Middle East Association of Training and Retreat Center

(MEATRC)

MEATRC was founded in 1994, with headquarters in Aiya Napa, Cyprus, to provide a forum for Middle Eastern lay centers that are addressing spiritual and social issues in their different societies and working in the fields of human development and training.  MEATRC is made of 22 centers which are from Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria.

Through networking, sharing of ideas and working jointly on areas of concern to all, MEATRC aims at serving the churches and community in the Middle East. 

To carry out its mission, MEATRC undertakes a number of training activities, on the regional and sub regional levels, as well as other activities that make the implementation of its vision possible.

To achieve the goals of MEATRC, the following activities are undertaken

Support communications and develop the common relationships between training center sin the Middle East.

Encourage participatory planning for the sake of more cooperation among centers as well as deepening the Church’s responsibility towards serving the community

Provide training for the leaders and workers in the different centers to strengthen the ecumenical movement in the Middle East.

Encourage the production of training materials and information

Support centers that aim to strengthen and develop cultural dialogue in the community

Develop relationships with the Middle East council of Churches (MECC), The World Council of Churches (WCC), as well as the member regional associations in the OIKOSNET.

Structurally, MEATRC has two administrative bodies, including  

1.  An executive committee, which is elected every three years, is charged with managing the affairs of the Association for the duration of three years. The committee meets twice /year and decides on the dates and themes of the annual Regional training workshops, arranges and oversees the implementation of the annual regional training workshop including all the logistics, discusses and approves the sub regional training programs, prepares and help execute all other programs that are directly related to the work of the Association (CLLT), prepares the annual budget, prepares the report for the General Assembly concerning the activities of the association (once every three years), prepares the report for the OIKOSNET meetings, makes all the contacts with the different associations and partners, studies new membership applications and makes recommendation to the General Assembly on whether to accept or reject, propose and/or recommend constitutional amendments, produces all the brochures and newsletters regarding the work of the Association, represent the Association at other associations’ gatherings,  and all other necessary functions that are needed for the effective running of the Association.

2.  A General Assembly.

The General Assembly is the legislative body of the Association representing all the member centers. The General Assembly is a voting assembly based on the principle of one center-one vote. It meets every three years and elects the president, the Associate president, the treasure, the secretary, and three members of the executive committee together with 2 alternates from among the delegates of the Assembly. Its role is outlined in the Constitution and it has the authority to change and amend the constitution, accept/reject new members, reviews the activities between 2 assemblies as well as deciding on the direction and policy of the Association. It reviews and decides on budgets, financial and administrative reports.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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