“Momentum”

12-9-2025

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 “On Spiritual Partnership and Institutional Policies”. It is the word he delivered at the MECC annual partners meeting, held between September, 10 and 11, 2025, in the Liqaa Center - Rabweh, Lebanon.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/f32ddbdfb3f8/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.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs departed from Lebanon to Kazakhstan to participate in the “VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions”, which will be held from September 16 to 19, 2025, in Astana.

During the Congress, Professor Abs will deliver many interventions on the issues and topics discussed, focusing on interfaith dialogue and synergy, the role of Religions in consolidating humanity, peace building, and facing extremism. This is in addition to a special session on Safeguarding Religious Sites with the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

The Congress, which brings together Religious Leaders from around the world, aims to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and work together to consolidate peace, particularly through respect and mutual understanding.

Noting that this Congress is an advanced step in the path of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), especially in strengthening international relations and ties between Religions and cultures.

By the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar

“The fortress will be abandoned… until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field… My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”

— Isaiah 32:14-18

The Season of Creation invites us to rediscover our calling as caretakers of God’s creation, and Isaiah’s prophetic vision speaks powerfully to our reality today. He imagines a world transformed: once desolate lands renewed, abandoned cities restored, and God’s Spirit poured out to bring justice, peace, and harmony.

This vision feels particularly urgent in the Middle East, where conflicts and wars have deeply scarred both people and the environment. Forests have been burned, fertile lands abandoned, rivers polluted, and biodiversity threatened. With water scarcity rising, climate change worsening, and displacement increasing, nature has become an unspoken victim of human violence.

Professor Michel Abs

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

It has been some time since our last in-person meeting, during which the region and the world went through many transformations and crises, some of which reshaped entire regions of great strategic importance in global politics and economics.

During that period, Lebanon, Palestine, and other Middle Eastern and Arab countries suffered disasters and calamities that deeply affected them and produced changes that were almost structural. In the midst of these events, institutions that have taken it upon themselves to heal people’s wounds and share their burdens continued to carry out their duty as much as possible, within the limits of their available resources, under economic conditions that cannot be described as favorable for the non-industrialized world already burdened with countless crises.

These institutions work with the mindset of “the stone that upholds the jar” or the “widow’s penny,” guided by the principle: “Do not give me a fish, but teach me how to fish.” That is, by relying on human capital and the skills that come from developing and refining it, given the scarcity of material resources for reasons known to all.

The phrase “building people before stone” is not realistic in our time, because building human capacities or knowledge becomes wasteful if there is no “stone,” i.e., material resources that support those capacities and increase their productivity. Building people must go hand in hand with building material foundations in order to raise productive efficiency and move society from poverty to a level of sufficiency, as a prelude to capital accumulation that leads to real growth…

Praying and Working Together for Every Human!

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concluded its annual meeting with its international and regional partners with a closing session convened by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the University's campus in Beirut.

The session included a speech by Reverend Dr. Haidostian on the history of Haigazian University. Then, there was a speech by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh from the Eastern Orthodox Family, delivered on his behalf by Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, a speech by His Eminence Bishop Moussa Al-Khasi from the Orthodox family, a speech via video by Reverend Dr. Habib Bader from the Evangelical family, a speech by His Eminence Archbishop Paul Matar from the Catholic family, delivered on his behalf by His Eminence Bishop Joseph Mouawad, as well as a speech delivered by Dr. Frida Haddad Abs.

Ecumenical and Humanitarian Issues Culminated the Second Day of the MECC Partners Meeting

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continued its annual meeting with its international and regional partners on its second day, Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Liqaa Center - Rabweh, Lebanon. The meeting was entitled "Courage to Continue the Journey Together."

Attendees were representatives of various partner organizations and institutions of the Middle East Council of Churches from around the world, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family, and Reverend Joseph Kassab, Secretary General of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Member of the MECC Executive Committee.

Attendees were also MECC Associate Secretaries General, as well as the directors and coordinators of the MECC departments and the team.

Interventions on Christian Unity and the 50th Year of the MECC Founding

In celebration of the conclusion of the 50th Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the participants in the annual meeting held by the Council with its international partners moved to Haigazian University in Beirut, where a session was held and presided over by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family.

The session, held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, began with an opening speech delivered by Reverend Dr. Haidostian, in which he highlighted the most important historical milestones in the founding of Haigazian University and its various specialties.

As well as, the session focused on the Ecumenical path of the Middle East Council of Churches and its work to strengthen the Ecumenical spirit. It also highlighted the 1700th Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and its implications, particularly with regard to Christian unity.

The second day of the Middle East Council of Churches' meeting with its international partners: workshops and discussion sessions on the future prospects of the MECC work at various Ecclesiastical, Ecumenical, humanitarian, social, media, and financial levels

the International Campaign “Thursdays in Black”

Towards Consolidating Social Justice!

In solidarity with all the tormented and survivors of violence around the world, the participants in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Annual Partners Meeting, held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, join the "Thursdays in Black" campaign, which was launched by the World Council of Churches (WCC) many years ago, aiming to raise awareness about gender-based violence and ways to confront it to protect every woman and man, every girl and boy, and preserve their dignity in order to walk together toward a world free of injustice.

The attendees wore black clothes as required by the campaign every Thursday, emphasizing the need to work to reduce this phenomenon. Noting that black is used in this campaign as a color symbolizing determination and resilience, which are essential elements in confronting all forms of violence.

Words Affirming Survival, Steadfastness, and Existence

The Middle East, its challenges and crises, and the Christian presence within it... was the focus of the first session of the second day of the annual meeting held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) with its international partners, between September 10 and 11, 2025, at the Liqaa Center - Rabweh, Lebanon.

During the session, attendees heard several speeches that centered around the Christian presence in the region and how to work to consolidate it and enhance its role in resilience and existence, with the aim of ensuring its continuity in a life free from all danger, pain, and suffering.

The speakers also addressed the most prominent difficulties that the region is facing and the burdens it places on its people at various levels. They highlighted the living conditions in the Middle East and ways to confront all obstacles in order to build better societies filled with dignity, humanity, and fraternity.

Together for Peace with Creation

In celebration of the international “Season of Creation”, the Middle East Council of Churches began the second day of its annual partners' meeting with a Prayer for Creation, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family.

In a world burdened by environmental and climate crises, the attendees raised their Prayers on the intention of creation, which is now threatened by danger, asking God to grant them the determination and wisdom to fulfill their humanitarian and environmental role to the fullest, with hope and insistence to work for "peace with creation." This peace is what the "Season of Creation" calls for this year in its title and the symbol it carries, "Garden of Peace," inspired by Isaiah 32: 14-18.

Before the Prayer for Creation, there was a speech delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, in which he reflected on the "Season of Creation," speaking about its Liturgy, spirituality, and importance, emphasizing the need to commit to the environmental cause.

of the MECC Annual Partners Meeting:

The Season of Creation, is a confession of faith, affirming the world’s inherent goodness

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, opened the second day of the annual meeting held by the Middle East Council of Churches for its international partners, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Liqaa Center - Rabweh, Lebanon.

In his opening speech, which marked the “Season of Creation,” celebrated annually by the Ecumenical family worldwide between September 1 and October 4, His Eminence noted that “Celebrating the Season of Creation, is a confession of faith, affirming the world’s inherent goodness, its potential for transfiguration, and humanity’s call to mediate between God and the world.”

He added, “Man’s consciousness, freedom, and capacity for knowledge allow the world to become self-aware, to return to God in thanksgiving, to become itself in communion. To lose this orientation is to disrupt not only the human, but the cosmic order.”

the MECC Annual Partners Meeting:

In the spirit of gratitude celebration of our common identity and calling as people of Christ… A call for humanity

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, 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, opened the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)' annual partners' meeting which is being held on Tuesday, September 10, and Wednesday, September 11, 2025, at the Liqaa Center in Rabweh, Lebanon.

On the occasion, Dr. Haidostian delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of witnessing to Christian unity, noting that “the partners meeting is not simply an administrative occasion for reporting. It is a time for self-reflection and some analysis…”. He added, “In the spirit of gratitude, we celebrate our common identity and calling as people of Christ… A call for humanity. In Christ, God made us alive together…”.

He continued, “In a region that has known conflicts wars genocides... this truth becomes more urgent that we are raised with Christ together. Our calling is to witness to this unity through Prayer and service…”.

of the Annual MECC Partners Meeting:

Dignity is among the most important commandments of the Savior, embodied in all He said and did, and we must be instruments for its preservation

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held the opening session of its international partners annual meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, which will continue until Wednesday, September 11, at the Liqaa Center - Rabweh, Lebanon.

In this context, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, delivered a speech entitled “On Spiritual Partnership and Institutional Policies,” in which he said:

“Lebanon, Palestine, and other Middle Eastern and Arab countries suffered disasters and calamities that deeply affected them and produced changes that were almost structural.

In the midst of these events, institutions that have taken it upon themselves to heal people’s wounds and share their burdens continued to carry out their duty as much as possible, within the limits of their available resources, under economic conditions that cannot be described as favorable for the non-industrialized world already burdened with countless crises.”

At the MECC Annual Partners Meeting:

We are on the verge of a huge transformation which is usually painful

As part of the activities of the annual meeting held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for its international partners, His Excellency Lebanese MP Mr. Neemat Frem addressed the participants with a word focusing on the title "The Middle East at a Crossroads of a New Shape Land and Identity", on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, at the Liqaa Center in Rabweh, Lebanon.

Frem began with a presentation on the social, economic, and security conditions that the Middle East is facing, explaining the most prominent reasons that have led to the deterioration of living conditions in the region, which has imposed enormous daily challenges and pressures.

Participating in the MECC Annual Partners Meeting:

The Middle East is a region of resilience, creativity, and human capital

The scale of the issues we face demands partnership that bridges divides and places the human person at the center

As part of the annual meeting held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for its international partners, His Excellency the Lebanese Minister of Information Lawyer Dr. Paul Morcos delivered a speech entitled "The Middle East at a Crossroads of a New Shape Land and Identity," on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, at the Liqaa Center in Rabweh, Lebanon.

Dr. Morcos addressed the reality facing Lebanon and the difficult circumstances it is experiencing, emphasizing the need for cooperation and concerted efforts locally and internationally for healthy societies and a better future.

He said, “Our land has known both greatness and grief, innovation and instability, promise and pain. Today, the Middle East stands at a defining moment — not only of land and identity, but of vision and future. The challenges before us are formidable.”

Discussions Centered on Future Cooperation

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, received the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Lebanese University Professor Habib Azzi, in the presence of the Coordinator of the "Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and the Preservation of Human Dignity" program at MECC Professor Laure Abi Khalil. The meeting took place on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

Discussions revolved around the most important developments in the work of the Middle East Council of Churches, as well as the activities and programs it implements at various levels. As well as, the current situation of the Lebanese University and the challenges it faces were addressed.

In addition, both parties discussed ways of cooperation between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Lebanese University, with coordination meetings planned for the coming period to develop a cooperation and joint work agreement.

Ecumenical Leaders: Serious Work to Protect the Environment!

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

For "Peace with Creation," believers around the world are praying during this year' “Season of Creation”, united in celebration and working together as one Ecumenical family, striving with hearts filled with hope to preserve creation and thus contribute to the path of peace.

This peace has been longed for since decades, as countries around the world work to achieve it through various means and methods. Ecumenical activists in the Middle East and around the world are also making efforts to achieve this desired goal via studying and environmental action. This is achieved through studying the Bible and delving into the Teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as implementing environmental activities aimed at protecting our common home.

The “Season of Creation” best expresses these environmental initiatives called for by Church and Ecumenical Leaders around the world, so that we may assume an effective responsibility towards God's creation.

“Momentum”

5-9-2025

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 “Towards the Meeting of the Ecumenical Partners”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/9c3138f97237/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.