{"id":915,"date":"2012-01-27T14:42:09","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T20:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/peacenotwalls\/?p=915"},"modified":"2012-01-27T14:42:09","modified_gmt":"2012-01-27T20:42:09","slug":"christian-and-muslim-leaders-reflect-on-christian-presence-in-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/elcasumud\/christian-and-muslim-leaders-reflect-on-christian-presence-in-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian and Muslim Leaders Reflect on Christian Presence in the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit reaffirmed churches\u2019 commitment to justice and peace in the Middle East, while stressing the importance of a common vision for living together by Christians and Muslims in the Arab world. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"WCC<\/a>

From left to right: Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the WCC general secretary; H.H. Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church; and H.B. Patriarch emeritus Michel Sabbah at the WCC consultation in Lebanon. \u00a9 Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia<\/p><\/div>\n

From the World Council of Churches article <\/a>– \u201cWithout this Christian presence, the conviviality among peoples from different faiths, cultures, and civilisations, which is a sign of God\u2019s love for all humanity, will be endangered,\u201d said Tveit.<\/p>\n

He appreciated the participation of a range of Muslims in the consultation, who he says, have emphasized their commitment to strengthen the Christian presence in the Middle East. He said that it is through their action for the common good that people in the Arab world can accomplish peace, justice, freedom and harmony.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will certainly want to make clear to our wider constituency, the WCC\u2019s extensive experience over many years of how Christians and Muslims continue to work together constructively for the common good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Tveit also pointed out the challenges faced by the Christians in the Arab world, and the sense of insecurity they feel, due to political divides and persistent conflicts.\u00a0 The WCC has addressed over a number of years the issue of emigration of Christians from the region resulting from the occupation and war in Iraq and the occupation of the Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cWe know that the changes in the Arab world over the last year \u2013 and changes still to come \u2013 have also left many Christians, along with many Muslims, feeling uncertain and even afraid for their future.”<\/p>\n

Highlighting the efforts of churches struggling for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine, Tveit said that the situation is of great concern for Christians in Jerusalem, as well as people of other faiths.<\/p>\n

Tveit was speaking at the Christian-Muslim consultation on \u201cChristian Presence and Witness in the Arab World\u201d organized by the WCC programmes for Churches in the Middle East<\/a> and Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation<\/a> in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches<\/a>.<\/p>\n