A delegation from the “Danmission” organization visited the offices of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, on Thursday 13 July 2023. It included Mrs. Kristen Auken, Regional Director for the Middle East, Mr. Antoine Abdel Massih, Program Manager, and Mr. Elie Bkassiny, Administrator and Financial Manager.

The delegation was received by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, alongside an MECC team that included Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Mrs. Manal Bechara Bou Habib, Financial Director, Ms. Laudy Khoury, Financial Coordinator, and Mrs. Roula Saliba, Senior Human Resources Officer.

Since the beginning of the war in Syria, the Middle East Council of Churches has been steadfast in supporting the Syrian community in all its factions through the implementation of several humanitarian programs in various Syrian provinces, under the slogan "Service with Dignity." Believing in the words of His Beatitude Late Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim, "While some may be destined to kill and destroy, our destiny is to build and remain."

One of the programs implemented by MECC is the “Restoration and Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands. The program aims to restore what the war has destroyed and bring hope back to the people after years of suffering and displacement.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, MECC, its Presidents, Executive Committee, and General Secretariat, extends its congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on the occasion of his elevation to the rank of Cardinal at the Catholic Church, as announced by His Holiness Pope Francis. As well as, MECC, Presidents, Executive Committee, and the General Secretariat, extends its congratulations to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, on the occasion of his election and consecration as Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “The Broken Dialogue, the Lost Society, and Ecumenism”, in which he talked about the concept of dialogue stressing the importance of common life and the advanced and deep interaction between people.

Lebanon’s Ministers of Communication and Information launched the ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign today, on the occasion of the International Day of Dialogue, which falls on July 12th. The campaign aims to encourage dialogue and communication among the Lebanese. To support this initiative, the Ministry of Communication introduced free communication periods on mobile and internet networks during the month of July. According to the ministers concerned, the goal of this campaign is to promote dialogue and communication among the Lebanese.

What is remarkable about this commendable and desirable campaign is its focus on promoting dialogue between the leaders of discordant groups within the Lebanese people, who have caused destruction and the loss of the future for their youth, leading them to emigrate. The slogans presented are laughable, urging publicly antagonistic, and secretly allied, politicians to talk to each other by making their phone numbers public.

On the occasion of the 28th Anniversary of His Election and Consecration as Catholicos

The Middle East Council of Churches, Presidents, Executive Committee members, and the General Secretariat, extends its warmest congratulations to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, on the occasion of his election and consecration as Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. MECC wishes him many years of prosperity, blessings and holiness.

The Middle East Council of Churches also wishes His Holiness good health and continuous success in his Pastoral mission, asking the Lord Jesus Christ to inspire him, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, with wisdom and steadfastness of hope, in Christian witness and Ecumenical service.

“Al-Ghadir and Human Sciences”

On the occasion of God’s Great Feast, “Eid Al-Ghadir,” and under the auspices of the Vice-President of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council in Lebanon, His Eminence Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, the “Macharek Center for Research and Contemporary Intellectual Studies” organized a conference entitled “Al-Ghadir and Human Sciences” (Al-Ghadiriya Beirut 2023), on Wednesday 5 July 2023, at the Imam Sadiq Cultural Compound, Lebanon.

Stemming from the belief that education is the foundation of peace and security in the world, the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands, rehabilitated “Dar Al Salam” school in Aleppo, Syria, within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”. A program that aims to restore what was damaged by the war so that hope can revive in the lives of people who are an essential part of their Church. The number of beneficiaries of the school's restoration is approximately 500 students, teachers, and administrators.

Towards a More Just Society

As part of raising awareness about the concept of gender equality and encouraging joint work, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with the ABAAD foundation for gender equality, implemented a gender-based violence (GBV) session titled “Sharing is Power”. It was held during the previous month of June, at the hall of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese in the region of Sabtieh, Beirut. Participants were women and men from different nationalities, were invited to the session wish aimed to highlight gender identities and roles through a series of interactive activities.

Report: July 11th, 2023

The Middle East Council of Churches is being involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Syria under the name of "Rescue Syria Campaign" through which the Council shall be dealing with the relief efforts in this emergency period and later on with rehabilitation plans in order to help people survive properly and resume a normal life with dignity.

MECC will be publishing a periodical report under the name of "Rescue Syria Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective. 

On the occasion of the elevation of His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the rank of Cardinal at the Catholic Church, as announced by His Holiness Pope Francis, the Middle East Council of Churches, on behalf of its Presidents, Executive Committee, and General Secretariat, extends its sincere and heartfelt congratulations to His Beatitude, wishing him continued giving at the head of the Latin Church, which is an active MECC Member.

Syria ranks sixth globally in terms of the number of people suffering from food insecurity, while Syrians today are struggling to put food on their tables more than ever before, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).  

Thus, the Middle East Council of Churches continues to support Syrians in facing the consequences of the harsh war by implementing several programs through the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia. Recently, MECC distributed 489 food baskets in the village of Kamouneh and 100 food baskets in the village of Mothbeen in Rural Dara’a.  

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, MECC, on behalf of its Presidents, the members of its Executive Committee, its Secretary General, its Associate Secretaries General and its team, extends its warmest congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, on the occasion of the 50-Year Golden Jubilee of his Priesthood. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Media and Stereotyping in Modern Society: The Dangerous Game”, and it was the speech he delivered at the monthly webinar organized by MECC under the title “Media and Stereotyping the Other”, on Thursday 29 June 2023.

As well as, the issue includes the statement of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the statement of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, following the aggression on the city of Jenin, Holy Land. This is in addition to the Prayer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for peace in the region.

Balamand, Lebanon, 6 July 2023

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox family, received at the Patriarchal Residence in Balamand, His Eminence Archbishop Christophoros of Kyriakoupolis (Patriarchate of Jerusalem), who came from Amman with an accompanying delegation that included Father Christophorus, Father Ieronymos, and Dr. Audeh Kawas, in the presence of their Eminences Metropolitan Antonios (Zahle), Bishop Moses (al-Khosi), Archmandrite Yacoub Khalil, and Dr. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches.

One of the Earthquake’ Survivors in Aleppo Remembers the Bitterness of the Disaster’s First Moments

About 5 months has passed since the catastrophic earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, and the survivors in Syria are still suffering from its catastrophic repercussions. This is amidst a wave of various crises, especially economic crisis, that have cast a shadow over the country, as the needs are still dire at various levels.

The Middle East Council of Churches, in its turn, seeks to heal the wounds of the affected and afflicted through the in-kind assistance it provides in order to support them to overcome their ordeal with great hope. In addition, MECC had formed an Ecumenical relief committee with representatives of the Churches in Syria aiming at working on restoring the destroyed houses by the earthquake, thus securing a safe shelter for many families.

In the video, one of the earthquake survivors in Aleppo recalls the bitter situations she passed through with her family following the disaster, describing the difficult living conditions that our brothers and sisters in Syria are witnessing.

Heterogeneity and diversity are essential characteristics of modern society, which is no longer purely ethnic or religious. The time of a closed, homogeneous society has passed, and it has been replaced by a society of many nationalities, races, cultures, and languages. This diverse society is shaped by invasions, migrations, globalization, the investment needs of multinational corporations, differences in living standards, the aspirations of people, and generational shifts. It is the result of a huge dynamic movement that began with the Industrial Revolution and continues to interact with increasing momentum in parallel with technological progress and modern science.

In the midst of these transformations, communication and media play a primary role and are considered the strongest players for their ability to influence minds at both the individual and collective levels. The danger of this sector is proven day after day with its diversity, creativity, and innovation.

On the other hand, human nature tends towards similarity. As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” People tend to gather based on common affinities or characteristics, preferring homogeneity over difference. This gathering is spontaneous because it is easier and more direct. Similarity and homogeneity facilitate the creation of a team spirit and the strengthening of bonds, making affiliation based primarily on common elements spontaneous and easy. All of this leads to cohesion and solidarity among group members.

The New Monthly Webinar Organized by MECC

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: The danger lies not only in what is said, but also in what is not said, which may enter the collective unconscious and affect the public’s minds and souls

As part of its series of monthly seminars, the Middle East Council of Churches held a new webinar entitled "Media and Stereotyping the Other", on Thursday 29 June 2023, with the participation of specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand. Noting that this webinar comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, which MECC is implementing consecutively.

The webinar, which was broadcast live on the MECC Facebook Page, included many interventions, moderated by Dr. Lubna Tarabey, who presented in her opening speech an overview of the topic at hand, stressing the importance of preserving human dignity in light of all the materials presented by the media.

Spiritual and Psychological Support Sessions in Syria Following the Earthquake that Hit the North of the Antiochian Levant

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, amidst the severe crises that cast a shadow over the Middle East, the Middle East Council of Churches continues to support the people of the region by accompanying them spiritually and psychologically in order to heal their wounds and relieve the daily pressures that surround them.

In this context, the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches implemented a new phase of the Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling Program which sessions were dedicated to Parishes’ ministers and their associates, both ordained and non-ordained, in Syria, who were affected by the repercussions of the earthquake or worked to help and accompany the affected people. Hence, 24 attendees from different Church Families participated in the course, which was held between Sunday 18 and Friday 23 June 2023, at Saint Christophoros Monastery in Saydanya, Syria.

As part of capacity building and life skills improving, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its training courses that it organizes in various countries of the region in order to empower its people and enhance their role in building better societies.

Thus, the Middle East Council of Churches, Jordan’s Office, pursues to implement new training courses, as it announces, on the one hand, with the support of the international humanitarian organization “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” (ELCA) through ACT Appeal JOR 231 and in cooperation with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) academy and the German university in Jordan, the opening of the energy and renewable energy course of the program with the participation of 20 men and women trainees from Syrian and Jordanian nationalities.

In the context of following up the humanitarian and relief developments in Syria following the earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a video showing the extent of the catastrophe that occurred in Syria and its repercussions in Jableh region, Rural Lattakia governorate.

In addition to the testimonies of some survivors, the Central and Coastal Area Coordinator at MECC, Syria’s Office, Shadi Saroukh, describes, in the video, the difficult living conditions in Jableh after years of war and following the devastating earthquake, as he explains the response of the Middle East Council of Churches to help and support the affected and afflicted people.

Noting that the Middle East Council of Churches had formed an Ecumenical relief committee with representatives of the Churches in Syria aiming at working on restoring the destroyed houses by the earthquake.

Report: June 2023

While the global economic situation is not improving, the economies of the Middle East nations are bearing the brunt. As markets are contracting and inflation continues to impact companies and citizens alike, most ME countries are either rallying up their resources or enacting reforms to adapt to the global situation. Despite this, investments continue to flow to the region in various sectors.