Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian is the President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family.

You can participate in this webinar through the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83235814639?pwd=IdcjVTD3hVEcWFDC6QHM4odxN1ajNK.1.

Continues Its Activities in Cairo

With a Visit from His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak

And Explores Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Cairo, Egypt | 14 July 2026

The second day of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference began with morning prayer according to the Catholic tradition. The prayer was led by Rev. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), together with Sr. Rose Abi Aad, ATIME Associate Executive Secretary. The biblical meditation was delivered by Dr. Laurent Yacoub (Theology student from Saint Joseph University of Beirut), inviting participants to begin the day in prayerful reflection before entering into the conference sessions.

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference 2026 officially opened on 13 July 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Guest House in Cairo, bringing together theology students from across the Middle East for a week of ecumenical formation, dialogue, and fellowship.

The conference began with a morning prayer according to the Coptic Orthodox tradition. The prayer was led by Dr. Gergis Saleh, former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and current Associate Executive Secretary of ATIME, together with Fr. Movses Yosolkanian, representing the Armenian Faculty of Theology. All student participants took part in the prayer, marking the beginning of the conference in a spirit of worship, fellowship, and Christian unity.

“Momentum”

13-7-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue “Blessed are the Peacemakers”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/449650d615bb/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

Professor Michel Abs

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

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

With this brief verse, the Lord Christ encapsulates a profound mystery revealed to humanity: that peace is not merely the absence of conflict or the cessation of strife; rather, it is an act, a process of building, and a craft, one that requires a great heart, a far-sighted vision, and steady hands.

Peace begins from within; a peacemaker is not born ready-made. Before sowing peace around himself, one must possess inner peace, peace with God, with oneself, and with one’s past. It is impossible for a person whose heart is filled with anger and bitterness to radiate serenity. Therefore, the first step toward making peace is reconciliation: acknowledging one’s wounds, forgiving those who caused hurt, and surrendering the guidance of one’s heart to the Lord of Peace. When the inner self finds calm, speech becomes gentle, and one’s gaze becomes more compassionate.

Peacemaking is a tireless endeavor. Jesus did not merely say, "Blessed are the peace lovers" but rather, "Blessed are the peacemakers." This implies that the task requires effort and exertion; it calls for initiative and action. A peacemaker is one who enters a tense situation and chooses words that soothe the atmosphere rather than inflame it; one who listens to both sides without prejudice; and one who waives their rights, not out of weakness, but out of strength, to preserve the bonds between people…

An Episode Entitled: "Transparency in Management and the Credibility of Institutions"

Interviewed By the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced By MECC