Document
World Council of Churches
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Bossey, Switzerland
20-26 November 2019
Doc. No. 04.8 rev
Minute on Christian presence in the Middle East
The executive committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting in Bossey, Switzerland, on 20-26 November 2019, once again lifts up in prayer and in deeply-felt solidarity the churches and Christian sisters and brothers in the Middle East. We reiterate our grave and increasing concern for the future of the Christian presence in the original homelands of the faith, given the continuing precipitous decline in the numbers of Christians in many of these countries.
We recall the statement on this matter by the WCC central committee in June 2018 (GEN PUB 05.08 rev), and reiterate the need expressed in that statement for a “new social pact… throughout the Middle East region – a common narrative that is developed and shared by all communities of the countries of the region based on an inclusive understanding of citizenship and human rights, constitutionally guaranteed, and under which all churches and faith communities, with their diverse ethnic, religious and cultural identities, can live and prosper in the love and grace given to all by God.”
That statement requested the general secretary “to undertake further reflection on the diverse situations of the countries of the region, in particular as they impact upon the Christian communities and presence in those countries”.
We now ask the general secretary to continue and deepen this reflection, and in particular to explore ways in which, in consultation with the member churches of the region and ideally in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches, a research/study process can be undertaken in order to analyse the circumstances and identify the key drivers of Christian demographic decline in each of the relevant countries of the region, so as to establish a sound empirical basis for formulating appropriate responses to this crisis in each of the countries concerned.