Christian-Muslim Joint Conference in Lebanon to Discuss Christians in the Middle East

A joint Christian-Muslim conference on the Christian presence in the Middle East will take place at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon from 24-28 January, 2012.

The conference will be attended by delegates from all over the world, including 50 leading Muslim and Christian religious leaders, intellectuals, and actors of civil society from the Middle East. A number of ecumenical partners from Europe and USA will also attend the meeting.

The conference will deal with issues and challenges facing the Christian communities at this critical juncture of the history of the Middle East. It will also explore the efficient ways and means of deepening Christian-Muslim coexistence and collaboration, as partners in building democratic societies.

The conference is organized by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches

The opening session will take place on Tuesday evening. The speakers at the opening session will be Dr. Mohammad Sammak, General Secretary of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee, the Catholicos of Cilicia His Holiness Aram I , Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the WCC, Dr. Paul Rouhanna, General Secretary of the MECC, reported the press service of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.