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.

"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!

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.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs mourns 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.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “Between the chair of Mark and the chair of Peter, A promise of love for humanity”. Dr. Abs talked about the meeting of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, with His Holiness Pope Francis, in the Vatican, on Wednesday 10 May 2023. The visit aims to celebrate together the 50 years since the return of relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, after 15 centuries after the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and also to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the declaration of the Day of Brotherly Love called for by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II during his visit to the Vatican in 2013.

A promise of love for humanity

The visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, to His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, bears many meanings and promises.

It comes on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the visit of the Late, Pope Shenouda III, to the Vatican, and between the two visits there was sustained communication, strengthened relations, and love rooted within the one faith, within the redemptive time, and in one Holy, Apostolic Church on which the gates of Hell will not prevail as The Master told us.

This visit means, first of all, that there is no turning back in the relations between churches, between institutions and people with each other, but rather a deepening of partnership and a relentless march towards unity that must be achieved no matter how long it takes.

Towards Strengthening the Partnership Between Both Sides

Within the framework of strengthening the partnership between Church of Sweden which is a member in ACT Alliance, and the Middle East Council of Churches, a delegation from the Church visited the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 8 May 2023. The delegation included Mrs. Anna Levine, Church of Sweden Programs Manager for the Middle East Unit, Mrs. Jessica Lendbergdik, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Development Programs for the Middle East and North Africa, and Mrs. Rania Salameh, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Humanitarian Programs for the Middle East and North Africa.

Awareness Sessions for Pregnant and Lactating Women about Infant and Young Child Feeding

Breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition for infants to obtain essential nutrients for growth in the first months of life. Breast milk is considered the first vaccine for infants, protecting them from many common childhood diseases, as it contains antibodies that help protect infants against many common childhood illnesses and strengthen their immune systems.

WHO recommends that infants initiate breastfeeding within the first hours of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water, as it enhances sensory and cognitive development.  

Report: April 2023

Despite the global economic crisis and the years of proxy wars in Syria, two formally competing major players in the area are pursuing dialogue and mutual cooperation. As such, Saudi Arabia and Iran’s coming together is leading to positive implications such as the re-induction of Syria into the Arab World.  With this massive shift in policy from both of their ends, the region is moving towards greater economic cooperation and harmony.

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches’ partners, United Church of Christ Canada, United Church of Christ America and Disciples of Christ (Global Ministries), headed by Dr. Peter Makari, the Global Relations Minister of the Middle East and Europe Global Ministries, visited the MECC offices in Amman, Jordan, on 22 of April 2023.

In reception of the delegation was the MECC Jordan Team:
1. Ms. Wafa Goussous: the office’s Director
2. Azmi Udwan
3. Berta Ziadeh
4. Anni Koshkeryan

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs in an Episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat

Sunday 7 May 2023 - 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs in an episode entitled “One Holy Universal Church” within the program “Between Yesterday and Today”, on Télé Lumière and Noursat. He will be interviewed by the journalist George Rached, on Sunday 7 May 2023 at 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT.

Dr. Khalil Khairallah, Law Professor at the Lebanese University, delivered a message via video during the seminar organized by the Middle East Council of Churches on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, His Eminence Archbishop Boulos Yaziji and His Eminence Archbishop Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, under the title “The Issue of the Abducted and Forcibly Absented, Violation of Human Dignity”, on Monday 24 April 2023.

Report: May 4th, 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. 

Survivors in Syria Remember the Most Difficult Moments

Almost three months have passed since the catastrophic earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant on 6 February 2023, the Syrian people are still suffering from its tragic repercussions that weight heavily on their shoulders and cast a shadow over the country. Therefore, the wounds of the Syrian people are still not healed, and the humanitarian need is still increasing on many levels.

In the video, some of the earthquake survivors describe the bitter first moments and difficult circumstances they passed through following the disaster. The video also presents footages from the heart of the tragedy in Syria.