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Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs at the Head of an MECC Delegation on a Visit to the Lebanese Minister of Information Lawyer Dr. Paul Morcos

"We agreed with His Excellency to develop joint projects for the awareness and protection of the public opinion"

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, headed a delegation from the Council on a visit to the Lebanese Minister of Information Lawyer Dr. Paul Morcos, on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the headquarters of the Lebanese Ministry of Information in Beirut.

The delegation included the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Media Officer and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the "Dialogue, Social Cohesion and Human Dignity" program at MECC, TV Director Johnny Antoun, Social Media Officer at the Communication Department, and Elia Nasrallah, Communication and Media Officer at the Communication Department.

During the meeting, His Excellency the Minister Dr. Paul Morcos welcomed the visiting delegation, commending the work and mission of the Middle East Council of Churches, reviewing the latest developments of its programs, and welcoming any cooperation between the Ministry of Information and MECC. His Excellency also praised the media role played by MECC through "The Platform of the Word," which produces programs and episodes aimed at bringing together and connecting all members of society.

For his part, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs presented to His Excellency an overview about the media development witnessed by the MECC, as well as the Council's most prominent goals in facing hate speech, injustice, and unfairness, especially through the media campaigns it implements to raise awareness and disseminate essential knowledge.

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Under the Spotlight, ATIME Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, ATIME Communication & PR Department Communication

Election of a New Executive Secretariat for the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (A.T.I.M.E)

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (A.T.I.M.E) held its General Assembly meeting on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Sheraton - Cairo, headed by Archimandrite Jack Khalil, the ATIME’s President, and Father Michel Kanbar, the Executive Secretary. At the beginning of the second session at 5:00 pm, a new Executive Secretariat was elected as follows:

President: His Grace Bishop Bigol Abbot of St. Virgin Mary El-Muharraq Monastery and Director of the Monastery's Seminary (Eastern Orthodox Family)

Executive Secretary: Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy Ibrahim, Dean of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (Evangelical Family)

Associate Executive Secretaries:

Dr. Gergis Ibrahim Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (Oriental Orthodox Family)

Sister Dr. Rose Abi Aad, Professor at the Faculty of Religious and Theological Sciences at La Sagesse University (Catholic Family)

Dr. Daniel Ayouch, Professor at the St. John of Damascus Institute, University of Balamand (Orthodox Family)

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Under the Spotlight, ATIME Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, ATIME Communication & PR Department Communication

Student Theology Conference in Cairo:

"Nicaea from the Preaching of the Apostles... to the Evangelization of Today"

At a regional moment saturated with transformations, and in the heart of Cairo, more than fifty students from various Churches and Theological Institutes in the Middle East gathered to participate in the third student conference of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), entitled:

"The Council of Nicaea - The Faith of the Church from the Preaching of the Apostles to the Evangelization of Today," which took place from July 13 to 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Hotel, Sheraton Heliopolis, Cairo.

The conference was organized by the ATIME’s Executive Secretariat, headed by Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and coordinated directly by Father Dr. Michel Kanbar (Executive Secretary), with the participation of the Associate Secretaries Reverend Dr. Bishoy Helmy, Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfy, and Father Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). It provided unique space that combined serious Theological research, living Ecumenical experience, and human communication across Church Affiliations.

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Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Issues Its Weekly Newsletter

“Momentum”

17-7-2025

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 “The Executive Committee at Its Meeting, Paths and Lessons”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/c284da2bcb46/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.

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Under the Spotlight Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight Communication & PR Department Communication

The Executive Committee at Its Meeting

Paths and Lessons

Professor Michel Abs

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

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches met in Beirut last week, chaired by the MECC Presidents or their delegates, since some were absent for emergencies, with the participation of the Secretary General, associate Secretaries General, and the staff team of directors, section heads, administrators, and technical personnel.

At the start of the meeting, a minute of silence and prayer was observed for the souls of those martyred in the massacre at St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweilah, Damascus, as a result of the terrorist bombing. The tragedy of the church bombing took up a significant portion of the time allotted to various topics. In this context, there was a strong condemnation of all forms of violence, regardless of their source, and a strong denouncement of hate speech, extremism, racism, and the current acts of violence that are considered an insult to humanity.

Following this, the participants agreed to visit His Beatitude Patriarch John X the next day at the Patriarchal residence in Balamand, to express solidarity and sorrow for the loss of all these innocent victims. This visit took place the next day, with a large delegation representing the Council’s Executive Committee and staff, in a solidarity meeting that expressed deep feelings of love and strong unity among all who desire civil peace in this land, rejecting all forms of violence, intimidation, and oppression, regardless of source or target…

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Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV Spends a Period of Summer with Ongoing Activity

Castel Gandolfo and the Pontifical Villas: A Historical Church Heritage and an Oasis of Rest and Tranquility

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

From the Vatican City to Castel Gandolfo, from the meetings, files, and urgent Church and social issues to a space of rest, reflection, and tranquility, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV moved from his residence at the Holy See to the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo.

There, he is spending a summer period from Sunday, July 6, until July 20, according to a statement issued by the Prefecture of the Papal Household. He will return to this Papal summer residence for a short period in mid-August.

Since this announcement, the name of Castel Gandolfo has become under the spotlight of social media, which follows the Pope's activities and Prayers at the Italian summer residence, moment by moment.

Remarkably, by visiting this town, Pope Leo XIV is reviving the tradition of Popes leaving the Vatican for a summer vacation. The late Pope Francis has canceled this tradition, preferring to spend the holidays at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.

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Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication Under the Spotlight, Communication Communication & PR Department Communication

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Receives the Journalist and Social Activist Rafi Sayegh

And An Interview Within the "Ecumenical Horizons" Program

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs received the Journalist and Social Activist Rafi Sayegh on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the MECC General Secretariat offices in Beirut.

During the meeting, Professor Abs welcomed his guest, commending his Church and media activities. He also listened from his guest to the updates of the situation in Syria, particularly in the city of Qamishli, emphasizing the MECC ongoing support for the people of Syria and the region.

In his turn, Rafi congratulated the Secretary General Professor Abs on the significant media developments made by the Middle East Council of Churches, thanking the MECC media team for their efforts in shedding light on the Church and social issues, especially in highlighting the voice and image of the people of Syria, in terms of activities and programs.

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