Lebanon Partner Churches

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been a strong partner and supporter of the work of the MECC since its inception in1974. The Council includes all four families of churches in the Middle East, i.e., the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental (non-Calcedonian) Orthodox Churches, the Catholic Churches (Latin and Oriental Rites), and the Evangelical Churches (Reformed, Episcopal, Lutheran and Congregational). It works on issues of church unity, Christian presence in the Middle East, justice, peacemaking and reconciliation, dialogue with non-Christian neighbors, education, nurture and renewal, participation of youth, women and children, life and service, and Palestinian refugees and other displaced persons.

National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon

The NESSL may well have been the next-to-earliest active and continuing overseas mission outreach for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), begun in 1823. Through this mission Presbyterian churches throughout Syria and Lebanon were planted, the entire Bible was translated into Arabic and printed in that language for the first time, world-class educational institutions (such as the American University at Beirut, Beirut College for women — now a full university known as Lebanese American University — and some 20 elementary and secondary schools) were established, health institutions (e.g., Hamlin Hospital) and other ministries were started and have continued to flourish. The church is challenged by rebuilding its membership after a 17-year civil war in Lebanon and devastated conditions resulting from recurring Middle East conflicts.

Duhoor e-Shuwair Conference Center

The original camp and conference site of the Presbyterian Mission in Syria/Lebanon, and the place where the first Assembly of the church held its meetings outside the bounds of Beirut, the center is now fully renovated after near total destruction during the war—it had been occupied by the warring factions during those awful years. The center now is throbbing with activities of children, youth, women and family conference and retreats. It is managed by the Synod, and is considered a major locus for continuing education of clergy and laity.

Hamlin Hospital

An institution of distinction in the area of health care, Hamlin was originally a mother and child hospital. It served Lebanon as a general emergency hospital during the years of civil war. It is now reconstituting itself as a specialty hospital for geriatric, nursing and other services in accordance with the emerging needs of the mountain area outside Beirut , where it is located. It requires a great deal of financial support to undergird its new vision as a major player in the area of health care.

Lebanese American University (LAU), Beirut

Founded by the PC(USA) in the early 1900s as a college for women ( Beirut College for Women), which later became a coeducational university college, LAU is now accredited as a full-scale American university on three campuses, in Beirut, Byblos and Sidon. The university continues to pride itself on being church-related even though it serves the total mix of religious and ethnic populations of the entire Middle East. The PC(USA) has two seats on its board, and the Synod of Syria and Lebanon holds seven seats. Through this partnership Christian value—impacted higher education remains a commitment for this university.

Near East School of Theology

This high-level theological seminary serves Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Lutherans and Episcopalians from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine/Israel, Turkey, Iran and several African nations. It trains Arab, Armenian, other Middle Eastern, African and some European church leaders for pastoral, academic and other church leadership positions throughout the region. It is headed up by a U.S.—trained Syrian Presbyterian woman (Mary Mikahail, Ph.D.), and academically guided by a German-trained Lebanese theologian (George Sabra, Ph.D.). Both are lay church leaders highly recognized for their scholarship worldwide.