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► Lecture by Rev. Dr. Habib Badr on MECC
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Rev. Habib Badr gave a lecture in the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut on the topic of Middle East Council of Churches: Present Perspective and Future Prospects
Rev. Badr has been intimately involved in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for almost three decades serving on the Executive Committee for the last 26 years. And he played recently a very important role in the negotiations reconstructing the council. In fact, he was appointed the coordinator with the Task Force Committee which was charged to accompany the General Secretary council during the crisis of the council in the last three years.
Rev. Badr Mentioned in the lecture several significant facts about the Council, particularly its changing name (in English and Arabic) from Near East Council of Churches (NECC) to Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). In Arabic, it was changed from مجمع to مجلس. This shift showed reasonably the geographical inclusiveness, as well as, and more importantly, the ecclesial and canonical connotations, namely that the council is not a super synod above churches.
Rev. Badr also mentioned two different perspectives concerning the rise of the ecumenical movement and of the council in ME. He talked about the Protestant perspective and the Orthodox/Catholic perspective. Then Rev. Badr moved to speak about the role of MECC in defending right causes in the Middle East. However, he noted that the council neglected to care for its own infrastructures and failed to mind its financial resources. Most importantly, the council worked minimally for Christians in the ME. Therefore, it is hoped for the coming years – with the newly elected General Secretary, Father Paul Rohana, and in the new developments in the Arab world – that the council will serve its raison d'être, namely Christian unity and preserving Christian presence and witness in ME.
The lecture was given on the 19th of January, 2012, kowing that the 3rd week of January is usualy preserved for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
