Under the theme: ³So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us² (2 Corinthians 5:20), Heads and Leaders of Churches in the Middle East, representatives of member churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholics and Evangelicals), former Executive Committee members, partners, guests, staff and media are gathering at the MECC 9th General Assembly in Paphos/Cyprus (November 26 30).
The Assembly is convening at a time when critical political situations are undergoing in the region. The Presidential vacuum in Lebanon, the Annapolis conference for peace, and the insecurity situation in Iraq, which all feed into situations of instability and fear for the people of the Middle East. The presence of Christians, however, is mostly affected by these situations .
The Assembly is the highest ecumenical governing body of the Council which convenes regularly every four years to evaluate the work achieved, to identify priority issues and programs, and to elect the Presidents of the Council for the next four years, nominate and elect new members of the Executive Committee, and finally elect the General Secretary. The Assembly is also considered an occasion for spiritual meetings between Heads and Leaders of Churches. They assemble in worships, panels, and general discussions. Official letters from different Christian churches and ecumenical organizations as well as from Muslim communities will be read during the Assembly.
The Middle East Council of Churches as a fellowship of churches brings into its membership churches from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq , and Cyprus. Established in 1974, still continues to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ through ecumenical partnership with these churches. It ecumenically serves the churches¹ needs as well as of Christians¹ need for unity, solidarity, diakonia, education, advocacy and dialogue.
Worships and Bible reflections will set the spiritual guidelines for the Assembly.
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/