The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Congratulates His Eminence Bishop Reverend Dr. Imad Moussa Haddad

On the Occasion of His Ordination as the Fifth Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

On the occasion of the ordination of His Eminence Bishop Reverend Dr. Imad Moussa Haddad as the Fifth Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, conveyed a message of congratulations and support to His Eminence, in which it is stated:

Your Eminence Bishop Reverend Imad Moussa Haddad

Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Your Eminence,

I was unable to participate in your Consecration Service as it took place in the occupied Holy Land, which many believers are prevented from visiting due to the occupation that has been imposed upon it and its people for over three-quarters of a century. As well as, I was unable to come to our beloved and blessed Jordan due to an overwhelming workload following the holidays. May God grant you better days.

The relationship between the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Lutheran Church goes back to the very beginning, to the initial establishment of the Near East Christian Council (NECC) in 1929, then to the founding of the Near East Council of Churches (also NECC) in 1962, and finally to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in its current form since 1974.

From those early days, and throughout the Nakba (the Palestinian catastrophe), the Lutheran Church has been active, firstly in the Ecumenical sphere and inter-Church dialogue, as well as in all the Council's activities, and continues to be so today. Secondly, it is actively involved in serving the Palestinians and their cause, and is present in the dedicated department for this purpose: the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). Thus, it is considered a pillar of Ecumenical work, which continues to have a profound cultural and spiritual impact on Christians in the region and, indeed, the world.

Your predecessors worked with the Council on the basis that it was their common home with the Churches of the Middle East, and their influence remains present to this day. This influence will continue with you, and you are a worthy successor to a worthy predecessor. It goes without saying that the Council, which includes the Churches of the region, stands with you, as it has always stood with the Church Leaders. It is the foremost defender of the historic Palestinian cause, whether through the provision of services via its specialized department, or through advocacy and media outreach made directly by the General Secretariat. In addition, our specialized departments carry out all the services that God has authorized them to do, within the limits of available resources.

Day after day, Ecumenical work proves its necessity and importance, especially in the region where the Lord, the Source of Light, the Redeemer and Savior, was incarnate. This is particularly relevant in the face of the challenges facing the Antiochian Levant and the Nile Valley, which have been under siege and occupation for over a century, suffering immensely in their present circumstances and future prospects. I say this as we approach the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which constitutes one of the most important manifestations of joint Christian action—that is, Ecumenism.

At the end of my letter, I wish you a long and blessed service, during which you will continue the work of your righteous predecessors and achieve the accomplishments you aspire to, both in the Church and in the Council. We are ready to cooperate on all levels, from dialogue to joint action. May God's hand be with the community, and may He grant us success.

AXIOS!

Dr. Michel Abs

Secretary General