As of the end of World War II and the shifting of the turning of victorious countries to fueling small wars that keep fires burning in different parts of the world, without compromising world peace and disturbing the affluent nations, people have not felt the fateful threat that they feel today in the light of the ongoing warfare going on in Europe.

I say Europe, and I do not say Ukraine, because everyone knows- the political scientist as well as the ordinary newspaper reader- that a war of this caliber, in this particular place and at this time, cannot be considered as a local war or a conflict between two states, limited in time and place.

The war that was kindled in Europe, which may harm Europe's life to say the least, and may lead to the destruction of its beautiful civilization - God forbid - is only the culmination point of small, cold wars raging in any part of the world, where the so-called "great" countries’ vital strategic interests lie as a basis of world-wide energy.

As part of his tour in Lebanon, His Eminence Bishop Dr. Udo Bentz, Chairman of the Working Group in the Middle East of the German Bishops’ Conference, visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 17 October 2022, accompanied by Dr. Daniel Legutke, Secretary of the Working Group. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs welcomed the delegation at the Council and the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar.

The Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, organized a graduation ceremony for the participants of the vocational trainings that were implemented in Tafas. An exhibition was organized in Saidat Al Bishara Church in Dara’a governorate where the production of trainees was presented.

The three-day exhibition included the productions of 150 trainees in the Vocational Trainings in different specializations: tailoring, electronics repair, mobile repair, dairy production, men and women hairdressing.

In the ceremony, all graduates received kits including the tools needed to start working or launch their own business.

A Round Table at the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches

Thursday 27 October 2022, at 10:15 am

As part of its monthly series of seminars, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to a round table it organizes under the title "Women and Human Dignity", on Thursday 27 October 2022, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Beirut. You can participate in it via the following Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2jb2y9vy, or live on the MECC Facebook page.

The Full Lecture of Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, in Beirut

Mesdames, messieurs, je veux juste commencer avec quelques mots en français par respect de la tradition de cette belle université. Monsieur le Recteur je vous remercie de votre accueil si chaleureux. C’est un grand honneur d’être là avec vous.

It is indeed a great pleasure and honour to be with you here in Lebanon today – for so many reasons. Some of there are more general; others more specific to the issue of Freedom of Religion or Belief which is so important to so many of us here today.

There are two general reasons why I’m delighted to be here today.

First, this is not my first time here, and the last time I was here I was so deeply impressed by what I found, specifically of the way in which the churches have responded to the refugee crisis – and I’m sure other faith groups have also responded significantly too. I was touched and moved by the generosity of spirit and the genuine hospitality I saw being exercised.

Answer at the Saint Joseph University’s Campus in Beirut

Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen Presents a Lecture On Religious Freedom and Persecuted Christians

At the joint invitation and organization of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Bible Society, and the Faculty of Religious Sciences at the Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut, a lecture entitled “Why Our Religious Freedom Matters” was given by Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, and Author of the FCDO’s independent review of persecuted Christians. It was held on Thursday 13 October 2022, at Francois Basil auditorium in the Innovation and Sports Campus, at the Saint Joseph University. Attendees were representatives of concerned organizations and parties, priests and people interested in the topic at hand.

MECC Supports Women in Akkar

Despite the deplorable economic conditions hanging over the country, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, launched a project aiming to enhance women’s resiliency and improve their livelihood. As such, the department chose Akkar, one of the most neglected and poverty-stricken areas in the country, to implement the project that would promote women’s products and their sale. Three villages namely Andket, Bazbina and Chadra were taken into consideration.

It is October. The days are getting shorter and cooler. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also being launched in the Palestinian Territories to raise public awareness of the issue and to offer screening services. With a grand opening ceremony in Ramallah, the Auguste Victoria Hospital, on whose compound the Central Office is located, together with the Mariam Foundation and the Palestine Museum, kicked off this month by turning the sky pink. A digital mammography clinic at the hospital will be through Palestine all month for early detection of breast cancer with the "Your Checkup - Your Life" awareness campaign, conducting mammography examinations and check-ups.

El 16 de octubre, día de la fundación de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, también llamado Día Mundial de la Alimentación, esta organización se dedica a organizar eventos avanzados, ricos y bien preparados para sensibilizar sobre la alimentación, la seguridad alimentaria, la malnutrición, la hambruna, la migración rural y todo lo relacionado con estos fenómenos.

En un contexto relacionado, las estadísticas de los diversos sitios relacionados con el tema te abruman con los problemas que enfrentan los pueblos subyugados oprimidos, así como las clases subyugadas en los pueblos no subyugados, en términos de comida, bebida, vivienda, atención médica y otros asuntos relacionados... Las cifras estadísticas que muestran a millones de personas hambrientas, sin hogar y privadas de las mínimas condiciones de vida, así como el número de los que no tienen un mañana, que no conocen su destino y los que sufren problemas vitales, tanto físicos como psicológicos, llenan las páginas de las instituciones que se ocupan de sus asuntos y sus fotos en su desplazamiento, asilo y miseria consolidan la imagen del rostro inhumano de la humanidad y su afán por bailar sobre el dolor existente.

Son nuestros ancianos, nuestros antiguos robles, el almacén de nuestra memoria y el tesoro de nuestra sabiduría. Recurrimos a ellos en las calamidades, y por su opinión nos guiamos, ya que nos otorgan la experiencia, la sabiduría y la previsión que han pagado muy caro en su vida.

Los llaman los ancianos, y algunos los llaman los viejos, o amablemente los llaman de la tercera edad. Es el grupo más vulnerable, indefenso y marginado. Es la categoría que algunos piensan que no se necesita ni se necesitará, por lo que la descuidan y no se preocupan por ella.

Vemos a algunos de ellos deambulando por las calles, mendigando para despertar la simpatía de la gente. Algunos buscan comida en los contenedores de basura, otros se tiran en las camas de los centros de acogida para ancianos, como se denomina en el Líbano y en algunos países árabes, y otros deambulan por los restaurantes de comida caliente establecidos por algunas asociaciones, comen lo que pueden y esconden lo que pueden en una caja que han traído, para protegerse del mal del hambre durante dos o tres días. En cuanto al más afortunado de ellos, es el que consiguió durante su vida un trabajo con un plan de pensiones, por lo que estuvo a salvo del mal de la humillación, la necesidad y la falta de hogar, porque la indemnización recibida por el fin de sus servicios se agota a los pocos años de recibirla.

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, which is entitled “On World Food Day: Humanity Between Schizophrenia and Hypocrisy”. It is written for the founding day of the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Food Day, on 16 October.

H.E. Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen: guaranteeing the religious freedom in Lebanon is good news for the country, the region and the world

Aiming at building Ecclesiastical bridges between the East and West, His Eminence Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday 13 October 2022. He was accompanied by a delegation from the Diocese in the UK, including Rachael Varney, Executive Assistant, David Fieldsend, International Affairs Adviser, and Revd Etienne Van Blerk, alongside Dr. Mike Bassous, General Secretary of the Bible Society. At MECC, Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a team from the Council's General Secretariat welcomed the delegation.

Decisions to Strengthen the Ecumenical Spirit

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) held its General Assembly’s meeting online on Tuesday 11 October 2022. Attendees were ATIME’s President Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, its Executive Secretary Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, and the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, alongside the deans of the faculties and institutes, members in ATIME.

During the meeting, the participants discussed many topics and issues, which are following up on the “Season of Creation” project and ways to enhance and support it, and preparing for the environmental symposium which will be held in May 2023 in coordination with the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department.