MECC

International Ecumenical Relations

January, 2007

MECC Receives a Merit Certificate from the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs & UNDP

A ceremony organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs and the UNDP was held at UNESCO on December 15, 2006, to honor a number of local and international Humanitarian Service Organizations, including the Middle East Council of Churches, in recognition of their work and services rendered to Lebanon in 2006.

The certificate was handed to the MECC General Secretary, Mr. Guirgis Saleh during the ceremony, which was followed by a diner.

Common Statement between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa regarding Max Michel

On December 16, 2006, a common Statement was issued by the above two churches clarifying their position regarding the “so-called ordination of the ‘reader’ Max Michel as bishop of Egypt and the Middle East by schismatic and non-canonical bishops who claim to be Orthodox”.

In the Statement, the two Patriarchs, HH Pope Schenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church and HB Patriarch Theodorus II, reject the false ordination effected by bishops who are not recognized by any Orthodox Church, the ordination’s ecclesiastical and sacramental validity, as well as all the ordinations conducted by Max Michel. The Statement is posted on the MECC website at: www.mec-churches.org

Chaldean Seminary and Theological University Reopened in Kurdistan

The Chaldean Church’s two educational institutions, the Chaldean Major Seminary and Babel College, have moved from Baghdad and reopened in Ankawa, near Irbil, in Kurdistan. The move comes as a result of the growing insecurity in the capital city and other areas in Iraq. The decision to move was made official on January 4, 2007, after closing down the two institutions.

A mass was celebrated on this occasion by the rector of the Babel College. The College now counts 25 seminarians along with many other students studying theology and philosophy.

Conference of European Churches (CEC) Delegation in Lebanon

The delegation of five included Reverend Jean Arnold de Clermont, CEC President, the Very Reverend Margarethe Isberg, CEC Deputy Vice-President, H.E. Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and member of the CEC Presidium and Central Committee, the Venerable Colin Williams, CEC General Secretary, and Reverend Arlington Trotman, Moderator of the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe. The visit which extended from January 9-12, 2007, aimed at promoting and developing cooperation and collaboration between the CEC and the MECC, and at defining the type support CEC can offer to the MECC member churches and act as conduit for MECC’s voice within the European Churches.

The three-day visit included meetings with heads of Churches, Religious Leaders of the Sunni and Shiite communities in Lebanon, the MECC Executive Committee members and senior staff. The delegation heard the concerns of the different Religious Leaders and their suggestions as to the role they could play in Europe to promote justice and peace in the Middle East region.

Two working sessions with the MECC senior staff lead to the identification of areas of collaboration between the CEC and the MECC, namely, the areas of advocacy for Middle Eastern issues, Inter-Church and Christian-Muslim dialogue, Migration, Human Rights, and the identification of Funding possibilities.

The delegation extended an official invitation to the MECC to attend the 3^rd European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu-Transylvania in November 2007.

Joint MECC JPHR/ATIME Training of Trainers (ToT)

The Justice, Peace and Human Rights Program (JPHR) and the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) organized their second ToT session from January 12-13, 2007, in Atchaneh-Lebanon on “Spreading a culture of human rights” among students of theology.

Around 50 trainees, students, young theologians and priests from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria exchanged experiences and learned how to overcome challenges in their respective countries. The seminar was enriched by the participants’ testimonies about their practical experiences. They shared information on their churches’ position and discourse in defending human rights and human dignity, and in working toward the observance of a culture of rights.

A series of workshops held during the training, focused on the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as treated in the International Covenant on Human Rights. Others focused on the issue of “Identity and Citizenship” highlighting each individual’s potential in effecting social change at the community level.

Certificates were distributed at the end of the workshop, thus completing this awareness and training cycle. For more information, kindly contact Ms. Alexa Abi Habib at: mecccypr@spidernet.com.cy

MECC Publications

The MECC announces the Publication of its French periodical, the “Courrier Oecuménique du Moyen-Orient” No. 53/2006.

This issue is dedicated to the 2007 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and includes, among others, a paper on “Islam and Human Rights and Duties”, articles on the life of the churches, inter-faiths dialogue, and information on the MECC activities.

Presbyterian Church (USA) Delegation in the Middle East

A PCUSA fact-finding and solidarity delegation of 5 including, Ms. Linda Valentine, Executive Director-General Assembly Council, Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk-General Assembly Council, Rev. Dr. Allison Seed, Chairperson for the Middle East, Rev. Dr. Victor Makari, Area Coordinator for the Middle East, Ms. Sara Lisherness, Director, Peace & Justice Program Unit, paid a visit to the MECC office on January 17, 2007 while in Lebanon, meeting with Heads of Churches and other officials, and before departing for Amman, Jordan, and Jerusalem.

The delegation met with the MECC General Secretary and senior staff that provided information on the Council and its activities, the many challenges faced by the MECC and the churches, and shared their views on the present situation in Lebanon. The delegation reaffirmed the Presbyterian Church’s continuous support to the Christian witness of the MECC and the churches in the Middle East region.

The MECC was informed that Presbyterians worldwide are being urged to celebrate a Week of Prayer and Witness between Easter (April 8) and Pentecost (May 27) in support of Christians in the Middle East with the aim of lifting up Christians in parts of the Middle East where their numbers are declining.

The PCUSA is a longstanding partner and friend of the Middle East churches and the MECC.

Patriarchs and Heads of Local Christian Churches in Jerusalem Address A Message of Concern to All the Palestinian People

The 13 Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and signatories of the Message, voice their concern for the present situation in the Palestinian Territories and their anxiety for all the Palestinians, Christians and Muslims alike. Underlining that the dead lock in the situation is a result of the failure of all attempts at reconciliation, and that soon it will be very difficult to stop the large scale fighting in the area, the Message urgently calls for peace and security, for the removal of arms from the street, for a government of national unity and to return to the negotiating table.

The 13 Heads of Churches “call for intense prayer to Almighty God for peace” and ask parties to reconsider all issues at stake, and “to change course especially for the sake of all our children and young people who deserve a better future devoid of hatred and bitterness”. They indicate their readiness to help end the present situation and offer to act as mediators or play any other deemed necessary. The Message ends with Christ’s words: ”Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9). The Message is posted on the MECC website at: www.mec-churches.org

MECC Press Release

A Press Release was issued by the MECC General Secretary, Mr. Guirgis I. Saleh on January 11, 2007 as the MECC website was subjected to hacking along with other 27 sites.

In the release, Mr. Saleh denounces this act by fundamentalists, whose expressions have no correlation whatsoever with the history of Eastern Christian-Muslim relations, but to the contrary, badly affect them. On this occasion, Mr. Saleh who contacted all Christian and Muslim religious leaders in the region to probe their reaction to this unacceptable act was assured of their strong condemnation.

The Middle East Council of Churches is the voice of the Eastern Churches worldwide and is committed to the dialogue of life together towards equality in citizenship and to the Arab rightful causes. The MECC will not renounce its role in promoting Christian-Muslim dialogue for peaceful coexistence.

The MECC Communication Department has dealt with all technical matters to re-establish the website.

The MECC apologizes to all its website visitors for the inconvenience caused.

Christian Hospitals’ Directors and Doctors Discuss Palliative Care for Cancer Patients

A Conference organized by the MECC Unit on Life and Service/Health Program for Christian Hospitals’ Directors and Doctors took place on January 17, 2007 in Cairo Egypt. The Conference was hosted by H.H. Pope Schenouda III in the Coptic Papal Residence. Around 130 participants, including hospital directors, medical doctors and specialist, church representatives and clergy, from all regions of Egypt attended the Conference.

Following the opening addresses delivered by the MECC General Secretary, H.H. Pope Shenouda III and Life and Service Unit director, three specialists in palliative care for cancer patients. 2 from the UK and 1 in Egypt introduced concepts and practices in palliative care.

Topics presented and discussed included: palliative care (definition, practices and implications) and the interdisciplinary team approach in healing patients and dealing with their families and community at large; experiences and practices in palliative care (with global statistical information; age, gender and frequency in cancer and drug administration policies for the relief of pain in cancer patients.

Presentations were followed by inter active debates and lengthy discussions, leading to recommendations for follow up by the Local Health Committee in Egypt. For more information, kindly contact Unit Director, Ms. Seta Hadeshian at: meccls@cyberia.net.lb

Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The MECC Unit on Faith and Unity organized the week of prayer that extended from January 18-25, 2007. It was marked by the many events organized in the different countries of the Middle East region.

The Unit habitually translates into Arabic the international common text proposed by the WCC and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and adapts it to the special conditions in the Middle East. This year prayer booklets were published (10 000 copies of 46 pages) along with colored posters (2000) and cards with a prayer for Unity (160 000). These were widely distributed to Churches and related institutions. The Unit cooperated with local churches in organizing the inaugural celebrations of the Week of Prayer in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.

In Lebanon, the inaugural ecumenical celebration was held in the Syrian orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, on January 18, 2007. A concert was held jointly with ATIME at the end of the week in the Chapel of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in the Kaslik Holy Spirit University, in Jounieh. A panel discussion on the ecumenical movement and spirituality was aired live on the local TV Channel Ttélélumière/Noursat, and two lectures were delivered by the Unit director in the Jesuit “College Notre Dame de Jamhour”, in Zouk for a group of young people.

In Egypt, the local committee celebrated the Week of Prayer from January 22 to 30, 2007, inaugurated in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Madonna (Heliopolis) with a solemn prayer attended by all church leaders. It was a major event that bestowed on this week the importance it deserves, reminding Christians of the necessity of prayer and work for the fulfillment of God’s dearest wish. The daily ecumenical celebrations were held in a different tradition.

In Syria, churches in different regions of Syria celebrated the week of prayer for Christian from January 18-25, 2007, in Aleppo, Hassake, Homs, Lattakia and Damascus. Celebrations and activities reached out to various categories of the community of faithful, especially young men and women. in Aleppo the inauguration took place in the Church of the Holy Cross, in the Armenian Catholic Cathedral, on January 22, 2007, and the ecumenical meeting with youth from different Churches, in Saint Elias Greek Orthodox Church, on January 26, 2007. In Homs, ecumenical celebrations gathered clergy and lay from the various Churches, in the Evangelical Church, on January 26, 2007.

In Jordan, and for the first time for many years now, the Unit succeeded in organizing on January 23, a common ecumenical celebration held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Latin Church in Amman. In addition to an important number of clergy attending, 700 Christians from different denominations prayed together on that occasion. Different satellite channels ensured wide media coverage.

"East-West Intercultural Youth Dialogue"

The MECC Youth Program has organized a study seminar for young Christian and Muslim Europeans and Middle Easterners on the theme: "East-West Intercultural Dialogue & Mutual Understanding". The study seminar will be held at St Christopher's' Conference Centre in Saydnaya/Damascus-Syria, from January 29 to February 2, 2007.

In the process of this unique study seminar, the Youth program will endeavor to explore ways and means of advocating for the dialogue of cultures, rather than conflict. The existing cultural and religious pressures challenge the presence of Christian youth in the Middle East. Nevertheless, they can have a role in the dialogue of cultures, worldwide. The daily program of the seminar will include talks, activity training, thematic and action working groups, visits to Patriarchs and Grand Mufti of Syria, and cultural evenings at the invitation of some European Embassies in Syria. For further information contact Mr. Razek Siriani: rsiriani@scs-net.org, www.meccyouth.org

MECC General Secretary Meets H.B. Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem and Palestine

The meeting between the Patriarch of Jerusalem and MECC General Secretary held in Amman on January 21, 2007, aimed at discussing Christian presence in the Holy Land, the role of the MECC in the area and the necessity to ensure the participation of Christians in the MECC activities.

MECC General Secretary Attends Annual WCC and REO General Secretaries’ Meeting in Geneva.

The Regional Ecumenical Organizations’ meeting held from January 22-23, 2007 at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva, brought together General Secretaries of both Regional and National Councils of Churches worldwide, to discuss ways and means of strengthening their relations and of facing challenges with the WCC, within the framework of the new structure adopted by the Porto Allegre WCC General Assembly. MECC General Secretary, Mr. Guirgis Saleh who attended the meeting, contributed with a report on the current situation in the Middle East; the challenges faced by the MECC; issues of concern and interest; MECC position, activities and visibility in the region; its relations with other ecumenical organizations and place in the ecumenical movement. For more information, kindly contact Mr. Guirgis Saleh at: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

MECC Justice, Peace &Human Rights Program Pursues Awareness Activities on Stereotyping and Conflict Prevention

The MECC/JPHR program has been organizing series of awareness workshops at the district level in Lebanon, for a whole year now.

Two 2-days workshops took place successively on January 21-22 and 27-28, 2007. The first workshop held within the premises of the Permanent Peace Movement, brought together around 26 participants from different parts of Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the South. Many of those participated in previous sessions organized in other districts. These are now ready trained to multiply the impact of the project by conducting themselves workshops at the level of their respective communities.

The second workshop took place in the Lebanese Evangelical Institute For Social Work and Development in Mount Lebanon and was a follow up to the first, aiming at deepening knowledge and techniques.

Church and NGO representatives participated, offering their experiences and reviewing their projects in light of new techniques in negotiation, mediation and conflict management. Testimonies exchanged focused on the integration of new initiatives in the field of prevention of conflict at different levels of life. It was stated that Building a Culture of Justice and Peace should avoid the perpetuation of theories but instead, question them in order to grasp their real meaning. The workshop concluded that, “mudslides engender conflicts and never generate fruitful action. Generalities can no longer be perpetuated; we need to focus on some issues to give a clear diagnosis and real-life solutions”.

For more information, kindly contact JPHR Coordinator, Ms. Alexa Abi Habib at: mecccypr@spidernet.com.cy

MECC Staff Bid Farewell to ACT partners in Lebanon

A small gathering was organized on Friday, January 27 morning, by the MECC/ ICNDR Program team to bid farewell to the ACT partners (NCA, DCA) and ACT Coordinator and Finance Officer leaving Lebanon, having completed their emergency relief work in Lebanon. MECC General Secretary, ICNDR Director and other members of the MECC staff thanked the ACT team members for their dedication help and support to the MECC emergency relief work after the July 2006 war on Lebanon. In turn, ACT partners also thanked the MECC and ICNDR team for their collaboration and help in these difficult times.

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