Video - The 5th Monthly Webinar Organized by MECC

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: we consider in the Council that any discrimination is a betrayal of the Christian faith and belief

The Middle East Council of Churches held its fifth monthly webinar entitled “Living In Dignity For Persons With Disability”, on the evening of Thursday 8 December 2022, with the participation of university professors, academics, and interested attendees. Noting that the webinar is part of a series of monthly symposiums which are launched previously by MECC, in preparation for the project of Human Dignity and Social Capital Rehabilitation that the Council is planning.

The webinar was moderated by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil. It began with an opening note by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs who stressed that the Council is concerned with the fate of countries and citizens, cares about peoples' issues, pursues and protect their interests with all available capabilities. He added, "our Savior has fed the hungry and healed the sick without any type of discrimination. Therefore, we consider in MECC that any discrimination is a betrayal of the Christian faith and belief...".

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: the “Season of Creation” has become an essential part of the Middle Eastern culture, and an Ecumenical Occasion Bringing Churches Together

The Secretary General of the international organization Danmission Kristian Sloth Petersen visited the General Secretariat’s offices of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, on Thursday 8 December 2022, at the head of a delegation from the organization including the Regional MENA Director Kirsten Auken, and the Programme Director Martin Rosenkilde Pedersen. During the visit, a new cooperation agreement between Danmission and MECC was signed for the next 2 years, especially in implementing the international "Season of Creation" project, which was launched for the first time in the Middle East two years ago. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a team from the General Secretariat welcomed the delegation.

A crutch and a smartphone are all that is left to comfort loneliness for the majority of elderlies after the war in Syria. The sons and daughters of many families had to leave the country and their old mothers and fathers became alone with no one to provide them the needed care, making the wrinkles of sorrow and sadness appear on their faces.

According to the “Syrian Committee for Family and Population Affairs in Syria”, the percentage of persons above 60 years old constitutes more than 6% of the Syrian population and it is expected to increase to 10% by 2025.

Más allá de la declaración de clausura y del acta de la reunión, debemos detenernos en la «experiencia» de la reunión del Comité Ejecutivo que se celebró durante los dos últimos días en un tranquilo monasterio del Monte Líbano.

No cabe duda de que no hay nada más entrañable que los encuentros entre hermanos después de una larga separación, sobre todo cuando es en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y sobre cuestiones y preocupaciones comunes relacionadas con la región del Oriente Medio con todos sus componentes y sus diversas afiliaciones.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC invites you to its new monthly webinar entitled “Living In Dignity For Persons With Disability”, on Thursday 8 December 2022, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. You can participate in it via the following Zoom link: shorturl.at/bde19, and live on the MECC Facebook page.

As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Abs, it is entitled “Lebanon, the surrendered people, the persistent butcher, and the ray of hope”, in which he highlighted the circumstances in Lebanon, in light of the International Day of Commemoration, Honor and Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and the International Day Against Corruption on December 9, and the Human Rights Day on December 10.

This week includes three very important and prominent events in human life and the course of human civilization.

December 9 is the International Day of Commemoration, Honor and Prevention of the Crime of Genocide, as well as the International Day Against Corruption. The next day is Human Rights Day.

How solemn are these dates and facts that deal with them, and how applicable these occasions are to Lebanon, a country wracked with wounds, whose people are suffering significantly, and is still waiting for relief from a major event or from a divine miracle that removes from it the stone that weighs on its shoulders.

The themes of the three occasions apply to Lebanon.

The Lebanese people have been subject to genocide for years at all levels and by all means.

Cut, adulterated, forged, or expired medicines does its effects on people's health.

“The Church and Society: Institution and Leadership”

Under the patronage of His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and at the invitation of the Dean of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology Fr. Yacoub Khalil, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs presented a lecture entitled “The Church and Society: The Institution and the Leadership”. It was held on the evening of Friday 2 December 2022 at the Institute’s campus in Balamand, Lebanon.

The lecture was part of the graduation ceremony of a new group of graduates from “Kalima” program for Theological education and the CBB for Biblical Studies in Spanish program.

28 and 29 November 2022 - Monastery of Notre-Dame du Puits in Bkennaya, Lebanon

The Middle East Council of Churches held its Executive Committee meeting on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022, at the Monastery of Notre-Dame du Puits in Bkennaya, Lebanon, to discuss the MECC Ecumenical and Humanitarian issues, as well as other issues related to the people and Christians of the Middle East. Attendees were the MECC Presidents, members of the Executive Committee from various countries of the region, and the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs heading the Council's General Secretariat team.

The video presents a report about the meeting’s activities and some interviews with participants. It was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

During a time when Lebanon is suffering from economic hardship and the collapse of the health sector, ordinary citizens are unable to afford basic health coverage and medication. To make matters worse, organizations that used to provide medical assistance to those in need are unable to tend to the growing needs in Lebanon.

Luckily, the Middle East Council of Churches is still capable of being at the forefront of such a struggle. The MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, was able, during the month of November 2022, to carry out medicine distribution to people from different walks of life.

“UNITE to End Violence Against Women” is the campaign leaded annually by the United Nations aiming at protecting women and reducing the risks which they may face.

Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches continues, this year, its participation with ACT Alliance in the campaign, stressing the need to preserve women’s dignity, especially since they have an essential role in building societies.

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches elected Mrs. Seta Hadeshian as Associate Secretary General for the Eastern Orthodox Family and re-elected the two former Associate Secretaries General, Reverend Refaat Fikri for the Evangelical Family and Father Nicolas Bustros for the Catholic Family. The election was made during the Executive Committee meeting which was held on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022, at Notre-Dame du Puits Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon.

As part of his program "Kadaya Sakhina" on El Keraza TV in Egypt, Rev. Rifaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General, highlighted on Monday 5 December 2022, the activities of the MECC Executive Committee meeting which was held on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022, at the Monastery of Notre-Dame du Puits in Bkennaya, Lebanon. He also shed light on the recommendations and decisions of the final statement issued by the meeting. In addition to the point of views and aspirations of the youth who also participated in the meeting as representatives of various Churches and youth movements in the Middle East.

In the video, you can find the segment dedicated to the Executive Committee meeting.

“The Question of Disability in the Arab World, A Roadmap for the Future”

Friday 16 December 2022 - 6:30 p.m., at the Antonine University, Lebanon

In partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches, the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) has the honor to invite you to a seminar about the book “The Question of Disability in the Arab World, A Roadmap for the Future”, prepared and supervised by Mr. Fadi El Halabi, and reviewed by Professor Antoine Romanos. It will be held on Friday 16 December 2022, at 6:30 p.m., at the Antonine University in Hadat – Baabda, Lebanon, Fr. Abbot Antoine Rajeh Hall.

Academics and specialists in the field of disability from important universities in Lebanon and abroad contributed to this book, and it is published by Dar Saer Al Mashrek. The book will be available at a special price during the seminar for who would like to buy it.

The seminar will begin with a speech by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

Amidst a rise in violence against woman which put her at risk at various levels, the world participates annually in the United Nations campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women”.

Through its participation with ACT Alliance in this international campaign, the Middle East Council of Churches calls for serious and quick action to end violence against women in all its forms and to help them face and overcome it.

«Vivir con dignidad para las personas con discapacidad» El jueves 8 de diciembre de 2022 de las 19:00 a las 20:30 horas

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio le invita a participar en su nuevo seminario web mensual titulado «Vivir con dignidad para las personas con discapacidad», el jueves 8 de diciembre de 2022 de las 19:00 a las 20:30 horas.

Puedes participar en el webinar a través del siguiente enlace de Zoom: shorturl.at/bde19, y en directo en la página de Facebook del MECC.

El seminario web comenzará con una nota de apertura del Secretario General del MECC, el Dr. Michel Abs, e incluye 2 sesiones sobre el tema en cuestión. Será moderado por la Dra. Laure Abi Khalil, además de un resumen en inglés a cargo del Dr. Chawki Attieh.

“Living In Dignity For Persons With Disability”

Thursday 8 December 2022, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in its new monthly webinar entitled “Living In Dignity For Persons With Disability”, on Thursday 8 December 2022, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link: shorturl.at/bde19, and live on the MECC Facebook page.

A Lecture by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs at the Invitation of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology

Friday 2 December 2022 - 7:00 pm, at Balamand and live on Facebook

Under the patronage of His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology invites you to participate in a lecture delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Michel Abs, entitled "The Church and Society: Institution and Leadership". It will be held on Friday 2 December 2022, at 7:00 p.m. You can watch it live on the Facebook pages of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology and the Middle East Council of Churches.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find the final statement issued by the MECC Executive Committee meeting held on Monday 28 and Thursday 29 November 2022 at Saydet El Bir Monastery in Bkennaya, Lebanon. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Executive Committee and the concerns of an era”, in which he talked about the importance of the in person meetings, and highlighted the most important decisions taken by the Executive Committee regarding the MECC work and its development.

The issue also includes 2 videos about the first day’s activities of the MECC Executive Committee Meeting, and the sessions organized for youth who were part of the meeting.