention of peace and justice in the Middle East and the world, for the suffering and marginalized people, and for every human being on this earth.

In its last meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the family of the MECC General Secretariat gathered around the Gospel of the Feast of the Presentation of Christ into the Temple, which was read by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word” and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in an atmosphere of reverence, contemplation and fraternity, amidst an inner peace that filled the hearts of the worshipers.

Details in this Report!

A report that sheds light on the workshop organized by the Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the TearFund organization, entitled "Connecting Hearts and Minds", with the participation of a group of workers in the humanitarian and social fields from different Church Families and Lebanese regions, on 23 to 25 January 2025.

A Workshop on Psychosocial Support in Lebanon with the Middle East Council of Churches and Tearfund

The Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the TearFund organization, organized a workshop entitled "Connecting Hearts and Minds", with the participation of a group of workers in the humanitarian and social fields from different Church Families and Lebanese regions, on 23 to 25 January 2025, at the Padova Hotel - Sin El Fil, Beirut.

This workshop aimed to train participants on ways to manage feelings and behaviors in order to work together to overcome all challenges and difficulties, in addition to enhancing their psychological health and developing their counseling abilities in order to enable them to take care of themselves in correct and sound ways, especially in times of crises, hardship and wars. As well as, the course helped the participants, through various tips and advice, to transfer these acquired experiences and information to the children of their Parishes and communities so that they could in turn overcome all the difficult circumstances they might face.

Held in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from January 23 to 24, 2025

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in cooperation with the United Church of Canada, organized a consultative seminar entitled "Dismantling the Authority of Decision or Participation in the Authority of Decision", with the aim of discussing the mechanism of the new partnership relationship between the United Church of Canada and its partners in the world, including its partners in the Middle East, such as the Middle East Council of Churches, in order to give partners more future freedom to choose their humanitarian and development needs and have their direct management to the programs supported by the United Church of Canada.

This initiative comes in response to the new strategic goals of the United Church of Canada on the topic of abandoning the authority of choice and decision that Church institutions in the West have been accustomed to following for many years in the past, which contradicts the spiritual and moral concept of respecting the needs of others without imposing specific goals or strategies that do not achieve the partners' goals and actual needs.

The consultation session was attended by the United Church of Canada partners in the Middle East from Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, along with some ACT Alliance members present in Jordan and abroad, either in person or via Zoom.

With the completion of the achievements for the year 2024 and preparation for the entitlements in the new year, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, held a general meeting for the MECC General Secretariat team, entitled progress and success in International forums. The meeting was held on the occasion of the election of the MECC candidate Eng. Samer Laham, Director of the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, as a member of the new Governing Board of the International ACT Alliance.

Noting that the elections of the new Governing Board took place at the 4th General Assembly of ACT, which was held in Yogyakarta - Indonesia, under the theme "Hope in Action, Together for Justice," between October 28 and November 1, 2024.

During the MECC General Secretariat meeting, which was held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Council's headquarters in Beirut, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs addressed a congratulatory word to Mr. Samer, praising his distinguished competencies and capabilities, thanking him for his efforts and contributions in the Ecclesiastical and humanitarian fields. He also emphasized the credibility of the Middle East Council of Churches internationally and the quality of the humanitarian services it provides with the support of the "ACT Alliance".

What Are Its Details?

This report sheds light on the health and psychological awareness sessions for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers implemented by the Diakonia and Social Service Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, in three governorates which are Damascus and its Countryside, Aleppo and Daraa.

The of Service and Relief - Diakonia Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, holds health and psychological awareness sessions for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in three governorates which are Damascus and its Countryside, Aleppo and Daraa.

Details in this report!

The Middle East Council of Churches (MEC) through its Diakonia and Social Service Department, is committed to supporting education, believing that knowledge is the cornerstone of achieving security and peace worldwide.

In this context, the Diakonia Department – Syria Office organized remedial classes for 9th-grade students at the “Orphanage school of Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery”.

The remedial classes lasted two and a half months. It benefited 100 students by providing them with essential knowledge in core curriculum subjects to improve their academic performance and equip them with the necessary support during this critical educational stage. The aim was to prepare them to successfully pass their middle school exams.

The remedial classes was distinguished by the MECC team’s close supervision and guidance, along with the inclusion of psychosocial support sessions titled "Life Skills: A Journey with Myself." These sessions aimed to enhance young people's resilience in navigating their surroundings.

The Middle East Council of Churches Implements Many Awareness Sessions in Lebanon!

In the context of strengthening health awareness about various chronic diseases, the Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), implemented two new sessions about cancer for a group of women and men, at Our Lady Dispensary (OLD), affiliated with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in the Sabtieh region – Mount Lebanon. The sessions were held with the support of the international humanitarian organization Mennonite Central Committee – MCC.

These two sessions come in light of a world facing the danger of pollution and the repercussions resulting from the chemicals that some food contain, as well as amidst rising levels of daily pressures, which all has led to the rapid and increasing spread of cancer, especially among the most vulnerable and poor groups. This negatively affects the fabric of societies and their safety, especially since medical care is not available in a fair manner to many families.

The two sessions included awareness segments on breast cancer for a group of 20 women, and prostate cancer for a group of 20 men, as these two topics were identified after a questionnaire was distributed to the participants.

Health, peace and security... This is what our colleagues in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Office in Syria wished for, raising their prayers to God, the God of justice and peace, and looking forward to blessed seasons of hope.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the MECC team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This report, produced by Télé Lumière and Noursat, presents details about the training implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the Governorate of Akkar, under the title “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response” with the support of Tearfund. During the training, many lectures and workshops were held by Father Spyridon Tannous, Father Basilios Ghafari, and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Director of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the MECC.

Wishes, aspirations and Christmas messages of hope were carried by colleagues in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) with hearts ready to welcome the Jesus Christ. With the beginning of the New Year, their hope is embodied in days full of health, peace and security.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the MECC team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Details in this video!

This report sheds light on the objectives of the new training course as part of the program "Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response", which was implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, with the blessing and presence of His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, and in partnership with the TearFund organization. It was held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Chaldean Archdiocese of Beirut, Hazmieh - Lebanon.

In light of the difficult living circumstances that Lebanon is passing through as a result of the security, economic, social and health crises that have cast their shadows on the country, men have become one of the most social groups that face daily pressures and challenges that hinder their usual activities. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implemented eight empowerment sessions for a group of men in order to support them and alleviate the despair surrounding them.

The sessions come at a time when many men have lost their source of livelihood. Therefore, they aimed to develop the participants’ capabilities and train them in new manual skills teaching them how by using a rope they can create products that can be used in day-to-day applications.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) issues its annual report for the year 2023. It compiles in its pages the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches and the achievements it has accomplished at various Ecumenical, Theological, humanitarian and media levels. Despite a year burdened with global fluctuations, the MECC was not prevented to achieve its mission and desired goals of building bridges and standing together, in addition to spreading the values of love and fraternity, and the culture of peace and dialogue among all Church Families and Religions, from the Cradle of Christianity to the whole world.

Hence, through this report, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) reaffirms the necessity of adhering to faith, continuing to Pray together, and relying on our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to overcome all the difficulties and challenges that cast their shadows over the Middle East.