Around the Theme: ³Expressing our Shared Faith Against Heresies²,the Unit¹s commission met in Cairo on November 9 and 10, 2006, to plan for 2007 activities and to reflect and discuss the theme mentioned above. Unit director, father Gaby Hachem, presented his 2-year report offering proposal s for the future work of the Unit. He asked the commission to elaborate a pla n for next year¹s activities, taking into consideration the points enhanced i n his report. The commission approved the director¹s report and debated about the plan. Two meetings were planned for next February and September (2007) in order to study the issues selected previously concerning the ecclesiolog y and the ecumenical efforts of the Middle East Churches. Discussing these issues will help define the important ecclesiological and ecumenical role o f the MECC. Other programs, especially those concerning the celebration of th e Week of Prayers for the Christian Unity and the Ecumenical Parish Ministers ¹ Encounters were also discussed.
The commission allocated two sessions for the discussion of the issue: ³expressing our shared Faith against Heresis². The danger presented by the ³Da Vinci Code² book and movie was discussed and ideas about new sects and heresies were shared. The Commission proposed that a study be undertaken addressing the following questions: 1. Whatis the definition of Sect and Heresy? 2. Whatare the roots and causes of Sects and Heresies? 3. Howcan our Churches express their common Faith against them?
The General Secretary, Mr. Guirguis Saleh took part in some sessions of the meeting. He spoke of the MECC¹s special efforts during the last war against Lebanon and answered some questions about financial aspects of the Unit¹s budget. For further information, please contact: Fr. Gaby Hachem at: meccfu@cyberia.net.lb
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/