ELCA Joins Celebration of Ethiopian Church's 50th Anniversary

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (ELCA) -- Representatives of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined leaders of
several churches and church organizations from Africa, Europe and
North America here Jan. 17-18 for the "Golden Jubilee"
celebration of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
(EECMY).
In 2008 the growing 5-million member EECMY became the second
largest church in the Lutheran World Federation, surpassing the
4.7-million member ELCA.
Fifty years ago the EECMY was constitutionally recognized as
a national church, but the church's history began in 1898. It has
survived numerous challenges over the years, including a long
period of communist rule in Ethiopia.
The Rev. Itefa Gobena, EECMY president, said the church
provides "holistic service" by helping people spiritually and
working to meet their everyday needs. The EECMY provides services
in education, assistance to people who are blind and physically
challenged, literacy programs and medical services. In addition
to worship and Christian education, the church has translated the
Bible in more than 20 Ethiopian languages, he said. Gobena
thanked EECMY members, pastors and the current government of
Ethiopia for providing "conducive conditions" for the church's
holistic work.
Ato Degefe Bula, speaker, House of Federation, Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said the EECMY has contributed
to peacemaking in Ethiopia. Noting that the country's
constitution provides for freedom of religion, the speaker said
"unity is strengthened in our diversity." Bula said he is a
product of the EECMY.
The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA
Global Mission, Chicago, represented the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
ELCA presiding bishop and LWF president, who was attending
inauguration activities for U.S. President Barack H. Obama in
Washington, D.C.
Malpica Padilla said considerable time has passed since
Onesimos Nesib came to the country as a missionary in the late
1800s. Nesib, an Ethiopian captured by slave traders, was bought
and freed by Swedes, educated and became a Christian.
Churches from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany and North
America, reflecting Lutheran, Presbyterian and Reformed Church
traditions, helped the Mekane Yesus Church in its early years,
Malpica Padilla said. "This church has traversed the contours of
this beautiful country, sharing the good news of the gospel,
bringing people to Christ, serving those in need, faithfully and
steadfastly proclaiming the gospel of salvation and hope," he
said.
"The sons and daughters of this church who have come to
America have been a blessing to our congregations, where they
have shared their love for God and their passion for the
evangelizing task that has been set before us," Malpica Padilla
said.
The Rev. James A. Arends, bishop, ELCA La Crosse (Wis.) Area
Synod, and his wife Lynn attended the celebration. "We pray you
will bless us for another 51 years and more," he said in a prayer
at a Jan. 17 celebration. Five of the 65 ELCA synods maintain
companion synod relationships with the EECMY, including the La
Crosse Area Synod.
The Rev. Gemechis Buba, a native of Ethiopia and director
for African National Ministry, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and
Congregational Mission, Chicago, said in a sermon that the gospel
gives freedom. He said, "The gospel frees the mind, the spirit
and the whole human being. You will declare this message of
freedom to the nations. Let freedom ring everywhere."
A Jan. 18 worship celebration featured greetings by several
EECMY partner churches and church organizations. The church also
recognized several member couples who have been married 50 years.
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Photos from the Golden Jubilee celebration of the EECMY are
at http://tinyurl.com/bxmhlh on the Web.
Information about the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane
Yesus is at http://www.eecmy.org/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog