Restoring human dignity where people suff er most is the ultimate calling for churches in the Middle East and their partners worldwide, stated an annual partners meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches held in Ain el Qassis, Lebanon in May.
Prayer, theological dialogue and diakonia – or service to others – have been fundamental concepts of the council’s work, healing divisions and building bridges in the fragmented region of the Middle East today. Around 40 partners of the Middle East Council of Churches – churches and church-related organisations from around the world – gathered in Lebanon to discuss how the work of the council can be supported and strengthened.
The Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees, part of the council’s work since its founding in 1974, now works in 23 refugee camps across the region. Altogether 5.15 million Palestinian refugees have been registered in the region, with the highest influx in Jordan and Lebanon.