wfn.org | MECC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN CYPRUS

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

The MECC Executive Committee (the highest governing body delegated by the
Assembly), met in the Holy Monastery of Kykkos ­ Cyprus (29 September ­ 1
October 2008). MECC Executive Committee expressed its sincere gratitude to
His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus
and H.E Bishop Necophoros Head of Kykkos Monastery for their generous
gesture of hosting this meeting with great hospitality. The welcoming
address was read on behalf of the Archbishop of Cyprus in which he affirms
the essentiality of returning ³back to the belief and way of living of the
ancient church, because through this return the unity of Christians and the
effective presence of local Churches in a world which faces a lot of social
problems are guaranteed². The meeting which was moderated by the Presidents
of the Council received, reviewed and approved the reports from the Units,
Departments and Program of Diakonia and Social Justice, Faith and Unity,
Education and Leadership, Christian Presence, Communication, International
Relations, Planning and Evaluation, Human Rights, Christian-Muslim dialogue ,
Relief and humanitarian services to Iraqis, ICNDR program as well as financ e
report. The fifteen pages report of the General Secretary Mr Guirgis Saleh
which was presented at the opening session highlighted the activities of th e
Council during the last nine months and the role of MECC in a turbulent
region, reported the challenges of the new MECC structure in terms of
implementation and recommended strategy of financial support to MECC. The
report was well received and approved. The Committee assessed the progress
done in the restructuring scheme since March 2008, and recommended to amend
the trial period of the new structure from one year to one year and a half.
The new structure will be assessed at the next Executive Committee meeting
which will take place in Lebanon, and will be hosted by Metropolitan Boulos
Matar President of the Council (30 September ­ 1 October 2009). Moreover,
the Committee accepted the recommendation of the General Secretary in
reinstituting the Program of ³Justice, Peace and Human Rights JPHR² under
the programs related to the General Secretariat. The meeting which is the
second in one year time discussed in depth the financial situation of the
Council, its external relations with partners and churches in the West, and
the plans of activities. The Commissions of the Units and Departments met o n
the second day in small groups to discuss the plans and activities, and
recommended strategies of work for these Units. The Executive Committee
approved the financial budget, the financial strategy of encouraging local
contribution of churches, and the progress work achieved in the ICNDR
Program.  As a sign of ownership to the Council, the Committee approved the policy of
having the member churches hosting the regular Executive Committee meetings
from (2009 ­ 2011), and that member of the Executive Committee will pay
their own travel expenses. The Committee sent a letter to H.H. Pope Shenoud a
III of the Coptic Orthodox Church and a Honorary MECC President, beseeching
God for his quick recovery and return to Egypt. The Committee offered a
special prayer for the Bishops, Priests and Christians who died because of
the violent actions in Iraq.

The Committee adopted a final statement which reflected the issues discusse d
and the stands of member churches in unity, justice and peace, respect of
human dignity and the principle of equality in the rights and duties in
citizenship. The statement refused also all sorts of violations
of human rights and the killing of innocent people.

For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

Visit: www.mec-churches.org <http://www.mec-churches.org>  for detailed
reports of the Units and Departments.

>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/