wfn.org | WCC GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS EGYPT

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

At the invitation of MECC General Secretary, the WCC General Secretary Rev
Dr Samuel Kobia and six members of a delegation visited Egypt (16-21 June)
to express solidarity with WCC member churches and promote relations with
Muslim leaders. 
 <http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/church
-unity-and-interrel.html> During the successful encounters with Heads and
Leaders of WCC member churches as well as other religious and secular
figures in Cairo and Alexandria, Dr. Kobia and the delegation learned about
the situation of the churches in Egypt and discuss WCC activities in the
Middle East. Dr Kobia and his delegation met with Church leaders of the
Coptic Orthodox Church, the Evangelical Synod of Nile (Rev. Dr. Safwat
Al-Bayyadi), the Greek Orthodox Church (His Beatitude patriarch Theodoros
II), and the Anglican Church (Bishop Mounir Hanna). The WCC delegation was
welcomed by H.E Anba Bishoy of Domiate from the Coptic Orthodox Church on
behalf of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III who for reasons of travelling
outside Egypt was not able to receive the delegation. Dr Kobia met with WCC
members of the Central Committee in Egypt and exchanged with them the
activities of the Council. The delegation visited old churches and
monasteries in the desert of Egypt. The necessity of peace in the Middle
East was highlighted during the visits and meetings with church and Muslim
leaders, as well as politicians. Impetus for the talks comes from the Amman
Call: a document about how churches must commit to working for peace in the
Middle East was signed by over 130 representatives of churches and Christian
organizations from six continents in June 2007. A meeting with General
Secretary of the League of Arab Nations Dr. Amro Mousa was an opportunity to
exchange with him perspectives on justice and peace in the Middle East.

The visit also promoted interreligious dialogue through the meetings with
high rank Muslim leaders: the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, the Grand
Imam of Azhar, and the Minister of Awqaf (Religious Affairs). The delegation
visited Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.
During the visit, Dr. Kobia did some interviews on Al-Jazeera TV channel and
the Coptic TV (CTV), and Aghabi satellite channel in which he expressed the
stands of the WCC regarding peace in the Middle East and the role of WCC in
advocating for justice and peace.
For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
And website: www.wcc-coe.org <http://www.wcc-coe.org

>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/
>