Report: 1 to 15 December 2020

Report: 1 to 15 December 2020

As Christians around the world brace themselves for Christmas and all the joy the holidays bring, the MECC would like to remind our readers that poverty has reached dangerously high levels in the Middle East. According to UNICEF, the Middle East is experiencing one of the most fraught situations in the world, with more than 32 million children in need of humanitarian assistance.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 14 to 21 December 2020

MECC continues to implement vocational trainings for those willing to enter the labor market. Extensive trainings were implemented for a month and a half in Izraa and Sheikh Meskin in Dara’a Governorate.

Nuevas ayudas para los indigentes y los afectados

En una última actualización del caso de la explosión de Beirut, el Primer Ministro provisional Hassan Diab, se negó a ser interrogado por un juez que lo acusó a él y a tres ex-ministros de negligencia en relación con la explosión.

An extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee in Bkerke

During the year 2020, that is coming to an end, the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), was supposed to take place in September at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, Lebanon. However, the unpleasant circumstances imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic impeded it, which led the MECC’s Executive Committee to hold an extraordinary meeting on the 17th of September, during which the member churches’ representatives decided to set a new date for the General Assembly in September 2021.

New aids for the homeless & the affected

In a latest update on the Beirut Blast case, Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, refused to be questioned by a judge who accused him and three former ministers of negligence in connection with the explosion.

Tomando en cuenta que la educación es la base de la paz y de la seguridad en el mundo, el MECC implementó clases de recuperación para los estudiantes de 9º grado en Alepo y Damasco rural dentro de las actividades del Programa de Educación.

Believing that education is the foundation of peace and security in the world, MECC implemented remedial classes for the 9th grade’ students in Aleppo and Rural Damascus within the activities of the Education Program.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 7 to 13 December 2020

The week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021”, from 18 to 25 January 2021. With the title “To remain in God’s love and in self-reconciliation" John 15: 1 -17.

El Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Unidad de los Cristianos publicó una guía para animar y ayudar a los obispos católicos a cumplir con sus responsabilidades ecuménicas.

The judge Fadi Sawwan investigating the Beirut port explosion has charged Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers (former finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil, public works ministers Ghazi Zeaiter and Youssef Finianos) with negligence which led to the devastating event in which 200 people were killed and swathes of buildings left in ruins.

Por medio de la Encarnación, el amor de Dios se manifestó entre los hombres; como resultado, los derechos humanos comenzaron por preservar la justicia, la paz y la armonía social.

Through the Incarnation, the love of God was made manifest among humans; as a result, the human rights started by preserving the justice, peace and social harmony.

El MECC implementó la campaña WASH dentro de su programa «Dinero por trabajo» con el objetivo de proporcionar un empleo temporal a los desempleados en Izraa y al Jeque Meskin en Dara'a.

MECC implemented a WASH campaign within its Cash for Work Program aiming at providing a temporary employment to unemployed people in Izraa and Sheikh Meskin in Dara’a.

Desarrollando juntos las relaciones ecuménicas y eclesiásticas

El Dr. Michel Abs, Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, llevó a cabo una reunión en línea el 2 de diciembre con el moderador de la Junta Ejecutiva de la Fraternidad de Iglesias del Golfo (Gulf Fellowship of Churches: GFC), S.E. el obispo Mesrob Sarkissian. La Asistente Ejecutiva de la MECC, Sra. Seta Hadeshian también asistió a la reunión.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 30 November to 7 December 2020

Developing together the ecumenical and ecclesiastical relations

Dr. Michel Abs, the Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General, held on 2 December, an online meeting with the Gulf Fellowship of Churches (GFC) Executive Board Moderator HE Bishop Mesrob Sarkissian.