Participants at the MECC 9th Assembly discussed in depth the Middle East Council of Churches¹ restructuring document. Heads of Churches and delegate s worked on shaping the future administrative and programmatic structures of the Council including the relationships with partners¹ churches and organizations.
Nominating committee prepared for the elections of Presidents, new Executiv e Committee members, Associate General Secretaries and General Secretary. According to MECC¹s By Laws, four Presidents should be nominated representing the four families of Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholics, and Evangelicals), 24 Executive Committee Members, three Associates, and the General Secretary. The election of the General Secretary will take place on Friday the 30th.
More official messages were received and delivered during this day. A message from the European Council of Churches was delivered by Dr. Jean Arnold De Clermont who stressed on the importance of building partnership with MECC and churches in the Middle East. He added: ³Europe, the Christian in faith and secular in politics, is standing side by side with you and you r visions so that we may together work for a world of peace and reconciliation².
Rev. Dr. Victor Makari read the message sent by Dr. Peter E. Makari on behalf of Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the Christia n Church (Disciples of Christ) in the USA in which he confirmed that the churches in the USA is working in full capacity to advocate for justice in the Middle East region. Annapolis, he said,² is a fruit of that work².
The message from the Lutheran World Federation which was delivered by H.E. Bishop Mounib Younan, expressed the concern about peace in the Middle East region, and that ³any peace which is not based on justice will fall apart².
The Council of Norwegian Churches called for the configuration of the ecumenical work and movement between churches in the Middle East region and partnership with churches in the West.
In honor of the Assembly, the Lebanese Ambassador in Cyprus invited the Heads of Churches and delegates for dinner.