A Webinar Organized by MECC Following the Baptist Hospital Bombing

Testimonials and Experiences from Palestine and Regional Countries

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: with what is happening today in Gaza, people remember all the massacres committed by the occupation, which it made the basis of its entity, as well as the crime it practices on a daily basis, to the point that it has become inherent in the lives of the Palestinians

In light of the tragic circumstances which the wounded Gaza is exposed to, especially following the bombing of the Baptist Hospital, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized a webinar following this disaster entitled “With Gaza: Rejecting Genocide.” It was held on the evening of Wednesday 18 October 2023, with the participation of specialists, academicians, brothers and sisters, from Palestine and various countries of the region.

The webinar, which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page, began with a minute of silence for the souls of the martyrs who fell in Gaza, and included many interventions, moderated by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, who condemned in her word the events occurring in Gaza, calling on every citizen and leader to demand an end to the attacks and the ongoing siege on Palestine in order to achieve truth, justice and accountability.

Then, the webinar started with a word delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, in which he said that with what is happening today in Gaza, “people remember all the massacres committed by the occupation, which it made the basis of its entity, as well as the crime it practices on a daily basis, to the point that it has become inherent in the lives of the Palestinians. All of this is taking place on the Holy Land in which Jesus Christ was incarnated, spread His message, and was oppressed, tried, and crucified, and then conquered nothingness.”

"With Gaza: Rejecting Genocide"

Today, Wednesday 18 October 2023, at 7:30 pm Beirut Time

In the wake of the atrocities committed by the occupation war machine against civilians in Gaza, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) invites you to a webinar under the title: “With Gaza: Rejecting Genocide.” It will be held this evening, Wednesday 18 October 2023, at 7:30 pm Beirut time.

You can attend the webinar via the following “Zoom” link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82615558839.

Or live on the MECC Facebook page.

About the war of extermination against the Palestinian people in Gaza

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).

It is no longer a secret to everyone that what the Palestinian people are exposed to in Gaza is not a military reaction to a military action, but rather a genocide and ethnic cleansing, targeting the detainees of the largest prison in human history, and with a premeditation.

What is happening on the land of Gaza in terms of scorched earth practices, and the burning of those on it, has deviated from all logic, divine and human law, as even wars have controls defined by international treaties and conventions.

Convening of the International Scientific Conference

“The Orthodox Church of Antioch from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century: Towards a Proper Understanding of History”

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Opening Ceremony

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Celebration

On the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the founding of Haigazian University in Lebanon, the University held a celebratory ceremony, on Monday 16 October 2023, at the University’s campus, in the presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family. Attendees were members of the administration, Professors and students, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, and guests.

The meeting included an Invocation by addressed by reverend Wilbert VinVan Saane, Campus Minister, as well as a speech delivered by the Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, the University’s President, and a speech delivered by Dr. Guillaume Augustin de Vaulx, Co-National Director of the “A Rocha Lebanon” organization.

In light of the difficult living conditions that Lebanon is suffering from as a result of the various severe crises that are casting their shadow over the country, children are suffering from the repercussions of the daily pressures to which their families may be exposed. In many instances, this is what hinders their activity and negatively affects their mental health and well-being. To make matters worse, they lack the social safety nets that can protect them from any form of abuse or negative conditioning

For this reason, the Middle East Council of Churches seeks to accompany children, who are considered among the weakest groups in societies, in order to support them by creating a safe space for them to express their concerns and allowing them to feel at ease. In this context, the Department of Diakonia and Social Service, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, organized many psychosocial support sessions, last September, for a group of children, where they were taught about ways on how to deal with stigmas such as bullying, psychological distress, and unpleasant feelings or emotions…

What is the “Lebanon Reforestation Initiative”?

Today, humans are suffering from many environmental dangers that threaten their lives, such as the climate change crisis, forest fires, and other environmental crises... Hence, several initiatives seek to reduce these risks as they work to preserve the environment and God’s creation.

In this context, and within the activities of the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), an Eco-Exhibition was organized on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. - Lebanon.

Learn More About the Lebanese “Bentael Reserve”

Environmental awareness constitutes one of the most important objecives that must be made today in order to protect creation in light of the environmental risks that threaten humans lives. This is in addition to the environmental Theological view that emphasizes environmental issues, especially based on our Christian Faith.

Hence, an Eco-exhibition was organized on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - Lebanon, in the context of the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium which was held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME).The exhibition included many environmental initiatives and activities implemented by various organizations and youth movements, including the Lebanese “Bentael Reserve”

“EcoServ” Deals with Electronics

At the end of the first day of the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), the Symposium’s attendees visited an Eco-Exhibition organized for the occasion, on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - Lebanon.

What Are Its Objectives?

Answers with Green USEK

As part of the activities of the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), an Eco-Exhibition was organized on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - Lebanon.

The exhibition included various initiatives and activities in the environmental field and creation care, which are implemented by many organizations and youth movements. In the video, Mrs. Dalida Sneifer, a coordinator in the Green USEK campaign affiliated with the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, sheds light on the exhibition and explains its objectives.

Support Sessions for Youth Volunteers in the Relief Work in Syria Following the Earthquake that Struck the North of the Antiochian Levant

After the devastating earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant at the beginning of this year, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) peruses its relief work in Syria through supporting and assisting the affected people. Hence, and out of concern for people's safety, not only physical, but psychological and spiritual as well, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, with the contribution of the Pontifical Mission in Beirut, has conducted a new workshop of the “Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling” program.

The workshop was dedicated to young men and women working in Church organizations that have participated in relief work in Syria, to be able to complete their mission and perform their tasks in a better way.

Al Sharek School stands in the center of Aleppo, Syria, as a testament to a remarkable humanitarian effort recorded in the annals of history with letters of light. The dedicated work undertaken by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its partners to serve humanity and build individuals is truly noteworthy.

With the restoration and reopening of Al Sharek School, a new future is being written for children whose prospects were almost torn apart by the war, depriving them of education. 

MECC has been actively involved in the restoration of this school through the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program, in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands, with the aim of rebuilding what the war had demolished and promoting human well-being.

The opening of Al Sharek School was attended by His Eminence Bishop Magar Ashkarian, the Armenian Orthodox Bishop of the Diocese of Aleppo and its Dependencies, and the representative of the “Kerk in Actie” organization Mr. Dick Loendersloot, a delegation from MECC, the school's principal, teachers, administrators, and members of the Schools Committee affiliated with the Orthodox Armenian Archdiocese.

The Council’s Message and the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium on Télé Lumière and Noursat

The Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar was the guest in an episode of the program “Al Nour Maana” (the “Light is With Us”), broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, on the morning of Thursday 12 October 2023. Hence, you can watch the full interview in the video.

During this interview, Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar presented an introduction about the Middle East Council of Churches and its goals, in addition to an overview about its history.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “The girl child between aspirations and bitter reality”. Dr. Michel Abs’ address is for the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child that was indicated by the United Nations on 11 October in the World Calendar. Dr. Abs condemned, in his message, the injustice that girls are facing, stressing the need to educate the girl child, preserve her dignity and rights, and prepare her to be a good mother, by whom the future generations of humanity can be raised.

The United Nations has designated October 11 as International Day of the Girl Child.

Between 1995, when the World Conference on Women’s Affairs was held in the Chinese capital, and countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most crystallized program for advancing the rights of women and girls - and this declaration was considered the first agreement on girls’ rights - and 2011, when the United Nations General Assembly decided to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, humanity has taken tremendous steps forward in the field of protecting the rights of girls in light of the challenges she is facing in our modern times.

According to the United Nations page dedicated to this occasion, the International Day of the Girl Child aims to empower girls to address the challenges they face and raise their ability to maintain their rights under international laws and conventions.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: September 2023

During September, the IMF released an unsettling report using which it warned of an imminent debt crisis that would impact the Middle East.  According to the agency, the region will witness a systematic default and economic collapse not seen since the start of the Lebanese financial crisis in 2019. Separate findings by both the IMF and Bloomberg economists have identified Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Bahrain as critically vulnerable countries that could default on their sovereign debt obligations, with potentially catastrophic implications for their economies and populations.

Within the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium

Between the environment and Theology, researchers and specialists gathered at the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium organized by The Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME). Its sessions were held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) - Lebanon, following an Ecumenical Prayer Service for the occasion of the “Season of Creation”, and on Thursday 5 October 2023, at the Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut.

During the Symposium, speakers and participants explained that the issue of creation is at the core of our faith. They also stressed the importance of the Church’s role in reducing injustice to the environment. Hence, you will find, in the video, some opinions and aspirations from the Symposium’s participants.

Details about the Ecumenical Prayer Service and the Symposium’s first day

Details of the Symposium’ second day

And the “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation”, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held an Ecumenical Prayer Service on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University, Kaslik (USEK) - Lebanon. As well as, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) organized “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium, on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik (USEK), and Thursday 5 October 2023, at the Saint Joseph University (USJ) – Beirut.

The “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change” Symposium, organized by the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), was an important opportunity to shed light on the role of the Church towards the environment, based on the environmental Theology and our Christian faith. This is what the Symposium’s participants focused on. Thus, you can find some of their opinions and experiences in the video.

Noting that the Symposium’s sessions were held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) - Lebanon, following an Ecumenical Prayer Service for the occasion of the “Season of Creation”, and on Thursday 5 October 2023, at the Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut.

Details about the Ecumenical Prayer Service and the Symposium’s first day

Details of the Symposium’ second day

Written by Mr. Fouad Hassoun and Translated by Father Dr. Michel Kanbar

Dar El Mashreq published the book “I Forgave” in Arabic, written by Mr. Fouad Hassoun, who is blind, and translated by Father Dr. Michel Kanbar, Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), Priest of Saint Joseph Parish El Hajjeh – Lebanon, and University Professor.

The book signing took place on Tuesday 10 October 2023, in the Humanities Campus at Saint Joseph University (USJ) - Beirut.

About the book, Father Kanbar says, “This book, entitled with a four-letter word, is not only a book for reading, but rather a book for contemplation and consideration. It is a school for life, a school for learning forgiveness and living a life of forgiveness, because it is the Passover of every Christian.”