Beirut, November 29, 2022

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held a face-to-face meeting, for the first time after the end of the Corona pandemic, on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022 at the Monastery of Notre-Dame du Puits in Bkennaya, Lebanon. The meeting was chaired by His Eminence Anba Anthonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox and the President of the MECC for the Eastern Orthodox Family, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and the President of the MECC for the Orthodox Family, represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esber, Metropolitan of Busra Houran and Jabal Al-Arab, His Eminence Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Federation of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and President of the MECC for the Evangelical Family, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the House of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics and President of the MECC for the Catholic Family, with the participation of members of the Executive Committee from Lebanon Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan and Cyprus, representing 21 churches of the Middle East, the Secretary-General of the MECC Dr. Michel Abs, the two Associate General Secretaries Reverend Refaat Fikry and Father Nicolas Bustros, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theology Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), Reverend Michael Kanbar, in addition to the General Secretariat team of department directors and administrators.

The Middle East Council of Churches continues its participation with ACT Alliance in the UN international campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign” during 16 days of activism, though pictures that aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of violence and call for serious action to face it.

“UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign”

The Middle East Council of Churches is participating with ACT Alliance in the UN international campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign” during 16 days of activism. The campaign includes photos and slogans prepared specially for the campaign by the ACT member organizations.

MECC also stands in solidarity with all women who are victims of violence and calls on all concerned parties to take the necessary measures which aims to end this violence.

Business Rehabilitation with the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department

The Beirut Port Blast was a fatal blow to the Lebanese, who lost everything they owned, especially in the Beirut regions. Owners of businesses lost their dreams and also faced the disaster’s huge repercussions in their shops and businesses which were destroyed. The Middle East Council of Churches, sought through the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, to restore hope to their lives and joy to their hearts, by implementing the Business Rehabilitation program.

Under the title "Recovering from the Blast", the video presents a brief overview about the program’s results and its impact on the beneficiaries, as well as some testimonies confirming that hope is back again.

The Service and Relief - Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, Supports Lebanon’s Women

She is the source of life. She is the wife, mother, sister, and friend. She is the woman who always struggle in her life and make daily efforts for the happiness of her family and the comfort of everyone around her. She is also the one who, unfortunately, is exposed to many and many insults, racism, hate speech, and even she is the one who faces all kinds of violence, cultural isolation, and loneliness... All these factors are negatively affecting her life putting her in the most vulnerable categories. But does anyone hear her pain?

In fact, many women today suffer from mental health problems, as they are in dire need of psychosocial support to help them overcome the pressures which may surround them daily. Hence, the role of religious and humanitarian organizations is important to accompany and support women in order to sorrow hope in their hearts.

Here the Voice of Hope Rises Against War and Destruction

Whoever visits Aleppo and walks in its streets can notice the wars’ repercussions in this city, and can even hear its groaning and pain. But amidst all the destruction, we can witness the determination of Aleppo’s people to restore their city and lives as it was before the war. In fact, they are seeking God’s help, believing in His power and support to rebuild what was destroyed by the Evil’s hands and war.

The Middle East Council of Churches and “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands supported the Syrians and Aleppo’s people within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”. A program which aims to restore what was damaged by the war so that hope can revive in the lives of people who are essential part of their Church.

Nuestros niños, que son uno de los principales pilares de nuestra sociedad, nacen en este mundo con la esperanza de cosechar sus frutos. Desgraciadamente, los tiempos actuales no son tan reconfortantes y los niños quedan desamparados y necesitados.

Por suerte, el Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda - Diakonia, de la Oficina de Beirut, del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio sigue organizando una serie de sesiones psicosociales continuas con el objetivo de promover el bienestar y la resiliencia de los niños. Se les involucraría a través de una serie de actividades recreativas que les ayudarían a lidiar con los desafíos emocionales, sociales y prácticos.

«Las mujeres son la mitad de la sociedad». Muchos países del mundo se esfuerzan por integrar a las mujeres en todos los sectores productivos y económicos. Sin embargo, las recientes condiciones de seguridad, políticas y sanitarias, así como el estallido de la pandemia de coronavirus, han afectado negativamente a sus vidas, especialmente en el Oriente Medio, que se hunde en una crisis cada vez mayor.

En el Reino Hachemita de Jordania, por ejemplo, el Departamento de Estadística mencionó que la tasa de desempleo femenino ha aumentado hasta el 31.5% en el primer trimestre del año en curso en comparación con el año pasado. Otro informe del país publicado en 2021 muestra que la participación económica de las mujeres ha disminuido en un 3.3%, después de haber registrado la tasa más alta del 17.3% en 2017.

Por lo tanto, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio está trabajando para mejorar el papel de la mujer en las sociedades a través de varios programas que implementa en muchos países de la región.

Together Building Bridges and Restoring Hope

The Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with representatives of its partner organizations and institutions, in addition to a series of activities it implemented with them, between 2 and 5 November 2022. The video presents the point of views and aspirations of some of the MECC partners participating in the meeting. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Our children, who are one of the main pillars of our society, are born into this world, hoping to reap its rewards. Unfortunately, present times are not that comforting and children are being left forsaken and in need.

Luckily, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches is still organizing a series of ongoing Psychosocial sessions aiming to promote the well-being and resilience of children. They would be engage through a series of recreational activities that would help them deal with emotional, social, and practical challenges.

MECC Meets with Its International and Regional Partners

The Middle East Council of Churches met with its international and regional partners as part of a series of activities and meetings in Lebanon between 2 and 5 November 2022. What did the meetings include? And what did the attendees discuss? The video presents a brief overview of these meetings, activities, and the most important discussed topics. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

“Women are half the society”. Many countries in the world are making efforts aiming to integrate women into all productive and economic sectors. However, the recent security, political, health conditions, and the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, have negatively affected their lives, especially in the Middle East, which is sinking into escalating crises.

In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for example, the Department of Statistics mentioned that the female unemployment rate has increased to 31.5% in the first quarter of the current year compared to last year. Another country report issued in 2021 shows that women's economic participation has decrease by 3.3%, after it recorded the highest rate of 17.3% in 2017.

A Field Tour Held by MECC and “Kerk in Actie” in the Netherlands Delegation

Eleven years have passed since the outbreak of the severe war in Syria which have took the lives of thousands of Syrians. Not only people have been affected but also stones and buildings. The war has caused massive damage in infrastructure and impacted the economy. As well as, house, religious, educational and medical institutions have been destructed.

If stones in Syria could speak, it would talk about a history and civilization which goes back thousands of years, witnessing for a Christianity which was spread from this country to the world.

Amidst this deepening human crisis, the Church's first challenge was to shine a light in the darkness and sorrow hope in the midst of despair.

Towards Continuous Cooperation and a More Sustainable Role in the Region

Under the title “Partners Accompanying MECC in the Ecumenical Journey”, the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat resumed its annual meeting with the MECC partners from international and regional organizations and institutions, on its second day, Friday 4 November 2022, in Beirut.

Attendees were representatives of these partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East… They exchanged views and experiences with the participation of the MECC team and the departments’ directors, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, along with the MECC Associate Secretaries General, and members of the Executive Committee.

The First Day of the MECC Annual Partners Meeting in Beirut

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Your feelings that exude through our interaction together do not go unnoticed

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with its international and regional partner organizations and institutions, on its first day on Thursday 3 November 2022, ending on Friday 4 November, in Beirut, under the title “Partners Accompanying MECC in the Ecumenical Journey”. Participants were 18 representatives of these partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East... As well as, attendees were the MECC Associate Secretaries General, members of the Executive Committee, Directors of departments and the Council’s team headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

How to Develop Work Mechanisms and Enhance Humanitarian Services

The Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum continued its annual meeting on a second day, on Monday 24 October 2022, in Amman, Jordan. Attendees were 27 participants from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, representing local, regional and international organizations members of ACT Alliance, including the Middle East Council of Churches which was the coordinator for the Administrative Committee of the Middle East and North Africa Forum for this year.

The second day’s activities started with an opening Prayer by Rev. Imad Haddad, from the Lutheran Church. Then, participants presented the humanitarian and development activities they implemented in the countries and regions in which they work. Afterwards, a general discussion session was held and focused on the Ecumenical Diakonia topic and how to develop the work mechanisms among the Act Alliance’s members and Churches in each country.

MECC Participated in the Worship Service

On the occasion of the Evangelical Reformation Sunday and at the invitation of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, the Evangelical Churches celebrated, as each year, a worship service entitled this year “Witnessing for the God of Life Amidst a Suffering World”, presided over by Reverend Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, and General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. The Prayer was held on Sunday 30 October 2022 at the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut.

Participants were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs and the Regional Director of the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department Eng. Samer Laham, alongside representatives of the member Churches of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, friends from Lebanon and abroad and believers.

Awareness Sessions for the MECC General Secretariat’s Team

How Can We Fight this Disease?

“Cholera is a crime and a serious and deadly disease caused by infrastructure breakdown and pollution resulting from sewage water,” emphasized Dr. Sameer Shleweet, a gynecologist, gender-based violence and CMR trainer, and a humanitarian activist, especially in the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut office, during an awareness session held for the MECC General Secretariat’s team, on Tuesday 25 October 2022. However, in Lebanon and many countries, it became difficult to develop infrastructure due to other priorities imposed on governments as a result of local and international crises. Hence, personal prevention is very important to face cholera together and prevent its outbreak.

United in Prayer with His Family

On the Forty days’ memory of Late Gabi Habib, former Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC General Secretariat’s team, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, held a special Prayer service on the intention of his soul, asking God to raise him to share the glory of the risen Christ. Habib’s small family, his wife Kathy and two daughters Maria Gabriel and Anna Sophia, participated in the Prayer which was made on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

H.E. Senator Nasser J. Judeh, Former Minister of Jordan Foreign Affairs: The Kingdom is still providing a safe shelter

Secretary General Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria: We condemn the economic sanctions imposed on countries such as Syria

The Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum held its first annual meeting following the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, on Sunday 23 October 2022, in Amman. Attendees were 27 participants from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, representing local, regional and international organizations members of ACT Alliance. Noting that ACT includes more than 144 members from Evangelical and Orthodox humanitarian and development organizations worldwide, as well as the Middle East Council of Churches, which was the coordinator for the Administrative Committee of the Middle East and North Africa Forum for this year.