The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church

In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Economic Responsibility: Money in the Service of Humanity, Not Humanity in the Service of Money

The economic mission of the Church does not come from a desire to compete with the state or economic institutions, but from her moral responsibility toward humanity and society.

Economy is not merely numbers and profits; above all, it is a human concern. The human person must always remain the goal, and money must remain a means to serve the common good.

From a Christian perspective, money itself is not evil, but it becomes dangerous when it becomes a master that enslaves humanity. Therefore, Jesus says: “No one can serve two masters… God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Thus, the Church is called to be an example in the management of her resources through transparency, integrity, and responsibility, because an institution that carries a spiritual mission must reflect in its administration the values it proclaims.

The Church must also encourage a culture of honest work and honor the dignity of the worker, because work is not only a means of livelihood; it is participation in the building of creation and the service of society…

Organized By MECC

You can join this webinar through the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86864203294?pwd=7KJDrYiNKaSuFtViTB3BlKwTaxUOah.1

Between Spirituality, Culture, and Faith: Armenian Catholic Youth from Around the World Gather in Lebanon

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian: “You are not only the future of the Church, but also its present… Be People of Initiative”

Amidst the daily challenges that Lebanon is facing due to the crises affecting the country, the nation continues to affirm that the will to live is the strongest and that the new generation has a great determination to build a better future.

Hence, Lebanon hosted one of the most significant youth gatherings of the Armenian Catholic Church, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family.

Filled with hope and held under the theme “One Heart in Christ (WAYD 2026),” the event was organized by the Armenian Catholic Youth Union in Lebanon (ACYU), and took place from July 29 to August 3, 2026, between the city of Anjar and the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar.

The gathering brought together spirituality, culture, and faith in an experience that reflected Lebanon’s historic and spiritual vocation as a land of encounter and dialogue. More than 250 young men and women from six countries participated, bringing with them a rich cultural diversity while remaining united in one faith.

A Webinar on the Occasion of the Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026

Healing begins when we make space for one another.

In a world carrying the weight of conflict, uncertainty, grief, and change, we are invited to pause, listen, and journey together toward healing.

Join young people from across the globe for Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026 as we gather around the theme Healing Spaces—creating communities where restoration, hope, and peace can flourish.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: July 2026

From time to time, the US and Iran exchange blows with one another and then go into a ceasefire. Then, a disagreement happens during negotiations and fighting resumes. Throughout the course of this year, regional and international economy has suffered a lot. Not only energy prices have increased but countries dragged into the conflict had their economies directly affected as businesses and investments took a hit. To make matters worse, the conflict, albeit gradually, seems to be expanding attracting new players into the ordeal. Moreover, the Russo-Ukrainian war which is also still ongoing, is intersecting with what is happening in the Middle East thus further complicating things. Mediators should intervene at a larger level before things get any worse.