Middle East Consultation 2026

Theology in Times of War:

How War Challenges and Shapes our Understanding of God,
Ourselves, and the Church

“How can God allow suffering, death, and displacement, even amongst His children?”

“Surely God would not expect me to love those people, would He?”

“When does the church's silence become complicity?”

MEC 2026 Program
MEC 2026 Speakers
MEC 2026 Evaluation Form

Theological Framing

In a region marked by war, displacement, occupation, sectarian fear, political collapse, and deep historical wounds, Christians are forced to ask difficult theological and ethical questions. War does not only destroy buildings and communities; it also tests the way we understand God, ourselves, our perceived enemies, our nations, and the mission of the Church.

At the Middle East Consultation (MEC) 2026, we will explore together how war challenges, distorts, purifies, and sometimes deepens Christian theology, faith, and practice. We will ask how the realities of violence and insecurity shape our worship, discipleship, our public witness, and our communal life.

The central question guiding our four days together is: How does war refine, challenge, shape, or obstruct the way we see God's truth and live as God's people?

This question will be explored through four daily movements:

Day 1 - God and His character.

Day 2 - Christian identity and ethical decision-making.

Day 3 - The role of the church in society.

Day 4 – Where do we go from here?

The consultation will be theologically rich, contextually honest, and practically relevant for churches and NGOs serving across the MENA region and beyond.

1How war challenges our view of God?
War presses Christians to revisit central claims about God's goodness, sovereignty, justice, mercy, presence, and peace. For people who have lost homes, loved ones, safety, or hope, these are not abstract doctrines. They are urgent questions of worship, lament, preaching, prayer, and discipleship.
2How war challenges Christian identity and ethical decisions?
War places Christians under intense pressure to decide who they are and how they will act when every option seems costly. Christians must discern between fear and courage, wisdom and recklessness, self-defense and revenge, loyalty to Christ versus unquestioned loyalty to sect, nation, party, or family.
3How war challenges the church's role and public witness?
War forces the church to clarify its vocation. Is the church’s primary calling to be a refuge, a prophet, a mediator, a servant, a witness, or all of these together? In the MENA region, the church must also resist being reduced to a sectarian institution while embodying the reconciling mission of Christ.

Each morning begins with worship, followed by biblical, historical, theological, and contextual engagement with the day's theme led by scholar-practitioners from the MENA region and ABTS faculty.

Each afternoon, we will hear firsthand case studies from churches living through war in different countries. Workshops will provide space to explore practical responses such as nonviolent resistance, public theology, pastoral leadership under pressure, worship and lament, humanitarian ministry, and loving the enemy in times of war.

Between sessions, participants will fellowship together through sharing meals, stories, and questions from across the region. MEC 2026 is designed to hold space for honest theological wrestling and faithful imagination.

Join us from September 21-24, 2026 for four days of rich teaching, honest conversation, and grounded learning as we consider Theology in Times of War.

The event will be held in person at ABTS. Translation to English will be provided. Given the current regional situation, morning sessions (9:30am–12:30pm Beirut time) will also be broadcast via Zoom for registered participants who are not able to come to Lebanon. The afternoon sessions will not be broadcast due to security concerns and the sensitive nature of the case studies.