The Middle East Council of Churches

What The Middle East Council of Churches does

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a private, non-profit ecumenical organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon. It convenes 27 member churches representing the four major Christian families present in the Middle East — Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical — across Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine, for a common Christian witness in the region where Christianity originated. MECC operates through four core departments: Theological and Ecumenical (including the ATIME network of theological institutes), Diakonia and Social Service (humanitarian relief), Department for the Service of Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), and Communication and Public Relations.

MECC's core offerings are programs and publications rather than commercial products. These include the weekly Momentum newsletter, the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity booklet, the Season of Creation environmental initiative, the Bridges to Bethlehem documentary series, theological exchanges via ATIME, and humanitarian response campaigns such as the Rescue Syria Campaign and the Beirut Appeal following the 2020 port explosion. The organization also co-produces resources with the World Council of Churches and Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

MECC is funded entirely through donations and charitable contributions from its member churches, international church organizations (Kerk in Actie, Danmission, Norwegian Church Aid), and humanitarian alliances (ACT Alliance, WCC). It does not charge for its services, does not disclose revenue, and operates under a governance structure led by a Secretary General (Professor Michel Abs), Associate Secretaries, an Executive Committee with representation from the four church families, and a General Assembly as its highest authority. A new regional office was inaugurated in Amman, Jordan in 2024.

Name

The Middle East Council of Churches

Legal name

The Middle East Council of Churches

Website

https://mecc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Middle East Council of Churches is a Beirut-based non-profit ecumenical organization, founded 1974, that unites 27 member churches across four Christian traditions in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine to coordinate theological education, humanitarian relief, and refugee services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecumenical Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges (EDAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Ecumenical organization
• Theological education
• Humanitarian aid
• Church coordination
• Christian witness

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamra

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: MECC operates as a non-profit ecumenical organization funded through donations from member churches, international church organizations, and charitable foundations to support its humanitarian programs and operational activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a regional ecumenical organization that brings together 27 member churches representing Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical families across the Middle East for common Christian witness. It delivers ecumenical dialogue, theological education through the affiliated ATIME network, humanitarian relief and social services via the Diakonia Department, refugee support through the Department for the Service of Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), and publications including the Momentum newsletter, Ecumenical Calendar, annual reports, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity booklets, and the Bridges to Bethlehem documentary series.

Product overview

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a regional ecumenical organization (not a technology company) that operates through multiple departments including Theological and Ecumenical, Diakonia and Social Service, DSPR, and Communication/PR. Its offerings include publications (Momentum newsletter, Annual Reports, Ecumenical Calendar, Week of Prayer booklets), media content (Bridges to Bethlehem documentary series), and programs (Season of Creation, ATIME theological network). The organization connects 27 member churches across the Middle East for common Christian witness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Momentum Weekly Newsletter Weekly email newsletter distributed via Mailchimp covering MECC activities, ecumenical news, theological reflections from the Secretary General, and regional church events. Audience includes church leaders, theological students, and partner organizations across the Middle East.
• Season of Creation Annual ecumenical program promoting environmental stewardship and ecological awareness among Middle Eastern churches, bridging theological education with environmental action.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Booklet Annual prayer booklet prepared for the eight-day Christian unity celebration, translated into Arabic and distributed to churches across the Middle East.
• Bridges to Bethlehem Documentary Series Series of 12 short documentaries showcasing Nativity celebration traditions across Middle Eastern churches in six countries, distributed via MECC's video channels.
• ATIME (Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East) Affiliated network connecting 18 theological colleges and institutes across Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq to exchange resources, academic experiences, and promote ecumenical formation across the four families of churches.
• Ecumenical Calendar Monthly calendar publication documenting ecclesiastical and liturgical feasts of the various church families represented in MECC, as well as UN-related international days, available via download from MECC's website.
• Annual Reports Annual reports documenting MECC's activities, achievements, and programs across ecumenical, theological, and humanitarian dimensions, published in Arabic and English for church leaders and partners.
• Al Muntada Publication Publication focused on theological and ecumenical topics, distributed in Beirut and across the Middle East.
• Diakonia Humanitarian Services Humanitarian relief and social services delivered through the Diakonia and Social Service Department, including disaster response, food assistance, and shelter support for refugees and displaced persons across the Middle East in partnership with ACT Alliance, Norwegian Church Aid, Kerk in Actie, and others.
• Department for the Service of Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) Dedicated MECC department providing services and support specifically for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, including education, protection, basic needs assistance, and psychosocial support.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Kerk In Actie DelegationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2025Meeting at MECC headquarters with Secretary General Michel Abs to discuss humanitarian cooperation and partnership enhancement for urgent humanitarian needs and ecumenical goals.
• OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2023Partnership for joint seminar 'Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All' on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights held at MECC headquarters in Beirut.
• ATIME (Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975ATIME was affiliated to MECC in 1975. It connects theological colleges and institutes to exchange resources, academic and church experiences. Originally included 18 institutes from the four Families of Churches in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
• Kerk in Actie (Netherlands)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch church organization partnering on restoration projects for faith-based social services and religious infrastructure damaged during the Syrian crisis. Projects include restoration of St. Paul Monastery in Safita, Cilicia School in Aleppo, and elderly homes.
• DanmissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish church organization partnering on the Season of Creation environmental initiative and youth bridge-building programs across the Middle East.
• ACT AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance of churches and church-related organizations working together on humanitarian action. MECC participates as a member with representation in ACT MENA Forum, engaging in gender justice and humanitarian programs.
• Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian humanitarian organization partnering with MECC Diakonia Department on empowerment programs for men in Lebanon, including skills training and livelihood support.
• World Council of Churches (WCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMECC works with WCC's Faith and Order Commission on Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources. WCC's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity collaborates on annual prayer materials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mecc-themiddleeastcouncilo3351

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Middle East Council of Churches