Monday 26 October 2022 in the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman

“I have heard them crying out… I am concerned about their suffering… So now, go. I am sending you… I will be with you” (EX 3: 1-12)

As part of the series of celebrations organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, in partnership with the “Danmission” organization, in various countries of the region, on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, MECC and the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East/ Diocese of Jerusalem, invites you to participate in the “Season of Creation” Prayer service in Jordan. It will be held under the title of “I have heard them crying out… I am concerned about their suffering… So now, go. I am sending you… I will be with you” (EX 3: 1-12), on Monday 26 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Redeemer Church for the Arab Evangelical Episcopal Church in Jabal Amman.

H.G. Bishop Mousa Al-Khasi: the circumstances we are witnessing shouldn’t be a cause for despair, but an opportunity for us to be responsible towards God by protecting His world

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, the Orthodox Church celebrated the Season in a Holy Mass, held at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus, Syria, on Sunday 18 September 2022. It is part of the series of celebrations organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, in partnership with “Danmission” organization, in various countries of the region.

Monday 3 October 2022, at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon

Under the patronage and with the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the “Season of Creation” closing. The Prayer will be held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon.

You may participate in the Prayer via the MECC Facebook page and YouTube channel, and live on Charity TV and NourSat/ Télé Lumière.

The ongoing “Season of Creation” 2022 in the Middle East and the world, is a season full of hope towards reducing the environmental dangers, and thus praying and working together for a safer common home. The theme for this year’s environmental and international season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, and its slogan is “The Burning Bush”. What does the slogan symbolize? And what are its meanings? The following video sheds light on the slogan and stresses the importance of preserving our sacred land.

Durante mi asistencia a la Asamblea General del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias entre el 30 de agosto y el 8 de septiembre en Karlsruhe, Alemania, mantuve algunas reuniones con líderes religiosos cristianos de diferentes países de Europa, durante las cuales discutimos la trayectoria del cristianismo europeo y su estado actual a la luz de los cambios sociales que se están produciendo en el viejo continente.

Lo que deduje de las discusiones y de las observaciones sobre el terreno, que añadí a las lecturas que hago durante mi trabajo como Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, me llevó a una conclusión que no puedo decir que sea satisfactoria ni positiva para el cristianismo en Europa.

Los registros municipales, en los que los ciudadanos europeos solicitan que se elimine su religión cristiana de su expediente personal, las iglesias que se cierran, se venden o se alquilan, las instituciones cristianas que disminuyen y el nivel de donaciones se reduce, son todos ellos indicios de una disminución de la extensión cristiana en el mapa de la fe en Europa.

Fadi Al Halabi: «Nada sobre nosotros sin nosotros»
Rompamos las barreras y hagamos conciencia sobre el papel de las personas con discapacidad en la Iglesia
Oriente Medio está todavía muy lejos de cualquier tipo de inclusión

Sus derechos no son diferentes de los de los demás ciudadanos, y su participación efectiva en la vida espiritual, social y económica... es necesaria. Las personas con discapacidad son importantes para la construcción y el desarrollo de las sociedades. Pero, ¿por qué se les margina hoy en día? Las respuestas a esta pregunta son muchas. Pero, lo que sin duda es importante es la esperanza que aportan a través de sus talentos y bendiciones en medio de toda la desesperación y los desafíos. A través de su continua determinación, las personas con discapacidad son capaces de reducir la discriminación y destacar su presencia y su papel especial en la Iglesia y la sociedad.

The whole world is praying for creation and the protection of our sacred Land in an annual Christian environmental season. It is the "Season of Creation" which starts on 1 September and ends on 4 October, of each year, in the Middle East and the world. The theme of this year’ season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation” and its slogan is “The Burning Bush”. The video explains the meanings of the theme and highlights its importance in our Christian life.

New Cooperation Towards the Support of the Most Vulnerable People

In response to the call of God the Creator to stand next to the most vulnerable and neediest, the Middle East Council of Churches has always sought, since its establishment, to accompany the most marginalized and affected people due to the difficult living conditions. MECC aims to preserve their rights and dignity, in various countries of the Middle East. Within this context, the MECC Jordan office is implementing many programs to support Syrian and Iraqi refugees as well as vulnerable people from Jordanian host communities.

In this framework, the MECC Jordan’s Office, represented by its Director Mrs. Wafaa El Ghousous, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) – Amman, represented by the Associations’ President Mrs. Hania Kakish. The MoU aimed at strengthening the cooperation towards the implementation of various training courses. It was signed on Wednesday 14 September 2022, at the headquarters of the Association.

Together Towards Environmental Advocacy and Awareness!

The international Climate Summit COP27 on climate change will be held very soon between 6 and 18 November 2022, in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, and the preparations have begun. Hence, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department participated in an international online meeting at the invitation of ACT Alliance Communication Department, and with the participation of other international organizations, on Wednesday 14 September 2022.

The meeting aimed at exchanging ideas and suggestions, as well as discussing experiences and opinions in order to prepare and implement online marketing campaigns as part of the COP27 summit’s activities. Topics of discussions were centered around issues related to the environment and justice. It was also an opportunity to build new relationships between employees in the fields of communication, media and programs in various organizations.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Between Secularization and Christianity... a Misunderstanding”, in which he talked the reality of Christianity in Europe, in light of the meetings and discussions he made during his participation in the WCC 11th General Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. You can also find a condolence message from the Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca to the family of Late Gabi Habib and the Middle East Council of Churches.

As part of the series of celebrations organized by MECC, in partnership with “Danmission” organization, in the Middle East, on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022, the issue includes details, photos and video about the celebration held at the “Anaphora” Prayer and Retreat Eco Friendly Center in Wadi El Natroun, Egypt, on Sunday 11 September 2022.

During my attendance at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches between August 30 and September 8 in Karlsruhe, Germany, I held some meetings with Christian religious leaders from different countries of Europe, during which we discussed the path of European Christianity and its current status in light of the social changes taking place in the ancient continent.

What I deduced from the discussions and from field observations, which I added to the readings I make during my work as General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, brought me to a conclusion that I can neither say is satisfactory nor positive for Christianity in Europe.

Municipal records, where European citizens apply for their Christian religion to be removed from their personal record, churches that are closing, sold or rented, Christian institutions that are declining and the level of donations is declining, are all indications of a shrinking Christian extent in the faith map in Europe.

This shrinkage is not the result of competition between religions, nor of a religious campaign carried out by one religion against another, nor of the temptations offered by the missionary institutions to attract people from Christianity to it.

Fadi Al Halabi: “Nothing about us without us”

Let us break barriers and raise awareness on the role of persons with disabilities in the Church

The Middle East is still far from any type of inclusion!

Their rights are not different from the rights of other citizens, and their effective participation in spiritual, social and economic life... is necessary. Persons with disabilities are important for building and developing societies. But why are they marginalized today? Answers for the question are many. But, what is surely important is the hope they sorrow through their talents and blessings amidst all despair and challenges. Through their continuous determination, persons with disabilities are able to reduce discrimination and emphasize their presence and special role in the Church and society.

Shouldn't the Church be more inclusive by integrating all people, no matter how different they are! Within this context, the World Council of Churches (WCC) launched the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN) in its 8th General Assembly. Its vision is “A church of all and for all, an epitome of a truly inclusive society”. EDAN aims at improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities through advocating for their inclusion, and active participation in all spiritual, social, economic and structural lives of Church and society.

On the commemoration of the 100th years after the Burning of Smyrna, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, MECC President for the Evangelical Family, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, and President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, invites you to a lecture he will held about this painful event and the remembrance of Rev. Hagop Yeranian. The lecture will be convened on Tuesday 20 september 2022, at 7 P.M, in Haigazian University Auditorium.

In order to strengthen the support of the Middle East Council of Churches’ partners, a delegation from the international Church organization “Act Church of Sweden” visited the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 12 September 2022.

The delegation met with the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs online, along with members from the General Secretariat who participated in the meeting in person and online.