Report: September 2022

During this month, most Middle East nations succeeded in scoring positive results that would enforce their macroeconomic sustainability. Although the facts and figures look satisfactory, poverty is still an unsolved issue. Hopefully, the inbound investments and the job creation process can alleviate such a detriment. Also, this might help decrease the number of citizens attempting high-risk and illegal boat rides which end up sinking to the bottom of the sea.

Aiming at promoting environmental awareness and consolidating the Christian faith and the Ecumenical spirit, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Father Dr. Michael Kanbar participated in a regional conference for the Middle East and North Africa, entitled “Creation Care and the Gospel”. He presented a lecture on the topic at hand, highlighting the theological view of creation and the environment. The conference was organized by the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network, and was held between 28 September and 2 October 2022, at the Ajloun Baptist Conference Center in Jordan.

The Recycling Project in the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh, Lebanon

During the ongoing “Season of Creation” 2022, it is necessary to highlight some environmental initiatives so it may motivate us to work together for a clean environment and a safe common home. Hence, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents in the sixth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched, the recycling project implemented by the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh in Lebanon with the help of youth.

Celebrating the “Season of Creation” 2022, let us unite in Prayer for the creation and everything it includes. Let us listen to its voice and work together for the care for creation towards protecting our common home. We are part of the creation and our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.

The video is produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, in partnership with “Danmission” organization. It is prepared and presented by the MECC Eco Justice committee member Father Elias Marswanian, from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and edited by Ali Al Jarouch.

Cardinal Kurt Koch: Churches’ Unity Requires the Holy Spirit’s Work and Prayer

The Model of the Ecumenical Movement in the Middle East Must Be Produced Around the World and thanks to MECC

Interview by Huguette Salameh, Karlsruhe – Germany

The Eleventh General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, between 31 August and 8 September. An Assembly which gathered about 352 Churches from the four corners of the world and included various Evangelical, Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and Baptist Churches... All these Churches were present except the Catholic Churches, which are unified in the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, presided over by the Pope of Rome.

Building Bridges Between the East and West! Together for Environmental Advocacy and Awareness!

The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department was more than happy to meet the Communication Coordinator for the Climate Justice Program in “ACT Alliance” Mrs. Fiona Connelly. Discussions focused on ways of cooperation and strengthening the work mechanisms between both sides for media coordination, especially in environmental awareness and participation in the ongoing preparations towards COP 27 climate summit, which will be held next November in Sharm El Sheikh.

Video - The Third Monthly Webinar Organized by MECC

Dr. Michel Abs: Dealing with Elderlies Requires a Social Policy that Exceeds the Civil Authorities’ Capabilities

The Middle East Council of Churches is still holding the series of monthly webinars it has launched within the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the work of a department that is being developed in MECC under the name of “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”. Hence, MECC convened its third webinar, entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity and The Need for Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, which was also broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page.

Monday 3 October 2022 - 10:30 pm and 5 am Beirut Time

At the “Season of Creation” closing, watch a special episode entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 10:30 pm and 5am Beirut Time. Rerun on Tuesday 4 October 2022, at 2 pm Beirut Time. It is prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches.

“A Rocha” and Its Environmental Work

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches releases the fifth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022. During the episode, the guest Father Nabil Shehadeh, Head of the international organization “A Rocha” in Lebanon, and from the Anglican Church, sheds light on the role of “A Rocha” and its environmental mission in protecting the nature. He also tackles the Eco Church in England and how can we implement such a project in the region, explaining how “A Rocha” can accompany Churches and Christians in Lebanon.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Council invites you to participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the “Season of Creation” closing, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon. As well as, MECC invites you to its third monthly webinar entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity And The Need For Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, at 7 P.M. You can participate via the following Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/CMNQZ, and live on the MECC Facebook page. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Knowledge, machine and modern man”, on the International Day for Universal Access to Information, celebrated on September 28.

The United Nations has designated the 28th of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

How dangerous is the expression “information” and how dangerous are the dimensions associated with it, whether at the technical level or at the level of its human consequences.

We read or hear daily articles and lectures about information, informatics, artificial intelligence, computers, software and applications, and these concepts invade our world and our daily lives, in addition to violating our privacy.

The importance of information, knowledge and codification is not the subject of controversy. This need has accompanied man since the beginnings of civilization, when the cuneiform letters were first invented in Sumer, Mesopotamia. Blogging reaches as many subsequent generations as possible.

With the progress of civilization, the material of codification developed and we saw the emergence of the Phoenician alphabet from Byblos, Byblos, Ugarit, Ras Shamra, both of which are Phoenician cities on the Canaanite coast that connects Gaza with Antioch.

The video highlights the visit of an “ACT Alliance” delegation to Lebanon, with the support of the Middle East Council of Churches, between 18 and 25 September 2022, as part of its Gender Justice program and Humanitarian program teams’ annual meetings. What did the participants say? What are their opinions? Answers in the following video, prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

And Concludes the “Season of Creation” 2022 this Month in an Ecumenical Prayer Service in Bkerke, Lebanon

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

As well as, the Middle East Council of Churches concludes the “Season of Creation” for this year in an Ecumenical Prayer Service which will be presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. It will be held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon.

Télé Lumière and Noursat broadcasted the second episode of the "Season of Creation" series of episodes, entitled "Listen to the Voice of Creation", on Sunday 25 September 2022. It was prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and presented by Ralph Tawitian.

The first segment revolved around the theological view of land, nature and environment in the Orthodox Church, in addition to many environmental issues. The guest was Father Bassam Nassif, Professor of Pastoral Theology at the University of Balamand - Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology.