"O Giver of Light, Glory to You…"

Troparion of the Transfiguration

The Video is Produced By MECC

A Reflection by Fr. Dr. Nicolas Bustros, MECC Associate Secretary General

“Momentum”

3-8-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue "The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person (Part 2)".

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/a8f7f45a8480/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church

In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Economic Responsibility: Money in the Service of Humanity, Not Humanity in the Service of Money

The economic mission of the Church does not come from a desire to compete with the state or economic institutions, but from her moral responsibility toward humanity and society.

Economy is not merely numbers and profits; above all, it is a human concern. The human person must always remain the goal, and money must remain a means to serve the common good.

From a Christian perspective, money itself is not evil, but it becomes dangerous when it becomes a master that enslaves humanity. Therefore, Jesus says: “No one can serve two masters… God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Thus, the Church is called to be an example in the management of her resources through transparency, integrity, and responsibility, because an institution that carries a spiritual mission must reflect in its administration the values it proclaims.

The Church must also encourage a culture of honest work and honor the dignity of the worker, because work is not only a means of livelihood; it is participation in the building of creation and the service of society…

Organized By MECC

You can join this webinar through the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86864203294?pwd=7KJDrYiNKaSuFtViTB3BlKwTaxUOah.1

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Between Spirituality, Culture, and Faith: Armenian Catholic Youth from Around the World Gather in Lebanon

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian: “You are not only the future of the Church, but also its present… Be People of Initiative”

Amidst the daily challenges that Lebanon is facing due to the crises affecting the country, the nation continues to affirm that the will to live is the strongest and that the new generation has a great determination to build a better future.

Hence, Lebanon hosted one of the most significant youth gatherings of the Armenian Catholic Church, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family.

Filled with hope and held under the theme “One Heart in Christ (WAYD 2026),” the event was organized by the Armenian Catholic Youth Union in Lebanon (ACYU), and took place from July 29 to August 3, 2026, between the city of Anjar and the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar.

The gathering brought together spirituality, culture, and faith in an experience that reflected Lebanon’s historic and spiritual vocation as a land of encounter and dialogue. More than 250 young men and women from six countries participated, bringing with them a rich cultural diversity while remaining united in one faith.

A Webinar on the Occasion of the Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026

Healing begins when we make space for one another.

In a world carrying the weight of conflict, uncertainty, grief, and change, we are invited to pause, listen, and journey together toward healing.

Join young people from across the globe for Ecumenical International Youth Day 2026 as we gather around the theme Healing Spaces—creating communities where restoration, hope, and peace can flourish.

Palestine Observatory - Report: Monday 27 July 2026

In light of the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the region due to the escalation of security operations, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a weekly report entitled "Palestine Observatory," which includes the latest developments in Palestine, especially amid the deteriorating living, social, and security conditions in the country. Some texts will be in Arabic, and some others in English, depending on the source.

في ظلّ تفاقم الظروف الإنسانيّة والاجتماعيّة في المنطقة جرّاء تصاعد العمليّات الأمنيّة فيها، يقدّم مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط تقريرًا أسبوعيًّا بعنوان "مرصد فلسطين" حيث يتضمّن آخر المستجدّات الّتي تشهدها فلسطين خصوصًا وسط تدهور الظروف المعيشيّة والاجتماعيّة والأمنيّة في البلاد. ستكون بعض النصوص باللغة العربية، وبعضها الآخر باللّغة الإنكليزيّة، وذلك حسب المصدر.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: July 2026

From time to time, the US and Iran exchange blows with one another and then go into a ceasefire. Then, a disagreement happens during negotiations and fighting resumes. Throughout the course of this year, regional and international economy has suffered a lot. Not only energy prices have increased but countries dragged into the conflict had their economies directly affected as businesses and investments took a hit. To make matters worse, the conflict, albeit gradually, seems to be expanding attracting new players into the ordeal. Moreover, the Russo-Ukrainian war which is also still ongoing, is intersecting with what is happening in the Middle East thus further complicating things. Mediators should intervene at a larger level before things get any worse.

Highlight on the 2026 WAYD Gathering for Armenian Catholic Youth in Lebanon

Produced By MECC

And Invites Him to Participate in the International Day of Diplomats

As part of strengthening cooperation and fostering openness between cultural and Religious institutions, as well as promoting the values of dialogue and mutual understanding among the various components of society, a delegation from the Eastern Club for Civilizations Dialogue visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the Council’s headquarters in Hamra_ Beirut. The delegation was headed by the Club’s President, Dr. Elie Al-Sarghani, and the Journalist Lea Maamary, Member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Club, together with Members of the Board of Trustees: Mr. Eddy Makhoul, Mrs. Aimée Bou Lahoud, and Mrs. Amal Adel.

At the outset of the meeting, the Secretary General welcomed the delegation, commending the initiatives undertaken by the Eastern Club for Civilizations Dialogue and its role in promoting a culture of dialogue and openness. He praised the Club’s efforts to bring together diverse communities around shared values that foster social peace and constructive cooperation. Professor Abs also expressed his appreciation for the kind invitation, wishing the Club continued success in achieving its cultural and humanitarian objectives.

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Ismailia – 23 July 2026

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) officially launched the first activities of the 2026 Season of Creation, celebrated this year under the theme “Living Water,” through a spiritual and environmental day organized by the Council’s Theological and Ecumenical Department under the supervision of Fr. Movses (Garen) Yosolkanian. The event was held in cooperation with the Benedictine Monastery in El-Tal El-Kebir (Ismailia), the Syriac Orthodox Church in Egypt, the Institute of History of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt. The activity formed part of the three-year “Care for Creation” program implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches with the support of Danmission.

The gathering brought together young people, church ministers, monks, nuns, and representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Churches in Egypt, alongside participants from religious congregations, theological institutes, youth, pastoral, ecumenical, and scouting movements, as well as participants from Lebanon and Syria. The event reflected a vibrant spirit of fellowship, unity, and cooperation among the Churches.

“Momentum”

27-7-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue "The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person (Part 1)".

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/6d9d862163d5/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person

(Part 1)

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Church: A Mission of Presence, Not Merely an Institution

When we speak about the Church, we are not speaking about a building made of stone, nor about an institution whose mission is limited to rituals and religious ceremonies. We are speaking about the presence of God at work in history, and about the community of believers called to be the “living Body of Christ” in the world.

From her very beginnings, the Church has never separated the proclamation of the Gospel from the service of humanity, because Christ Himself did not only preach the Kingdom of God, but also drew near to people in their weakness, suffering, and needs. He united word and action, teaching and mercy, spiritual calling and practical service for the healing of humanity.

When Jesus Christ sent His disciples, He instructed them to proclaim the Gospel, but He also commanded them to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and free those who suffered. This means that the mission of the Church is not a spiritual mission detached from human reality; rather, it is a comprehensive mission that embraces the human person in all dimensions: spiritual, social, economic, cultural, and humanitarian.

True faith is not revealed only in the words we proclaim, but in the life we live. As the Apostle James says: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Christian love is not merely an emotion or a beautiful idea; it is an action that draws near to the human person, carries his or her wounds, defends dignity, and seeks to build a society that is more just and compassionate.

From this perspective emerge the four responsibilities of the Church: social, economic, educational, and humanitarian. At their core, they are one responsibility: to serve the human person created by God in His image and likeness, and to preserve the values and virtues that make life more humane and closer to God’s will…

Palestine Observatory - Report: Monday 27 July 2026

في ظلّ تفاقم الظروف الإنسانيّة والاجتماعيّة في المنطقة جرّاء تصاعد العمليّات الأمنيّة فيها، يقدّم مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط تقريرًا أسبوعيًّا بعنوان "مرصد فلسطين" حيث يتضمّن آخر المستجدّات الّتي تشهدها فلسطين خصوصًا وسط تدهور الظروف المعيشيّة والاجتماعيّة والأمنيّة في البلاد. ستكون بعض النصوص باللغة العربية، وبعضها الآخر باللّغة الإنكليزيّة، وذلك حسب المصدر.

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In light of the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the region due to the escalation of security operations, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a weekly report entitled "Palestine Observatory," which includes the latest developments in Palestine, especially amid the deteriorating living, social, and security conditions in the country. Some texts will be in Arabic, and some others in English, depending on the source.