The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has launched MECC TV and its accompanying radio station advancing ecumenism in the Middle East.
Newsroom, June 10, 2025, Gaudium Press – The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has launched MECC TV and its accompanying radio station, marking a significant milestone in ecumenical media with experimental test broadcasts beginning today. This new initiative, announced at a press conference on June 9 at the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, aims to serve as a unified platform for Christian communities across the Middle East, fostering shared witness and preserving ecclesiastical heritage. The launch coincides with the MECC’s 50th anniversary, celebrating its founding in 1974.
Lea Adel Maamary, MECC Media Relations Officer and Director of the Platform of the Word, emphasized the role of Christian media in providing strength to communities amidst regional challenges and safeguarding the historical legacy of individual Churches. Jordanian priest Rifaat Bader, editor-in-chief of abouna.org, highlighted the timing of the launch during the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, noting its significance in uniting Christians through a shared creed. MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs underscored the ethical imperative of disseminating information for the common good, describing the manipulation of information as a potential crime and responsible media as a human, national, and religious duty.
Founded in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1974 and now headquartered in Beirut, the MECC represents approximately 30 ecclesial communities, including Catholic, Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Evangelical denominations. The council promotes cooperation on shared concerns and works to bridge denominational divides. The new media initiative, named “Manbar Al Kalima” (The Platform of the Word), is equipped with advanced technology to produce human, ecclesial, social, and cultural programs, as well as church news, to be broadcast across Christian media networks.
The press conference, held at 1:00 PM Beirut time on June 9, 2025, at the MECC’s Beirut headquarters, was part of a broader effort to strengthen the ecumenical movement in the region. The MECC TV and radio station will initially broadcast a few hours daily, with plans to expand to 24-hour programming, aiming to amplify the voice of Middle Eastern Christianity.
Raju Hasmukh with data sourced from
Middle East Council of Churches, “Momentum, the Weekly Newsletter,” October 24, 2024.
Syriac Press, “Middle East Council of Churches launches pilot broadcast of new satellite channel,” June 10, 2025.
World Council of Churches, “Middle East Council of Churches co-launches new media production center,” November 12, 2024.
Wikipedia, “Middle East Council of Churches,” July 10, 2005.
Agenzia fides
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