The Holy Land is currently facing turbulent waves of developments in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, most recently due to a decision in the case of “Bab al-Khalil” (Jaffa Gate), which went beyond the limits of justice.

A special Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, convened to choose new leadership, has elected His Eminence, Archbishop Youssef Absi, as its next Patriarch. Archbishop Absi will succeed His Beatitude, Patriach Gregorius III Laham.

Read MECC Secretary General Jalakh’s letter of solidarity to the Archbishop of Canterbury in light of last week’s terrorist attack in Manchester, England.

The Council condemns this weekend’s barbaric terrorist attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt on Palm Sunday, which led to the deaths of more than 40 unarmed Christian worshipers.

One Lebanon, a Lebanese NGO promoting social cohesion and unity in the country, produced a video campaign for Annunciation Day — celebrated in Lebanon as the world’s only Islamo-Christian shared holiday — which features participants from all of Lebanon’s 17 Christian and Muslim sects. MECC staff members, Nina Hallak (Roman Catholic) and Antranik Manoukian (Armenian Orthodox) were two of the video’s featured participants.

Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General, Fr. Michel Jalakh, has been appointed as an external expert to the theme group ‘Peace Building in Situations of Violence: The Role of Religion, Culture and Dialogue’ within the joint working group (JWG) of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches met in Beirut, Lebanon, 16-17 January for the first of its bi-annual meetings in 2017. The Executive Committee is composed of 28 members representing each of the four major families of Christian tradition present in the Middle East: the Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic families.

The Middle East Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches recently hosted 47 representatives from member churches and related organisations at Notre Dame du Puit outside of Beirut, Lebanon for a week-long workshop on strategic planning for Diakonia programs and efforts.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Fr. Dr. Michel Jalakh, participated alongside approximately 200 representatives of various faith traditions and religious institutions from around the globe in a special interfaith audience at the Vatican in Rome, November 2-3, 2016.

Member churches, staff and representatives of the Middle East Council of Churches gathered in Amman, Jordan for its 11th General Assembly, 6-8 September, 2016.