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International Ecumenical Relations Email: mecc@cyberia.net.lb June, 2008
COMMENCEMENT AT THE EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CAIRO On May 30, 2008 the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo held its 137th Commencement ceremony. Of the 17 graduates, 3 received their Masters degree, 12 their BA degree, and 2 received Diplomas in theological studies. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the 1958 graduates, in the presence of the Seminary and Synod Presidents. MECC General Secretary represented the Council on this occasion. For more information: www.etsc.org
BLESSING OF THE HOLY MURON IN THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE IN ANTELIAS On June 7, 2008, H.H. Aram I performed the blessing of the Holy Muron in the Catholicosate of Cilicia, in the presence of a great number of believers who came to witness this event. Representatives from all the dioceses of the Catholicosate and from the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople as well as representatives of various Churches, the Nuncio Apostolic and government officials in Lebanon, were also present. The MECC General Secretary attended this event. For more information: www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org
WCC GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS EGYPT At the invitation of MECC General Secretary, the WCC General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia and six members of a delegation visited Egypt (16-21 June) to express solidarity with WCC member churches and promote relations with Muslim leaders. During the successful encounters with Heads and Leaders of WCC member churches as well as other religious and secular figures in Cairo and Alexandria, Dr. Kobia and the delegation learned about the situation of the churches in Egypt and discuss WCC activities in the Middle East. Dr Kobia and his delegation met with Church leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Evangelical Synod of Nile (Rev. Dr. Safwat Al-Bayyadi), the Greek Orthodox Church (His Beatitude patriarch Theodoros II), and the Anglican Church (Bishop Mounir Hanna). The WCC delegation was welcomed by H.E Anba Bishoy of Domiate from the Coptic Orthodox Church on behalf of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III who for reasons of travelling outside Egypt was not able to receive the delegation. Dr Kobia met with WCC members of the Central Committee in Egypt and exchanged with them the activities of the Council. The delegation visited old churches and monasteries in the desert of Egypt. The necessity of peace in the Middle East was highlighted during the visits and meetings with church and Muslim leaders, as well as politicians. Impetus for the talks comes from the Amman Call: a document about how churches must commit to working for peace in the Middle East was signed by over 130 representatives of churches and Christian organizations from six continents in June 2007. A meeting with General Secretary of the League of Arab Nations Dr. Amro Mousa was an opportunity to exchange with him perspectives on justice and peace in the Middle East. The visit also promoted interreligious dialogue through the meetings with high rank Muslim leaders: the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, the Grand Imam of Azhar, and the Minister of Awqaf (Religious Affairs). The delegation visited Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo. During the visit, Dr. Kobia did some interviews on Al-Jazeera TV channel and the Coptic TV (CTV), and Aghabi satellite channel in which he expressed the stands of the WCC regarding peace in the Middle East and the role of WCC in advocating for justice and peace. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb And website: www.wcc-coe.org
MECC/IER DIRECTOR PARTICIPATS IN A CONSULTATION FOR THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADDA The United Church of Canada (UCC) organized a global consultation for its worldwide partners during the period of (11-14 June) in Toronto. The consultation which brought 65 participants from the South and the North of the world, provided a space for both UCC and its partners to share ideas and perspectives on different UCC working papers: partnership and practices, peace policy “responsibility to protect’ vulnerable people, living faithfully in the midst of “empire”, and sexual orientation. The consultation brought to the attention of UCC the concerns of its partners regarding the different draft working papers which will be drafted at alter stage to the UCC General Assembly in August 2009. Given the fact that MECC is an ecumenical partner with UCC and Kairos, Mr. Razek Siriani, the Director of International Ecumenical Relations, participated in the UCC Consultation and had some private meetings with the staff informing them about the current situations in the Middle East and highlighted the significant role of MECC in the midst of various conflicts and challenges. For more information contact: rsiriani@scs-net.org
WCC LAUNCHES A WEEK OF CHURCH ACTION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE In Jerusalem and around the world, the WCC launched a week of action for peace in the Middle East for peace. Different churches around the world (4 – 10 June) organized ecumenical services and praying for peace for “a land much in need of peace". Churches used a prayer from the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem that asks for political leaders "courageous enough to sign a treaty […] that puts an end to the occupation imposed by one people on another, granting freedom to Palestinians, giving security to Israelis and freeing us all from fear." According to WCC news, participants in the action week are urging national leaders to play a more active role in promoting a just resolution of the conflict. Churches are speaking to foreign ministries and parliamentarians in places like Australia, Hungary, Scotland and South Africa. In Norway the foreign minister and a Palestinian church leader will address a multi-religious peace service. Raising church and public awareness about the Israel-Palestine conflict is a major aspect of the week. A mission society in Germany has invited 23 partner churches in ten countries to take part, reaching out as far as Ghana and Japan. The Church of Ceylon is working to educate its parishes. Young people in the Philippines will debate and sing peace songs at a youth café. Church groups in the Netherlands are sponsoring intercultural concerts, inter-religious seminars and international documentaries to air different points of view about the need for peace. The initiative is known as 'International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008'. The Jerusalem prayer and message have been distributed to parishes and individuals in up to 100 countries. On this occasion, the MECC General Secretary sent a prayer message to churches in Palestine which was widely distributed. For more information: www.wcc-coe.org
ISRAEL IS DEPORTING JERUSALEM CHRISTIANS Hundreds of Jerusalem Christians are loosing residency rights in their City due to policies of the Israeli Ministry of Interior. The policy that aims to reduce the number of non-Jews in the City takes its toll on families and individuals who hold residency permits at foreign countries. No matter how long they travel abroad, no matter if they were born in Jerusalem before or after Israel occupied East Jerusalem, they are considered visitors in their own city. Palestinian Christians who make today not more than 9,000 will lose 15% of their population as a result of this policy. While Jews from all over the world and even converts to Judaism are allowed to immigrate to Israel under the Israeli “Law of Return”, the indigenous Jerusalemites are considered temporary residents. Originally, Seven years of being out of Jerusalem was the deadline for losing one's right to live in his own city. Now, only a proof of residency in another country is enough for Israel to consider Jerusalem as not "the center of life" for this person or family and thus deny them the right of living in their home town once they travel abroad. In addition to this particular policy, the Israeli authorities are still implementing other regulations aiming at further decreasing the numbers of Palestinian, Christians and Moslems, in Jerusalem. From freezing the law of family reunion to impossible requirements for building in the city, to the Separation Wall that separated hundreds from the center of Jerusalem. Palestinian Christians of the city will soon lose half of their population. The local Churches in Jerusalem are gravely concerned, and join the call of their communities to put an end to Israel's policies and refuse any kind of exclusivity over the City. At this stage Israel cannot be entrusted in the fate of this Holy City and its people. The International and Christian Communities need to act fast to defuse Israeli policies at the highest level. Quoted from source: Laity Committee in the Holy Land
WCC FAITH & ORDER STANDING COMMISSION MEETS IN CAIRO Hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church the WCC Faith & Order Standing Commission met at St Mark’s Conference Centre in Cairo (16 -22 June). Commissioners heard the reports on bilateral dialogues, uniting and united, BEM, one baptism, ecclesiology, common witness and other related activities reports. They discussed these reports in working groups, and focused on project on moral discernment. The WCC General Secretary greeted the meeting with words of encouragements. The WCC General Secretary, the MECC General Secretary and the Commissioners were received by Patriarch Theodoros II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All Africa. Patriarch Theodoros II bestowed on Kobia the Cross of the Patriarchate and congratulated him upon his contribution to the WCC. Source: www.wcc-coe.org
NEW PATRIACH IS ENTHRONED FOR THE LATIN CHURCH IN JERUSALEM On the 22nd of June 2008 the new Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Al-Tawal was enthronement for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. MECC General Secretary sent a letter of congratulation to His Beatitude expressing deep concerns towards peace and justice in Palestine. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
IN PARISH AND
PARLIAMENT, CHURCHES OF 40 COUNTRIES GIVE WITNESS FOR MID-EAST PEACE The activities were part of a joint advocacy initiative, "International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel, 4-10 June 2008", convened by the World Council of Churches. Many used a special prayer for the week from church leaders and a common message saying "It's time for Palestinians and Israelis to share a just peace". At a Canberra press conference, a statement signed by 57 leaders of churches and specialized ministries called on the Australian government to give a much higher priority to working for peace in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. A Member of Parliament then put the church recommendations on record.
At parliament in
Edinburgh, 70 politicians and religious leaders addressed the
international silence over the blockade of Gaza and the international
complicity in not implementing United Nations resolutions on the
conflict. The head of the Scottish Episcopal Church urged people in
Scotland who are "free to denounce injustice" to support Palestinians
and Israelis who persist in working for peace with justice. Quoted from WCC resources: www.wcc-coe.org
INTER-ORTHODOX CONSULTATION ON WOMEN
An inter-orthodox
consultation was held at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies in
Greece from June 8-12, under the title "Participation of Orthodox Women
in the Ecumenical Movement: Past, Present, Future...And many were
there...(Mt.27:55)". For more information contact: mmilki@hotmail.com
INTERRELIGIOUS AND INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE IN AUSTRIA The head of unit for the Dialogue of Cultures in the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs organized a consultation on "Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue from Gender Perspectives", June22-28. MECC Director of Unit on Education & Leadership Development Ms. Wafa Gousous represented the Council in this consultation. For more information contact: wafa_mecc@go.com.jo
SAT 7 BOARD MEETS IN LEBANON On the 27th of June, SAT 7 (Christian Satellite TV channel) board met in Beith Ania – Lebanon to discuss the Christian presence in the Middle East with a special focus on Iraq. MECC General Secretary was present in this meeting and encouraged SAT 7 to cover the activities of MECC in serving the Iraqi refuges and displaced people in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
Diakonia & Social Justice Unit Director participates in the UNHCR Pre Ex-Com Meeting June 2008 UNHCR Annual Consultations with Non Governmental Organizations took place on June 25-26 2008, at the International Conference Center, Palais Des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. 200 organizations with 300 representatives participated in it. MECC was represented by Diakonia and Social Justice Unit Director Ms. Seta Hadeshian as implementing partner to UNHCR in Lebanon. The major themes on Refugees focused on 10 areas: “How UNHCR and its partner organizations can increase use of Human Rights mechanisms as tools for the protection of persons of concern ”. “Using a rights-based approach to protect women and children at risk.” “ Improving protection and assistance to IDP’s in host communities” “Exploring new areas of cooperation in resettlement between UNHCR and NGO-identification and advocacy ” “After 10 years how are the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement used in the field.” “Ensuring post primary education for adolescents and youth and employment creation” “The governance of refugee law” “The shrinking of humanitarian space: impact and challenges” “Realizing the rights to nationality, concrete steps to reduce statelessness” “”Urban refugees : protection access to public health and HIV services. ” An NGO statement conveying the concerns and the recommendations of NGOs was issued on the third day to be taken into consideration by UNHCR Pre EXCOM in October. Preparatory meeting to UNHCR annual consultations took place at the WCC Ecumenical Center, in Geneva on the 24th of June, where WCC member churches to Migration and Social Justice program participated. They were from Australia, Canada, USA, Asia, and the Middle East. MECC Diakonia and Social Justice Unit Director Ms. Seta Hadeshian participated in it presenting a paper on the M.E. Refugee situation. For more information contact: meccls@cyberia.net.lb
Unit on Diakonia & Social Justice holds Prison Ministry Training Workshop in Lebanon “Human Rights Approach to Prison Management” was the theme of two training workshops organized by MECC Unit on Diakonia & Social Justice, in joint collaboration with the Human Rights Bar Association and Lebanese General Security that took place on June 11 and 24, at the Human Rights Institute. The workshop is the fourth and the fifth in the series of training the personnel of national institutions. It focused on the General Security personnel directly involved with detention issues in detention centers. The training started with the Lebanese national anthem and the opening words addressed by the Directors of the Human Rights Bar Association and MECC/ Diakonia & Social Justice Unit and representative of the Lebanese General Security.
The training provided the opportunity for the participants to discuss the existing national laws, their implications and application in reference to the International Human rights laws. The need to collaborate and to coordinate with different ministries and national sectors and with the civil society actors to promote life and situation in detention centers, it recognized the need to bring the prisons under the management of the Ministry of Justice. It focused on the understanding and application of national laws and conventions ratified by the Lebanese government.
The training ended with the closing remarks of the General Security Director, Colonel Ma’arouf Itani. Director of MECC Diakonia and Social Justice, Seta Hadeshian, closed the workshop thanking the organizers and the participants, emphasizing the importance of the training and underlining the need for coordination to promote the standard of prison life and enhance the reintegration of the prisoners as constructive element of the society. Certificates were issued as sign of recognition, appreciation and encouragement to the participants This training is the fifth in the series started in 2007. For more information contact: meccls@cyberia.net.lb
MECC/ Diakonia & Social Justice Unit Celebrates the World Refugee Day
In solidarity with
the world refugees, and in partnership with UNHCR, MECC Diakonia &
Social Justice Unit and partner humanitarian organizations, Caritas IMC,
ArcEn Ciel, AMEL Association, Insan, NTC IECD, MDM AJEM RESTART, Al
Majmouaa organized and celebrated the World Refugee Day with a series of
activities during June 20-27, 2008. Official representatives of the
Interior Security Forces, national authorities, International
Humanitarian Organizations and Regional Director of OHCHR were present.
For more information contact: meccls@cyberia.net.lb
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a fellowship of churches in the Middle East, which foster the ecumenical movement in the region. It brings together almost all the region’s Christians in a body that focuses on strengthening the relations between churches, between Christians and non-Christians in the region, and between members of the body of Christ within and outside the region. In bringing these different churches together, MECC seeks to serve the needs of the broader society, by engaging in diakonical work, advocacy, education and training on behalf of the whole church, rather than one part of it. The MECC is founded in 1974 through its first General Assembly. The Council’s head quarter is in Beirut, Lebanon. However, regional offices in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Jerusalem exist.
Contact: MECC International Ecumenical Relations For Contribution:
Middle
East Council of Churches
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