Para Una Investigación Internacional Transparente Sobre El Bombardeo Del Puerto De Beirut Y Por La Justicia Y El Apoyo a Los Libaneses

En el lapso de un mes después de la catástrofe de la explosión de Beirut, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI), la Alianza ACT y el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio (MECC) presentaron sus condolencias a todos los libaneses que perdieron a sus seres queridos en la catastrófica explosión que se produjo en el corazón de Beirut el 4 de agosto de 2020. Declararon su solidaridad con los afligidos, los heridos, los desplazados y los que sufren.

Thursday August 31, 2020

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) including Father Gaby Alfred Hachem, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department (TED), Sister Emily Tannous, Coordinator of the Department, and Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, representing Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, visited the Coptic Orthodox Church in Sin El Fil, to meet with His Eminence Anba Antonius, Coptic Bishop of Jerusalem, Lebanon, Kuwait and the Gulf and to welcome Coptic Monk Timon Al-Suriani, who was appointed as the new Head of the Coptic Church in Lebanon.

On the lapse of a month after the Beirut blast disaster, the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presented their condolences to all Lebanese people who lost their loved ones in the catastrophic explosion that ripped through the heart of Beirut on 4 August 2020. They declared their solidarity with the bereaved, the injured, the displaced and the suffering.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) present their condolences to all Lebanese people who lost their loved ones in the catastrophic explosion that ripped through the heart of Beirut on 4 August 2020. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved, the injured, the displaced and the suffering. On behalf of the international ecumenical community, ACT Alliance is launching an appeal as part of the international humanitarian response to this disaster, and we join in calling on the international community for a comprehensive humanitarian mechanism of coordination and collaboration with Lebanese civil society.

The month of August 2020 in Lebanon was nothing like other months that Lebanese people have ever lived. Since the 4th of August 2020, Beirut was turned into a devastated city and dreams were buried under rubble and ashes. The young capital bid farewell to its young heroes, some through tragic funerals and others in the gloomy airport hall. The month of August has now ended, on the sound of mothers’ tears; mothers whose hearts were shattered as their children left them. However, in every ending there is a new beginning. Amidst all these painful events, hope remains the only source of strength for many young people who chose to remain in their homeland, among their suffering families and brethren. Beirut today draws strength and hope from every young man and woman, in order to stand tall again.

Latest updates and humanitarian response

Report #2

Reporting Period: From 27 August to 2 September, 2020

Within the framework of the MECC appeal to provide relief for the devastated Beirut and its afflicted people, because of the 4 August blast, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria hastened to respond to the appeal by offering a shipment of aid included 26 tons of food products, medicines and medical supplies. Following up the process of distributing it to beneficiaries, the MECC Diakonia Department’s team and a group of youth volunteers sorted the offered products and medical supplies, divided and packed them.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "AL Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

MECC organized a crochet training for 19 women aged between 18 to 45 from Rural Damascus. The trainees learned the basic principles of crocheting and the way to use one needle to crochet squares and gather them to form different shapes, such as: table covers, bed covers, blankets, shawls and other cloths or crafts that can be knitted with crochet.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 24 to 31 August 2020

In the video, you can find footages and photos from the 11th General Assembly, that took place in Amman, Jordan between the 6th and 8th September 2016, in addition to the speeches of the presidents and participants.

Each General Assembly issues a final statement that includes suggestions, recommendations and decisions taken during the meeting. In this text, you can find the final statement of the 11th General Assembly which took place in Amman, Jordan between the 6th and 8th September 2016, under the theme of: "Praise the Lord for His mercy is forever good”.

The Middle East Council of Churches has held 11 General Assemblies till now: 8 in Cyprus, 2 in Lebanon, and one in Jordan. In this text, you can find main information about these assemblies such as their themes, dates, locations, and the General Secretaries who were elected at each one of them.

MECC’s first General Assembly, which took place in 1974, was an inaugural meeting during which the council was founded. In this text, you can find the decisions that were taken during the meeting and important excerpts from the statements of MECC presidents at that time.

The General Assembly is the supreme authority of the Middle East Council of Churches. The council holds a general assembly in accordance to its bylaws which legally organize the assembly’s meetings, its composition, its sub-committees and the conduct of work. In this text, a detailed clarification of these laws is provided.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "AL Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

On Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 August, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department (TED) held two virtual meetings with around 17 young people from various churches in Lebanon. These two gatherings were a follow-up to the youth consultation seminar held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on the 11th of July 2020, within the “Kairos Middle East: Towards Churches Global Compact” process.

3 weeks have passed since the Beirut port explosion, and Lebanese people are still facing the repercussions of this disaster, which left great material and moral damage. For 22 days, the Lebanese were constantly struggling and exerting tireless efforts to rebuild their capital Beirut, which has been undergoing several crises for years. The process of removing shattered glass, wood and debris has been ongoing in public and private properties as well as in churches and their affiliated institutions. However, the losses and damages are still substantial, especially in churches, hospitals and schools.

Latest updates and humanitarian response

Reporting Period: From 5 to 26 August 2020

SG Dr Bechealany: “We have issued an appeal to help the devastated city of Beirut and its distressed people”

In the wake of the Beirut Port explosion that occurred on August 4, 2020 and resulted in massive destruction and damage to public and private properties, as well as to churches and their institutions, Dr. Souraya Bechealany, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited the council's member churches in Beirut.