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Christianity in
the Middle East
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News
Middle East without Christians 'unthinkable' - Pope Francis
Pope Francis focused on the need for constant prayer and effective advocacy in favour of peace for Christians in the Middle East, at a formal meeting of Cardinals in the Vatican on 20 October. 'We cannot resign ourselves to thinking about the Middle East without Christians, who for two thousand years have confessed the name of Jesus', he said.
Catholic Church in England and Wales 
Evangelicals and Christian Presence in the East - conference report
Exploring the position of Islam and Muslims in Christian communities in the Middle East was the theme of a conference held by the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC) in Cairo during September 2014. Among the conference outcomes were an affirmation that a Christian presence must be rooted and ensconced in the Middle East; that a sustained common life between Christians, Muslims and all other constituencies living in the Middle East must be governed by the Charter of Universal Human Rights and by International Law; and an appeal for the protection of all the constituencies living in the Middle East, irrespective of their religion and ethnicity.
Final Communiqué - Evangelicals and Christian Presence in The East conference (PDF)
Middle East: Our Role in Their Conflict? Discussion with Gen Sec of WCC
A "Question Time" style discussion with Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (General Secretary, World Council of Churches), Rt Rev Christopher Chessun (Anglican Bishop of Southwark) and Ambassador Mona Juul (Mediator on the Oslo Accords Team) at Norwegian Church, St Olav's Square, 1 Albion St, London SE16 7JB on Friday 17 October 2014, 17:00 - 19:00. RSVP to James Laing 
, 020 7554 9753.
Archbishop of Canterbury speech in Lords debate on Iraq
The Archbishop of Canterbury said "The action proposed today is right, but we must not rely on a short-term solution on a narrow front to a global, ideological, religious, holistic and trans-generational challenge. "
Archbishop of Canterbury
Quakers call for military restraint
Quakers in Britain have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister stating "As the tragedies in Syria and Iraq unfold, Quakers in Britain again asks for military restraint. Quakers acknowledge and deplore the extreme criminal behaviour displayed in the region. We too, want the violence and suffering to end. We remind those who make these decisions in Britain that it is often easier to start a war than to end it, and that additional violence itself fuels a bloody and destructive cycle."
Full statement from Quakers in Britain
Islamic State cannot be defeated by military action alone, say Church leaders
Leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Methodist Church in Britain say that the case for military intervention can only be supported as one part of a broader political and economic strategy to tackle the ideology of IS. The churches have issued a briefing on the issues and are urging their members to pray and to write to their MPs asking the Government to offer greater support to refugees from Syria and Iraq as part of such a strategy.
Methodist Church in Britain
Bishop Angaelos calls for collaboration on Middle East religious freedom
Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, and also moderator of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, has called for collaboration to address violations of international religious freedom in Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East.
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WCC calls for increased humanitarian response in Northern Iraq
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is appealing to its 345 member churches around the world to respond immediately to this humanitarian crisis through partners such as the ACT Alliance and other responsible aid agencies.
World Council of Churches
Middle East Church leaders meet to discuss plight of Christians in Iraq
At an ecumenical gathering, hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and initiated by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, a joint statement was issued expressing solidarity with, and advocating for, all those who continue to suffer gross violations of the fundamental right and freedom to practice their chosen faith in Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East.
Catholic Church in England and Wales
Urgent appeal from Church leaders in Lebanon and Syria to the world Church
Read the urgent letter of appeal from the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon to the world Church.
More
August 2014
Bishop Angaelos BBC TV interview about crisis for Christians in Middle East
Bishop Angaelos, moderator of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, has given an extensive interview on BBC TV sharing his views on the crisis in the Middle East facing Christians.
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WCC: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew speaks against violence in Iraq
The targeting of tens of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities can never be justified in the name of any religious creed or conviction, said Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
World Council of Churches
Statement by Bishop Angaelos on Iraq, Syria and the Middle East
Bishop Angaelos calls for solidarity and assistance for those suffering, condemn acts of brutality, and says we need to explore every possible means of healing and restoring communities and lives.
Coptic Orthodox Church, UK
World Council of Churches calls for urgent action in Iraq
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has issued an urgent call to the United Nations for an immediate response to the killing of Christians and others by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant fighters.
World Council of Churches
Pope Francis: Appeal for Iraqi Christians
Pope Francis has reiterated his prayerful concern and call for peace in Iraq.
Catholic Church in England and Wales
News and statements from churches and others on the crisis in Syria.
Read the report on CTBI's visit to Israel-Palestine, aimed at helping CTBI discern how it should engage with the issues there