Secretary General Fr. Jalakh Appointed to WCC & Catholic Church Joint Working Group on Peace Building
Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General, Fr. Michel Jalakh, has been appointed as an external expert to the theme group ‘Peace Building in Situations of Violence: The Role of Religion, Culture and Dialogue’ within the joint working group (JWG) of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The JWG meets regularly to discuss issues of common concern and promote cooperation. Secretary General Fr. Jalakh will represent the Middle Eastern perspective. A second theme group for the JWG addresses challenges and opportunities presented by migrants and refugees to churches.
“I am very excited to participate in this group and to advance peace building as the primary tool of the international community in seeking to address the world’s conflicts — particularly when it comes to the Syrian, Iraqi, and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts,” said Secretary General Fr. Jalakh. “We know from history that faith communities, religions and religious leaders can play an important and distinct role in bringing people together and establishing just foundations for peaceful co-existence and the healing of traumas endured during times of conflict. Together, we will seek opportunities to engage in this crucial work.”
The objectives of the joint working group and theme groups are to explore their respective priority issues and produce a guiding document of recommendations, pastoral in character, for ecumenical cooperation on the role of religion, culture and dialogue on peace building and conflict resolution by the parent bodies (the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity).
