The Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of June 2023. 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.

An Interview with the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs by the World Council of Churches Website

In an interview by the Communication Department of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Prof. Dr Michel E. Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), reflects on how challenging daily lives can be in the Middle East, response to the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye, and plans to commemorate 50 years of the MECC.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of Reverend Rifaat Fikry, MECC Associate Secretary General, in a phone interview in an episode entitled “The Pope of Love, the Pope of Peace” within the program “Kadaya Sakhina” ( “Hot Issues”), on Al Keraza TV in Egypt, on Monday 22 May 2023. Dr. Abs presented his impressions and aspirations from the visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, to the Vatican, and his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis. He also highlighted the importance of Christian unity where souls embrace and bridges are built. Moreover, the Secretary General considered that this trend of togetherness shall fulfill the role of example for all people.

"Family Planning and Human Dignity"

Thursday 25 May 2023 - 7:00 pm

The Middle East Council of Churches has the honor to invite you to participate in its new monthly webinar, entitled "Family Planning and Human Dignity", on Thursday 25 May, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

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

The webinar, which includes three interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Chawki Attieh, which will be followed with a speech by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27) was the title of the twelfth General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, which was held between 16 and 20 May 2022, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and the support of Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt and its institutions. The Assembly was an Ecumenical gathering that brought a lot of hope to the people of the wounded Middle East... It was also a historic Ecclesiastical event that emphasized the importance of the Christian presence and role in the region.

and United Church of Christ

Unite in Prayer with the Earthquake Survivors in Syria

In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, Syria is facing a new catastrophe that burdened its people whose wounds had not yet healed due to the tragic repercussions of the war that cast a shadow over the country.

Therefore, Syria witnessed a great international solidarity, as humanitarian aids were sent from around the world in order to support the afflicted and affected people who had lost their hope in their journey to find a place of safety. In addition, the international human family united with them in Prayer and supplication to the Lord Jesus Christ asking Him to grant them strength and determination to overcome their affliction with deep faith and great hope.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Celebration

On the occasion of the 175th Jubilee of the foundation of the National Evangelical Church in Beirut (NECB), a Worship Service was held on Sunday morning, 14 May 2023, in the Church. It was presided by Reverend Dr. Habib Badr, President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon, and MECC Honorary President. The Right Reverend Ernst Gohl, Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Württemberg, participated in the Service, along with a Church delegation from Germany, and preached the Sermon.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, the MECC Secretary General mourns passing of His Eminence Bishop Anba Kyrillos William, Honorary Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Assiut, and member of the Middle East Council of Churches’ Executive Committee, in a letter of condolence he addressed it to His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “The Challenges of Religion in Relation to Authority”. Dr. Abs highlighted these challenges and talked about the methods of immunization that can enable religion to assume the social responsibilities entrusted to it.

When discussing the relationship between religion and authority throughout history, the first thing that comes to mind is the saying of the incarnate Master: "It is written: My house shall be called a house of prayer, and you have made it a den of thieves."

How does this house of prayer metaphorically transform into a den of thieves in certain places and times? By what enchanting magic does religion shift from being a means of salvation to serving the interests of ruling groups, distracting people from their vital concerns?

Religion is not the only reality that was objectivized by human beings; however, it is the most easily accessible tool for mobilizing people quickly, without holding the user accountable. Yet, as soon as the forces of the unseen and the dimensions of the beyond come into play, accountability becomes a magical word that underlies institutions, democracy, and progress.

The challenge at hand is to prevent religion from deviating from its essential path under the pressure of political and economic interests that have historically formed alliances. The only solution is immunization!

With the aim of enhancing cooperation and joint work, Mr. Massoud Hafnaoui, President and Co-Founder of “Attalaki” organization in Tunisia, and Ms. Roua Tlili, Assistant Program Coordinator at the organization, visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday 11 May 2023. They were received by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

Video – The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Talks About Christian unity and the MECC Mission on Télé Lumière and Noursat

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of the journalist George Rashed, in an episode entitled “One Holy Universal Church” within the program “Between Yesterday and Today”, broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat, on Sunday 7 May 2023.