55 women representing MECC member churches in Syria met during their annual ecumenical seminar at the St Christopher Conference Centre of the Greek Orthodox Church in Saydnaya, from October 4-7, 2006, around the theme "Meeting the other". Organized by the MECC Women Program, the seminar reflected on the theme and its meaning and the implications of going beyond oneself to reach out to the other. H.E. Bishop Ghattas Hazim, Patriarchal Vicar of the Greek Orthodox Church spoke from an educational perspective of the ³other² in church, family and society, and Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, Syrian Minister of Expatriates, talked about her personal experience as a woman while studying in the UK as she was looked at as the "other". She stressed on the role of religions in promoting acceptance of others, regardless of race, color, gender or belonging. Dr Amal kabous, lecturer at Aleppo University talked about dialogue and listening skills; while Dr Pierre Chiniara listed the challenges of meeting the other. On the agenda, prayers according to Church traditions and Biblical studies on the themes: "love as a fruit of spirit" and "the good Samaritan". For further information contac t Mrs Afaf Chiniara: chiniara@scs-net.org
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/