wfn.org | MECC Consultation Christian Humanitarian Service Organizations

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

The consultation organized by the MECC International Ecumenical Relations in
collaboration with the Middle East Fellowship-USA, convened from November
24-25, 2005, in Beirut, Lebanon. Around 30 representatives of Christian and
church-related, national, regional and international organizations
participated in this event.

The consultation aimed at establishing a common vision and strategy for
relief and development in the Middle East, at establishing real partnership
and collaboration between them and at exploring together the possibility of
promoting inter-religious understanding for peace, through service.

Participants recognized that service is an expression of their Christian
witness in the multi-faiths society they live in. They affirmed their common
Christian values for upholding human dignity. They recognized they shared
the same definition of development and aspirations to just development and
peace in the region and worldwide. They affirmed their will to work in
cooperation, coordination and collaboration with each other and established
guidelines for their collaboration. They proposed that the MECC be the
facilitator of	their coming together and formed a core group to work on the
elaboration of the guiding principles of collaboration and code of conduct.

In light of the next consultation organized for both Christian and Muslim
Humanitarian Service Organizations (scheduled December 1-2, 2005 and
postponed to March 1-2, 2006) to promote dialogue and discussions for
collaboration between them, participants agreed that they needed to find the
common values with Muslim Organizations serving the poor and underlined the
importance of undertaking joint ventures and of working together on
liberating Middle Easterners from the old traumas of anti-Semitism, the
crusades and the religion of violence, so that they may all live together in
justice and peace.  For more information, kindly contact International
Ecumenical Relations Director, Ms. Aline Papazian at: mecc@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/