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On final day in Lebanon, WCC general secretary finds in-depth dialogues

On his final day in a visit to Lebanon, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay met with His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Patriarchal Edifice-Bkerke, in the presence of the Patriarchal Vicar General His Eminence Bishop Paul Sayah.

Promoting human dignity through art

“Affirming justice and human dignity”  was the theme of the fourth thematic plenary of the World Council of Churches(WCC) 11th assembly on 6 September. The presentation featured a wheelchair dance performance by Fadi El Halabi, a wheelchair user and Ms. Karen Abi Nader, an international artist. In the freestyle dance, Halabi effortlessly spinned around his wheelchair and,  with slow coordinated moves together with his dance partner, threw hands in the air symbolizing the joy that can only be felt when all exclusionary and disempowerment practices in church and society are addressed.

La délégation du COE en visite en Syrie, exprime sa solidarité avec celles et ceux qui «restent avec détermination dans leur pays»

Le secrétaire général par intérim du Conseil œcuménique des Églises (COE), le père Ioan Sauca, s’est rendu en Syrie, aux côtés du secrétaire général du Conseil des Églises du Moyen-Orient (MECC), Michel Abs, du secrétaire général de l’Alliance ACT, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, et du conseiller principal du COE pour la consolidation de la paix, Michel Nseir.

ÖRK-Delegation erklärt sich beim Besuch in Syrien solidarisch mit Menschen, „die unerschütterlich in ihrem Land bleiben“

Gemeinsamer Syrien-Besuch des geschäftsführenden Generalsekretärs des Ökumenischen Rats der Kirchen (ÖRK), Priester Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, mit dem Generalsekretär des Kirchenrats des Nahen Ostens, Dr. Michel Abs, und dem Generalsekretär von ACT Alliance, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, sowie dem ÖRK-Programmreferenten zur Friedensarbeit, Michel Nseir.

La Semana de oración por la unidad cristiana en imágenes

Este año, las oraciones por la unidad han adoptado una forma diferente, pero han podido tener lugar a pesar de las limitaciones generalizadas a la hora de celebrar las reuniones presenciales. Las imágenes de estas celebraciones en todo el mundo transmiten la riqueza espiritual de una familia ecuménica que se ha reunido en la oración mediante tarjetas de oración, reflexiones personales, encuentros en línea y nuevas formas de conectarse.

En images: Semaine de prière pour l’unité chrétienne

Les prières pour l’unité ont pris une autre allure cette année, mais elles n’ont pas été arrêtées par les restrictions généralisées sur les rassemblements en face à face. Des cartes de prières aux réflexions personnelles, des rassemblements en ligne aux nouvelles connexions, les images illustrent dans le monde entier la richesse spirituelle d’une famille œcuménique qui s’est réunie dans la prière.

In Bildern: Gebetswoche für die Einheit der Christen

Die Gebete für die Einheit sahen dieses Jahr etwas anders aus und fühlten sich auch anders an, doch konnten ihnen die verbreiteten Einschränkungen von persönlichen Versammlungen nichts anhaben. Von Gebetsbildern über persönliche Besinnungen und von Online-Versammlungen zu neuen Verbindungen: Die Bilder aus der ganzen Welt zeugen von einem spirituellen Reichtum einer ökumenischen Familie, die sich im gemeinsamen Gebet vereinte.

In pictures: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Prayers for unity took on a different look and feel this year, but they weren’t stopped by widespread restrictions on face-to-face gatherings. From prayer cards to personal reflections, online gatherings to new connections, the images worldwide convey the spiritual richness of an ecumenical family that came together in prayer.

Voices in Cyprus ring for refugees

“Help solve the problems of refugees and for the Mediterranean Sea to cease being a graveyard for innocent people,” urges Archbishop Chrysostomos II of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, in a compelling video message release by the Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process.

Divine Hospitality

A Christian-Muslim Conversation
Fadi Daou
Nayla Tabbara

In face of unprecedented awareness of religious diversity, as well as the dangers of conflict, interreligious dialogue has become vital. Yet, these authors maintain, it is the commitment to think together about religious faith and our inherited traditions that genuinely moves mutual understanding to new levels.

In Beirut, Protestants and non-Protestants highlight Reformation

What does the impending 500th anniversary mean outside its European birthplace? In the Middle East, Reformation stands for a strong legacy yet also the uncertain future of a tiny and splintered minority. The churches of the Reformation remain important within the constellation of Christian groups, say non-evangelical Christians, who call upon them to lead in ecumenical outreach to newer charismatic and Pentecostal groups.

Seven Weeks for Water 2016, week 4: "Water: from a spiritual feature to a factor of discrimination in the Holy Land", by Fr Michel Jalakh

The gap between demand and supply of water in the Middle East--and the urgent need to reduce the gap needs to be discussed seriously. We need to address the challenges and the available opportunities to ensure sustainability of water in the region. Today, on the eve of Lent, and upon the attention of the international organizations and non-governmental and humanitarian organizations upon the subject of water, due to its importance for the continuity of life and by coincidence with the World Water Day, several questions are asked in terms of the Middle East as a whole or the Holy Land in particular. Water is a basic necessity of daily life, and cannot be dispensed with because of its importance for humans, animals and plants. Towns and villages were established only where there was a resource of water. In this context, Apostle Peter says, "By God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water." (2 Peter 3:5).

WCC Programmes

Christen im Nahen Osten bitten um Hilfe für Überleben und Sicherheit

Trotz der verzweifelten Lage im Nahen Osten gelingt es Christen und Christinnen in der Region Gottesdienst, Glauben und lebendige Kirchen aufrecht zu erhalten. „Ich glaube, es verstreicht kein Tag, ohne dass wir etwas über die Christen im Mittleren Osten erfahren“, erklärte Pater Michel Jalakh, Generalsekretär des Rats der Kirchen im Mittleren Osten (Middle East Council of Churches - MECC) Ende Mai.

Middle East Christians seek aid for survival and security

Despite desperate times in the Middle East, Christians there continue to worship and sustain their faith, keeping the church alive. “I think there is no single day we don’t hear about Christians in the Middle East,” said Father Michel Jalakh, secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in late May.