Towards Strengthening the Partnership Between Both Sides

Within the framework of strengthening the partnership between Church of Sweden which is a member in ACT Alliance, and the Middle East Council of Churches, a delegation from the Church visited the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 8 May 2023. The delegation included Mrs. Anna Levine, Church of Sweden Programs Manager for the Middle East Unit, Mrs. Jessica Lendbergdik, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Development Programs for the Middle East and North Africa, and Mrs. Rania Salameh, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Humanitarian Programs for the Middle East and North Africa.

Awareness Sessions for Pregnant and Lactating Women about Infant and Young Child Feeding

Breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition for infants to obtain essential nutrients for growth in the first months of life. Breast milk is considered the first vaccine for infants, protecting them from many common childhood diseases, as it contains antibodies that help protect infants against many common childhood illnesses and strengthen their immune systems.

WHO recommends that infants initiate breastfeeding within the first hours of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water, as it enhances sensory and cognitive development.  

Report: April 2023

Despite the global economic crisis and the years of proxy wars in Syria, two formally competing major players in the area are pursuing dialogue and mutual cooperation. As such, Saudi Arabia and Iran’s coming together is leading to positive implications such as the re-induction of Syria into the Arab World.  With this massive shift in policy from both of their ends, the region is moving towards greater economic cooperation and harmony.

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches’ partners, United Church of Christ Canada, United Church of Christ America and Disciples of Christ (Global Ministries), headed by Dr. Peter Makari, the Global Relations Minister of the Middle East and Europe Global Ministries, visited the MECC offices in Amman, Jordan, on 22 of April 2023.

In reception of the delegation was the MECC Jordan Team:
1. Ms. Wafa Goussous: the office’s Director
2. Azmi Udwan
3. Berta Ziadeh
4. Anni Koshkeryan

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs in an Episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat

Sunday 7 May 2023 - 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs in an episode entitled “One Holy Universal Church” within the program “Between Yesterday and Today”, on Télé Lumière and Noursat. He will be interviewed by the journalist George Rached, on Sunday 7 May 2023 at 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT.

Dr. Khalil Khairallah, Law Professor at the Lebanese University, delivered a message via video during the seminar organized by the Middle East Council of Churches on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, His Eminence Archbishop Boulos Yaziji and His Eminence Archbishop Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, under the title “The Issue of the Abducted and Forcibly Absented, Violation of Human Dignity”, on Monday 24 April 2023.

Report: May 4th, 2023

The Middle East Council of Churches is being involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Syria under the name of "Rescue Syria Campaign" through which the Council shall be dealing with the relief efforts in this emergency period and later on with rehabilitation plans in order to help people survive properly and resume a normal life with dignity.

MECC will be publishing a periodical report under the name of "Rescue Syria Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective. 

Survivors in Syria Remember the Most Difficult Moments

Almost three months have passed since the catastrophic earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant on 6 February 2023, the Syrian people are still suffering from its tragic repercussions that weight heavily on their shoulders and cast a shadow over the country. Therefore, the wounds of the Syrian people are still not healed, and the humanitarian need is still increasing on many levels.

In the video, some of the earthquake survivors describe the bitter first moments and difficult circumstances they passed through following the disaster. The video also presents footages from the heart of the tragedy in Syria.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a message via video delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan Moussi, Greek Orthodox Bishop of Byblos, Batroun and Dependencies (Mount Lebanon), during the seminar organized by MECC on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, under the title “The Issue of the Abducted and Forcibly Absented, Violation of Human Dignity”, on Monday 24 April 2023. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Freedom of the press and the martyrs of the word”. Dr. Abs talked about the World Press Freedom Day, which the world celebrates on 3 May of each year, describing the positive impact of the "word" and the repercussions resulting from it.

The issue also presents a news and photos about the reception of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs for a delegation of German tourists and pilgrims at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday 27 April 2023.

As well as, you can find a news about the election of Reverend Rifaat Fikry for a second term as President of the Dialogue Council of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile, in addition to his biography.

Today, the third of May, is the World Press Freedom Day as declared by the United Nations in 1993, which means that this year is the thirtieth anniversary of the launch of this declaration.

The United Nations considers, on its page dedicated to this occasion, that, during the three decades that have passed since the declaration in 1993, progress has been made "in the field of enabling a free press and freedom of expression in all parts of the world", especially that technological development has contributed and supported this trend towards freedoms. However, the United Nations considers that "media freedom, the safety of journalists and freedom of expression" are under "increasing attack, affecting the realization of other human rights".

On the same page, the United Nations underlines the social crises that afflict humanity and the injustice that is rampant in the world, and that this was accompanied by large waves of misinformation, which negatively affects democratic work.

Elsewhere on this specialized page, the United Nations stresses that journalism is a key for humanity to enjoy all other human rights.

Visiting Our Lady Dispensary Affiliated to MECC, in Beirut

Dr. Peter Makari, the Global Relations Minister of the Middle East and Europe Global Ministries humanitarian organization, which is a partner of the Middle East Council of Churches, headed a delegation from the organization on a visit to Our Lady dispensary affiliated to MECC and located in the Sabtieh region, Lebanon, on Friday 21 April 2023. The delegation was received by the Coordinator of the Lebanon’s Office of the Service and Relief - Diakonia Department Mrs. Nina Hallak, and the dispensary team.

The Global Ministries delegation, included along with Dr. Makari,

Reverend Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President,

Reverend Marco Cable, President, Division of Overseas Ministries; Co-Executive, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ,