Beyond the closing statement and the minutes of the meeting, we need to stop at the "experience" of the Executive Committee meeting that was held during the last two days in a calm monastery in Mount Lebanon.

There is no doubt that nothing is more lovable than meetings between brothers after a long separation, especially when it is in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and on common issues and concerns related to the Middle East region with all its components and their various affiliations.

We have been holding meetings remotely, online, as the name used to be, even in Arabic, during the hard years of the pandemic that struck humanity at its core, and we found, at that time that these remote meetings were the effective solution when the pandemic threatened every human life on earth. We have adopted this online solution, trained ourselves on its uses and adapted it to our needs. It was the perfect expression of the logic which says that “technology that may harm humanity in some of its manifestations is what provides humanity with the means that help it save itself”. However, with the return of life to normal, people came back to taste and realize the importance of face-to-face meetings with this interaction that takes place between two people in direct encounter versus the encounter between two computer screens or cell phones.

At the end of 2022, the Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of December 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

As part of building Ecumenical bridges between Theology students from various Church families, the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) organized an entertaining sports gathering with the participation of more than 200 students studying in Theological Institutes in Egypt. It was held on Saturday 26 November 2022 at the Coptic Catholic Seminary in Maadi, Egypt.

The gathering was characterized by an atmosphere of joy, friendship and love. It aimed to bridge distances between the participants who got to know each other, exchange experiences and opinions about various topics of their interest.

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.

Their challenges are many today in the Middle East... Christian youth are the present and future of the Church!

Youth representing Churches and youth movements from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq, expressed their opinions and concerns to convey it to the Heads of Churches during the Executive Committee meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches, which is being held on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022, at Saydet El Bir Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon.

The Middle East Council of Churches’ Presidents, Leaders representing various Churches of the region, and youth from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq are gathering together at the MECC Executive Committee meeting which is being held on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022 at Saydet El Bir Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon.

The video presents a quick tour of the first day’s activities.

“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.

16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women

MECC Participates with ACT Alliance in the UN International Campaign

The international campaign “UNITE to End Violence against Women Campaign” kicks off today Friday 25 November. It begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on the International Human Rights Day on 10 December. This annual campaign of 16 days of activism is launched this year at a time the rate of violence against women has increased, through all its types and on various levels, at home, society, workplace and public places. It is increased in the world and the Middle East, especially with the absence of laws or the application of laws which protect woman and preserve her dignity.

The MECC Executive Committee’s Meeting Will Be Held in Lebanon

On 28 and 29 November 2022

Discussing the Most important ME Issues and Christian Role in the Region

Youth Will Present Their Opinions and Expectations to the Church Leaders

In preparation for the 50-Year Jubilee of the Middle East Council of Churches, and aiming to strengthen its Ecumenical message in the region, the MECC Executive Committee will hold its periodic meeting on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022 at Saydet El Bir Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon. The meeting’s agenda will include urgent issues related to the people and Christians of the Middle East, their challenges and expectations, amidst severe crises hitting the region.

tum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs congratulates His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, on the 10th Anniversary of his Enthronement. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “Treating women: a race between progress and backwardness”, in which he talked about violence against women on the occasion of the international day dedicated for the elimination of this violence, celebrated on 25 November.

You can also find 2 reports about the field visit held by a delegation from MECC and “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands to the projects implemented by both sides in Syria within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program.

The United Nations has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

As for the current year, it is "as in previous years, this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women inaugurates 16 days of activity that must conclude on December 10, the day that commemorates International Human Rights Day" and that According to the website for combating violence against women (*).

As reported by the website itself, this campaign, "led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women since 2008," aims to "prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world." It also urges "global action to raise awareness and strengthen advocacy towards that goal and provide opportunities to discuss challenges and solutions."

MECC Participating in the Signing Ceremony

Under the patronage of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Bible Society Board of Directors hosted the book launching and signing of its General Secretary/ CEO, Dr. Mike Bassous, entitled "Leadership… in Crisis: A global perspective on building resilience, stamina, agility, and confrontation". The ceremony was held on Friday 18 November 2022, at the campus of Notre Dame University (NDU) in Lebanon.

Attendees were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, alongside Bishops, Priests and Pastors, representatives of many Church families and guests from various fields.

The Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches organized a series of consultation sessions with the youth in the Middle East, representing their Churches, in Iraq - Baghdad, Syria - Damascus, Egypt - Cairo, Jordan - Amman, and Palestine - Ramallah. The sessions aimed to talk about the issue of youth presence and role in the region, in addition to discuss their concerns and expectations. Photos are available in the video.

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.