Appel d’urgence aux protestants du monde entier !

SupremeCouncil

of the Evangelical Community

in  Syria andLebanon

 

 

 

 

 

 

UrgentAppeal

FromtheSupremeCouncil

Of theEvangelicalCommunitvinSvriaandLebanon1

ToalltheEvangelicalandProtestantChurchesandOrganizations

AcrosstheWorld

 

1.We,theleadersof Evangelical and Protestant churches and organizationsaffiliatedtotheSupremeCounciloftheEvangelicalCommunity  inSyriaand Lebanon,havemettogetheratthiscriticaljunctureofourhistoryinorderto reflectonthecurrentsituation,andonthetragiceventsthatourpeopleinIraq, SyriaandLebanonarepassingthrough.  Wearemostconcernedoverthegreat humansufferingandpoliticaldifficuItiesthatourpeopleinthesecountriesare facing.   Wehavedeeplyreflecteduponthisdeterioratingstateofaffairs,and havebeengreatlydisturbedandshockedbytheuglyincidentsofviolencethat innocent civiliansand entire communities, especially Christian, have been subjectedto.

 

2.   Wealsowritetoyouinsolidaritywiththevariousappealsandstatementsthat havebeenissuedbythe·leadersofoursisterEasternChurches,aswellasby someIslamicgroups,concerningtherecentdevelopmentofeventsinIraq;and especiallytheforceddisplacementandmurderouskillingsofindividualsand groups  bytheso-calledIslamicStateinIraqandSyria(ISIS),killingsthat vergeonbeingabonafidegenocide.2

 

3.  Wearealsomindfulofthecatastrophic consequencesofthebloodyconflict thathasplaguedSyriaforthreeyearsnow.  Wearehorrifiedbytheamountof death,destructionandongoingdisplacementthathasravagedvastsectorsof the  Syrian  society  and  population,  including  Christians,  inall  partsof  the country.

 

 

4.  Neither  do  we  forget  the  recent  violent  eruptions  and  grave  breaches  of securitythathaveoccurredinLebanon;incidentsthathaveleftalargenumber ofvictims.   Themostseriousoftheseistheongoingviolentconflict inthe townofErsal(north-eastofthecountry).   Thisisnotwithstandingthegrave consequences  ofthehuge  influxofSyrianandIraqirefugeesaswellasthe threattoattackchurchesincertainregions.

 

 

5.  Inviewofallthis,weareissuingthisurgentappealtoinformyouthatthe above-mentionedfactors,amongothers,haverenderedtheexistentialthreat

 

1TheSupremeCouncilisthehighestrepresentative bodyofalltheEvangelicalandProtestant denominationsinSyriaandLebanon.

2Secforexample:thestatementsbytheChaldeanPatriarchSakoofBaghdad(Aug. 7,2014)andthat

ofthemeetingofEasternPatriarchsatDiman,Lebanon(Aug.7,2014);aswellasthoseoftheArab GroupforChristian MuslimDialogue(July23,2014)andtheInternationalCongressofIslamic Scholars(July23,2014).

 

 

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facingthefutureofMiddleEasternminorities,aswellasmoderateMuslim majoritiesintheregion,averyrealdanger.

 

6.  Forus,thisisamomentfilledwithaweandfear!  Thuswemovetoannounce a”state  ofemergency”inordertopreservewhatremainsoftheChristian- and  moderate  non-Christian  -presence  inthe  East,and  to  circumvent  its completedemise.

 

 

7.  TheissueofChristianpresenceintheMiddleEasthasgonebeyondthestage ofcallingforequalrightsandprotectionfrompersecution.   Ithasbecomea cry  of  warning  before  further  events  cause  the  annihilation  of  Christian presenceintheMiddleEast.

 

 

8.  Accordingly,andinviewofourawarenessofthedangersofthepresentcrisis, andincompassionwiththesufferingsandtragediesourpeoplesarefacing,we urgeourpartnersinministry,beingtheentirecommunityofEvangelicaland Protestant  Churches  across  the   world,   as  well   as  all  their   social   and humanitarianorganizations,toactassoonaspossibleinorderto:

First:  Quicklyurgegovernmentsanddecisionmakersinyourcountriesto

a)   Raisetheawarenessofalltotheimmanentdangersof thesituation.

b)  Actimmediatelytostopthedepletion,aswellastheforcedandordered displacementofindividualsandcommunitiesfromtheirhomelands,under thethreatofarms.

c)   Workforalongtermstrategyaimedatputtinganendtothephenomenaof

cruelviolenceandindiscriminatemurder,aswellastheejectionofindividualsand peoplesfromthe MiddleEast. Thelong-standingandhistoric fabricofpeaceful communal livingbetweenthevarioussocialcomponentsoftheMiddleEastisfast eroding.  Itdesperatelyneeds tobehalted.

 

9.  WegrabthisopportunitytourgetheEvangelicalandProtestantchurchesall over  the  world,as  wellas  their  social  and  humanitarian  organizations,  to exercise  the  maximum  pressure,  moral  and  otherwise,  and  to  tap  all  the resourcesattheirdisposal,inordertoensurethatthemoralvaluesandhuman principlesoftheirsocietiesandcountriesprevailoverpoliticalandtemporal interests.   Webelievethatyou,ourpartners,areableto,andshould,engage yourselvesinthisrespect.  Thisisespeciallyimportantwithregardtohalting theflowoffinancesandarmstothe”takfiri”andradicalgroups.  Weurgeyou toinfluencethesegovernments inordertoputpressureonthe internationalandregionalpowersthatsupporttheseradicals.

 

1O.Second:   Awell-thought  outstrategy  needsto  beputinplaceinorder  to support  Christian  presence  in  the  East,  as  well  as  the  presence  of  other moderate  components   in  the   region.     This   is  necessary   so  that  these communitiesmaycontinuetobeagentsofspreadingthecultureoflove,peace

 

 

 

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andhumanrights,aswellasintellectual,educationalandreligiouspluralism. Thishasbeen,andmustcontinuetobe,achievedthroughthestrengtheningof educationalandsocialinstitutionsthathave, andcontinuetocontribute vigorouslyto  therejection  of  radicalism  and  violence,  as  well  as reinforcementofthevaluesofjustice,peace,andrespectfulacceptanceforthe differentother.

 

1. Third:    Humanitarian  aid  to  victims  of  theongoing  violence  is  urgently needed.   Weurgeour  partnerstoofferfoodandwatersupplies,  aswellas medicalandotherformsofassistance,tothewarvictims,andtosupportthose who  have  been  forcefully  displaced  in  their  own  homeland,  or  become refugeesinneighboringcountries,sotheymaysafelyreturn  totheirtowns,

villagesandchurches.3

 

2. Divinelove,incarnateonthecross,causesinus deepsadnessandmovesusto prayer.   Itis thissamelovethaturgesustosendthisappeal,andtoworkon behalfofthosewhohavebeentortured,kidnappedandrenderedhomeless,as wellasforthefamilies.ofthosewhowerekilledormurdered  intheabsurd warsinIraq,Syria,Lebanonandothercountriesofourregion.  Wemustwork togethertoheal thewoundsandtopreservewhatisleftoftheChristian communityinthoselands.   We alsomustworktowardsstrengtheningour sustainable  joint  communal  livingwith  our  Muslim  brothersand  sisters  in spiteofthewidening confessionalconflictsand theever-growingcycleof senselessviolence.

 

13.  Our  hope  isthatyouactswiftly  beforeitistoolate.   Youare  indeedour partnersin faith,andpartnershipin Christianityisbasedonsolidarityand fellowship,andonsupportingeachotherfaithfullyandsincerely,forthesake ofacommonChristianwitness,andinobediencetothecommandmentsofour LordJesusChrist.

 

Beirut,Lebanon

29August,2014

 

 

 

1. Dr.SalimSahiouny,President Supreme  CounciloftheEvangelical Community inSyriaandLebanon

 

Rev.SamuelHanna,VicePresident SupremeCounciloftheEvangelical Community  inSyriaandLebanon

 

 

Rev.MegrditchKaragoezian,GeneralSec. SupremeCounciloftheEvangelical Community  inSyriaandLebanon President,UnionofArmenian  Evangelical ChurchesintheNearEast

 

Rev.Dr.HabibBadr,SeniorPastor

NationalEvangelicalChurchofBeirut

 

 

 

 

3Toinquireaboutwaysofsupport,kindlycontacttheSupremeCouncilattheaddressbelow

 

 

 

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Rev.CharlesCosta, Exec.Comm.member

Pastor,BaptistEvangelicalChurch  ofRasBeirut

 

Rev.Imad  Zoorob, Exec.Comm.member

Pastor,AllSaintsEpiscopalChurch,Beirut

 

1. SamiDagher, Exec.Comm.Member

Vicepresident,EvangelicalChristian

AllianceChurch  in SyriaandLebanon

 

Rev.SallmSabounji,Pastor

Exec.Comm. Member

SyriacEvangelicalChurch  ofLebanon

 

Rev.AndrewSalameh,DistrictSuperintendent

Nazarean  EvangelicalChurcb  of Lebanon

 

Rev.EdwardAwabdeh

EvangelicalChristian  AllianceChurch lnSyriaandLebanon

 

Brother  FuadAlMasri,President

NationalEvangelicalChurcb  ofBludan,Syria

 

1. TonyManasseh,StatedClerk

Friends(Quakers)  Community,Lebanon

 

1. JeanDagher

Exec.Comm.member,FinanceSecretary Supreme  CounciloftheEvang.Community lnSyriaandLebanon

 

1. BasemShab

Excc.Comm.member

RepresentativeoftheEvangelicalCommunity

McmberoftheLebaneseParliament

 

1. Jonas  Weiss-Lange,Pastor

German  SpeakingEvangelicalChurch  inBeirut

 

1. ElieHaddad,President

ArabBaptistTheologicalSeminary, Mt.Lebanon

 

1. Dr.Paul  Haidostian,President

Haigazian  University,Beirut

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. FadiDagher,GeneralSecretary NationalEvangelicalPresbyterian SynodofSyriaandLebanon

 

1. Said(Joy)Mallouh,President

AssemblyoftheChurch  ofGod

lnSyriaandLebanon

 

1. LevonMaksoudian, Exec.Comm.member

President,SeventhDayAdventist

Church,Lebanon

 

Rev.Joseph  Kazzi,President EvangelicalBaptistConventionin Lebanon

 

Rev.DaasHaddad,President

EvangelicalBaptistUnionofSyria

 

Rev.JosephNajem,President

FreeEvangelicalChurchinSyriaand

Lebanon

 

BrotherEliasSaqr,GeneralSecretary

Brethren  EvangelicalChurch  of Lebanon

 

Rev.JosephKassab,President

LebaneseEvangelicalSociety

 

Judge  FawziDagher

Exec.Comm.member

LegalConsultantoftheSupreme  Council

OftheEvang.Community  inLebanon

 

1. NabilCosta,GeneralSecretary TheLeagueofEvangelicalSchools InLebanon

 

1. PierreLacoste,Pastor

FrenchSpeakingEvang.Church  inBeirut

 

1. LeifHongisto,President

MiddleEast(Adventist)University, Mt.Lebanon

 

1. GeorgeSabra,President

NearEastSchoolofTheology,Beirut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• P.O.Box7011065-Antelias,Lebanon-Phone:041525036-7-Fax:041405490-Cel.:031618990-814272 e-mail:  [email protected]