wfn.org | NCCCUSA HIGH RANK DELEGATION VISITS THE REGION

[mecc <mecc@cyberia.net.lb>]

A delegation from the National Council of Churches of USA top leaders
visited Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon during the period of July
22-August 2. The delegation was composed of H.E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
(President of the NCCCUSA), Rev Dr. Mickael Kinnamon (General Secretary of
NCCCUSA), and Dr. Peter Makari (Executive Director for Middle East and
coordinator of the visit). The visit aimed at building solidarity with
churches in the Middle East as well as learning about their perspectives on
coexistence and tolerance, and exchange discussions with Muslim figures.
In Amman - Jordan, the delegation met with Archbishop Vendiktos of the Gree k
Orthodox Church and discussed with him the issue of Christian presence. The
delegation met with His Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal with whom they wen t
through a variety of global issues. They also met with His Excellency
Senator Akal Baltaji, and the director of the Royal Institute for
Inter-Faith studies Mr. Hassan Abu-Nimah. MECC Director of Amman office Ms.
Wafa Gousous facilitated and coordinated the program of the visit in Jordan .
In Damascus - Syria, the highlight of the agenda of visit was the meeting
with His Excellency the President of the country Dr. Bachar Al-Assad who
welcomed the stand of NCCCUSA with regard to the peace in the Middle East
and their opposition to the war in Iraq. The delegation had several meeting s
with church leaders: His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Hazim IV of the Greek
Orthodox Church, Rev. Botrous Za¹our of the Evangelical National Arab
Church, H.E. Bishop Armach Nalbidian of the Armenian Orthodox Church, and
representatives of His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios Laham of the Greek
Melkite Catholic Church. NCC delegation expressed their solidarity with
churches, heard about the witness of the churches in the Middle East, and
acknowledged the work of MECC and national churches in supporting Iraqi
refugees. The delegation met with high ranking Muslim leaders namely: the
Grand Mufti of Syria and the Director of Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro Centre with
whom they exchanged with them issues related to Christian-Muslim relations.
MECC General Secretary Mr Guirgis Saleh, Mr. Samer Laham, Director of
Damascus office (who facilitated and coordinated the program of visit), and
Mr. Razek Siriani, Director of International Ecumenical Relations
accompanied the delegation.
In Beirut ­ Lebanon, the delegation met with MECC General Secretary and
senior staff and heard from them about MECC activities and mission in the
region. The delegation met with church leaders: Rev Dr. Salim Sahyouni
(President of the Higher Council of Evangelical Churches in Syria &
Lebanon), H.E. Metropolitan Boulos Matar (President of MECC), H.E.
Archbishop Elias Aude (Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church in Beirut),
H.E. Archbishop George Saliba (Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in
Mount Lebanon), H.E. Bishop Nareg Alemezian (representing His Holiness
Catholicose Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church), and Rev Megredij
Karakozian (President of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Church). In his
statement Rev. Dr. Kinnamon welcomed the relations with MECC and churches i n
the Middle East in building bridges of understanding and solidarity. He
affirmed his hope in the effective role that Christians are playing in the
region, and that NCCUSA is strongly supporting establishing peace in the
Middle East. In this respect, the delegation met also with the Minister of
Communication Dr. Tarek Mitri and exchanged with him issues related to
Lebanon and the region. The delegation met with Muslim leaders: the Grand
Mufti of Lebanon, the vice president of the Shii¹at community, the presiden t
of the Druz community.  The General Secretary and Rev. Dr. Habib Badr
welcomed the delegation at a reception held at the National Evangelical
Church of Beirut upon the invitation of MECC where many eminent Christian
figures were present. The MECC General Secretary hoped that the bilateral
relations between MECC and NCCCUSA will be further developed into joint
activities.        For more information contact: guirgissaleh@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/