Ethiopian church calls for sustainable peace

28 October 2019

LWF/OCS

Congregants gather in prayer at the Finfinne Oromo Mekane Yesus Congregation of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus on the first Sunday following the unrest in Ethiopia, which also affected Mekane Yesus members directly. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert

Congregations to gather in prayer and fasting

(LWI) - The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) has called for sustainable peace in the country and orderly dialogue around complaints and grievances following recent unrest in Ethiopia.

In a statement issued on 26 October, the EECMY calls upon the people of Ethiopia, the government, and political parties to work actively together to bring about sustainable peace. The church asks its members to continue praying for peace with justice, and for mutual respect among all Ethiopians.

The unrest last week in the capital Addis Ababa and other cities is reported to have claimed nearly 70 lives, with many more wounded.

“As church we are called to serve people and society holistically. Jesus sent us with a message of peace, that is what we preach and work for,” said EECMY President Yonas Dibisa. “It is an integral part of EECMY’s mission to work for peace in Ethiopia and in local communities.”

On Wednesday October 30, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member church will hold a nationwide fasting and prayer day in all its congregations.

Welcoming these initiatives, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge said: “We know of the many ways in which the EECMY has worked for peace in Ethiopia and for healthy communities where violence doesn’t have a place. We pray that together Ethiopians will find ways to stop the escalation of violence. We pray that all, authorities and civil society, will commit address these matters peacefully.

“We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities” takes place from 23 to 27 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting is hosted by The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). LWF study processes provide an opportunity for a shared theological approach to identifying and addressing contemporary issues that the member churches face.