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International Ecumenical Relations Email: mecc@cyberia.net.lb June, 2007
MECC Presidents Met at Anba Ruweis – Cairo At the invitation of H.H Pope Shenouda III, Presidents of MECC and SCAF committee met at the Papal Residency in Anba Ruweis – Cairo (21 June). MECC General Secretary reported on the latest development and action taken by the Council including the preparations for the Assembly, the partners’ meeting, the latest relief appeal for the Palestinians in Lebanon and other related issues. Pope Shenouda thanked the GS on his endeavors in maintaining the role of MECC in the region. For further information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
Ecumenical German Church Delegation visited Lebanon & Egypt Under the theme of “Challenges to the Christian Presence in a Changing World”, and at the invitation of MECC, an ecumenical high rank German Church delegation visited Lebanon and Egypt (23 – 28 June). The delegation is composed of 17 Catholic and Protestant Bishops, Pastors, and lay both men and women representing the following churches and church related organizations: EKD, EMW, EED, Catholic Bishops Conference, Missio Aachen. The joint Consultation panels that were held between MECC and churches in Germany during the visits aimed at discussing the situation of Christians in the Middle East, challenges to their Christian presence in the midst of political and religious upheavals, the Christian-Muslim relations, and reflection on the German church situation and perspectives in these respects. The delegation met several Heads of Churches in both Lebanon and Egypt: H.B Cardinal Sfeir, H.H. Catholicos Aram I, H.H. Pope Shenouda III, H.E Rev Dr Salim Sahyouni, H.E Rev Dr Safwat Al-Bayadi, as well as Muslim leaders: H.E Great Sheikh of Azhar. Many important papers were presented during the consultations discussions which were presented by both Christians and Muslims. The German delegation paid a special visit to the University of Azhar in Cairo. Dr Johannes Friedrich Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria expressed his joy of learning from church leaders and others about the real situation of Christians in this region as well as the Christian-Muslim relations. Auxiliary Bishop Dr Hans-Jochen Jaschke of the Catholic stressed on the importance of such bilateral visits which support the ongoing relationships between churches in the ME as well as MECC. The MECC General Secretary as well as other senior staff accompanied the delegations in their visits. The MECC GS mentioned that “for MECC and churches in this region it is a unique occasion to receive such an ecumenical German church delegation which enhances the advocacy work that MECC is doing regarding the Christian presence in the ME”. The Consultation and the visit of the German ecumenical delegation will continue through a process of continuing communication, dialogue, reflection and exchange of visits.
For further information contact MECC/IER: mecc@cyberia.net.lb, rsiriani@scs-net.org
WCC held International Peace Conference in the Middle East Representative of Christian churches and church related organizations all over the world met in Amman - Jordan (17-21 June 2007) at the call of the World Council of Churches to launch the “Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum”. The conference convened to mark the 40th years of Israel occupation to Palestine. According to the WCC Central Committee decision, the Forum was an instrument to “catalyze and coordinate new and existing church advocacy for peace, aimed at ending the illegal occupation in accordance with UN resolutions, and demonstrate its commitment to inter-religious action for peace and justice that serves all the peoples of the region”. The Forum as such will be a space to develop comprehensive approaches for peace building that could help in ending the occupation, strengthening and identifying new models of church solidarity in action, and develop a long-term advocacy strategy. The MECC was represented by its General Secretary and the director of International Relations and the director of MECC Amman office who coordinated the overall preparations for the conference. The General Secretary addressed the conference at the opening session by confirming the stands of MECC of “supporting the calls of the Heads of Churches in Palestine for peace and justice, defending the right of Palestinians of self-determination, and the right of refugees return”. The General Secretary expressed the MECC “deep concern about the situation of Christians in the Holy Land and urges the world to contribute effectively towards the implementation of UN resolutions which may bring peace to the Middle East region. HRH Prince Gazi Bin Mohammad received the WCC General Secretary accompanied by the MECC General Secretary and another six WCC representatives on behalf of His Majesty King Abdullah II. They discussed the objectives of the WCC Peace Conference, and the final statement, HRH Prince Gazi fully supported the mission of the WCC. Following an Orthodox Vesper prayer, eighty WCC participants visited the Baptism Site at the Jordan River and planted an “olive tree of peace” at the site to commemorate the occasion. For further information contact: mecc@cyberia.net.lb, wafa_mecc@go.com.jo, www.wcc-coe.org
World Refugee Day Celebration was celebrated in Lebanon UNHCR, MECC and organization members of Arc en Ciel, Caritas, Amel, Danish Refugee Council, and many others celebrated the World Refugee Day on the 20th of June at the UNHCR Community Center in Tayyouneh - Lebanon. UNHCR representative Mr. Ayaki, UNHCR Detention officer, spoke on behalf of UNHCR Regional Director Mr. Stephan Jaquemet recognizing that being refugee required courage and meant escaping from death, leaving families behind and beginning a new life in totally different circumstances and countries. The Refugee Day was celebrated in the presence of more than 100 refugees. An exhibition of paintings of 10 Iraqi artists as well as women’s handworks was displayed at the Community Center. An Iraqi Refugee adolescent girl and a Sudanese refugee boy recited a poem on being a refugee. There were much applauded. MECC Unit on Life & Service Director Seta Hadeshian and SRDM Staff were present at the celebration. A reception followed the World Refugee Day Celebration. For further information contact MECC/Life & Service Unit: meccls@cyberia.net.lb
MECC/DSPR Participation at the WCC Global Ecumenical Network Meeting on Migration - GEM The WCC Global Ecumenical Network (GEM) met in Nairobi, Africa, hosted by the All Africa Churches Commission (AACC) at Desmund Tutu Conference Center, from 5-8 June, 2007. 35 participants from Europe, Australia, Canada, Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, shared migration realities and concerns. As a result of wars, ethnic persecution, unemployment, poverty and climate changes; uprootedness is increasing in disproportionate figures making migration phenomenon an imperative issue challenging the churches to rediscover their identity, vocation and mission as the church of the stranger and to get involved in the ministry of uprooted in responding to the needs and issues of refugees, displaced and migrants. GEM meeting discussed the uncertainties on the future of Migration Justice Program within the WCC and funding projects, stemming from WCC 9th General Assembly to prioritize challenges. A letter of appeal on this matter to the WCC General Secretary was issued by GEM members. The Iraqi war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the outflow of Christian populations from the Middle East, poverty in Africa and global warming in the Pacific and the demeaning role of UNHCR, were reported to be the issues causing migration worldwide. It was expected that issues related to migration be addressed in a more ecumenical thinking and cooperation. Furthermore, participants were provided with information on the Migration and Development Conference that will be held in Brussels in July 2007 and the Public Hearing on the theme of Migration Realities and Changing the Ecclesial Context of Migration to be held in early 2008 in the Middle East. It is expected that members of GEM, WCC and CCME will participate in it. MECC members to the GEM meeting were: Mrs Seta Hadeshian, Director of the Unit on Life and Service, and Mr George Hazou DSPR Chairperson. For further information contact MECC/Life & Service Unit: meccls@cyberia.net.lb
MECC/ACT Rapid Reaction of Humanitarian Relief to Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Since the clashes broke out on the 2oth of May between the Lebanese National Army and the armed group of “Fateh Al-Islam’ in Nahr El-Bared Palestinian Camp (North of Lebanon), thousand of Palestinian civilian refugees were displaced for another time into other refugee neighboring camps. It is estimated that 25.000 persons was displaced including children, women, and elderly. As a consequence, the MECC/ICNDR (Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief) in cooperation with ACT International (Action by Churches Together) reacted immediately to the situation by providing humanitarian assistant to refugee displaced people in kind of more than 1000 packages of food items, 2728 boxes of diapers, and 8333 of sanitary napkins. The relief items were distributed to people regardless their religious affiliation. Refugees were highly appreciative for this initiative of support. For further information and support contact MECC/ICNDR Program: icndr@cyberia.net.lb, mecc@cyberia.net.lb
MECC General Secretary Visited the Archbishop of Cyprus On 1st of June, the MECC General Secretary visited H.B Archbishop Chrystophoros II of Head of the Church of Cyprus. The visit aimed at extending the invitation to His Beatitude for the MECC General Assembly which will take place in Cyprus (November 26-30). H.B. welcomed the Assembly to be held in Cyprus and gave support to provide all possible facilities. For further information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
MECC Participation at SAT 7 meeting The MECC General Secretary participated at the General board of SAT 7 Satellite Christian TV channels which took place in Cyprus on June 1st. The GS is a member on the Board of SAT 7. This Christian satellite TV channel is one among other channels which broadcast ecumenical activities related to MECC. For further information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
A Lecture on Ecumenical Relations At the invitation of H.E Bishop Mounir Hanna, Head of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, the MECC General Secretary lectured in Cairo (8 June) on the “Ecumenical Relations between Churches in the ME”. He referred to the theological dialogues between churches on both global and regional levels. For further information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
MECC General Assembly The preparations for the MECC General Assembly have started by sending out the invitations to member churches, partners, and ecumenical councils. For this purpose, the General Secretary had several meetings with Heads of Churches in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Cyprus. The Assembly will be the 9th in the life of the Council and will take place in Cyprus (26 – 30 November 2007). The Executive Committee in its last meeting in Cairo has chosen the following theme for the Assembly “speaking for Christ, as though God Himself were making His Appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The Assembly sets the general guidelines and ecumenical strategy of the council for the next four years, elects a General Secretary, and nominates members of the Central committee. Attendance of the Assembly will be MECC Presidents, Heads of Churches in the Middle East, MECC Executive Members representatives of MECC member churches, partners, representatives of other world ecumenical councils, and special guests. Donations to this event are welcomed to MECC Bank account: For further details contact the General Secretariat office: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
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