Transcript Slide 1

Church and State in Ethiopia
May Term 2012
Anne Marie Stoner-Eby, Ph.D.
Scott Stoner-Eby, Ph.D.
IDCC 260: Cross-Cultural Studies
Unique Course Model
This cross-cultural offers the opportunity to develop
relationships with Ethiopian Christian college
students and to connect in a personal way with our
global church.
For the three weeks of the course, Messiah students
will room with Ethiopian Christian students from
Meserete Kristos College and experience the entire
course with them -- including lectures, visits to
historic sites, and in-country travel.
Itinerary
The course will begin and
end at Meserete Kristos
College in Debre Zeyit,
which is ½ hour from the
capital of Addis Ababa.
Students will also spend just
under a week in Addis Ababa
and just over a week travelling
to the Historic North to visit
Aksum, Lalibela (near Dese),
Gonder, and Bahir Dar on Lake Tana.
Meserete Kristos Church
With over 200,000 members, the Meserete
Kristos Church (MKC) is one of the largest
Mennonite churches in the global Mennonite
fellowship (only the U.S. and the Congo have
more members). Mennonite missionaries
arrived from Pennsylvania in 1948 and quickly established medical
and educational programs. A church also began to develop which
was soon led by Ethiopians.
When the church was forced underground in the years after the
Communist revolution in 1974, it had 5,000 members. After the
Communist regime fell in 1991, the church had 34,000 members
with 50,000 just three years later!
This vibrant evangelical church has
continued to grow with a current
growth rate of 37%.
Meserete Kristos College
Mesrete Kristos College was founded in
1994 by the evangelical Meserete Kristos
Church (MKC) to meet the needs of its rapidly growing
churches and their ministries. It began in the capital
city of Addis Ababa, moving to a new campus in the nearby
town of Debra Zeyit in 2007.
The campus is located between a seasonal
lake and a volcanic crater lake
with majestic Mt. Yerer in the distance.
Around Campus at MK College
.
Sights of Addis Ababa
Ancient History of Christianity in Ethiopia
King Azana of Aksum converted to
Christianity in 330 AD – long before most of
the kings of northern Europe!
This stone-carved text describes his
conversion, which like the Roman
Emperor Constantine who converted around
the same time, involved victory in battle.
Azana’s coins reflect his conversion:
pre-Christian symbols before, crosses
after.
Pre-Christian Obelisks of the Aksumite Kingdom
Christian Aksum
Lalibela: Built to be a New Jerusalem
13 monolithic rock-hewn churches dating from 12th century
Castles & Churches of Gonder
founded 17th century
Day Trips from Debre Zeyit
Sodere: Its large pool contains warm water fed by a natural
hot springs -- it’s also a favorite hang-out for monkeys!
Mount Zuquala: At its top are a monastery and a crater lake.
Ethiopian Cuisine
As one of the world’s most distinctive cuisines,
Ethiopian restaurants are now found in most
major cities, even Lancaster, PA!
Like Indian food, it uses a combination
of spices -- both mild and spicy – to
produce flavorful stews called wat.
It is eaten with a distinctive, spongy, flat bread
called injera, made from an extremely fine grain
called teft, historically grown only in Ethiopia.
All dishes are shared in a common round tray,
traditionally eaten in a round basket table called
a messab.
My Personal Experiences
I was born in Ethiopia at the Mennonite Mission Hospital, and
although my parents left when I was one-and-a-half, they later returned
to Ethiopia, living in Addis Ababa for almost five years when I was 9-14
years old. Because of my family connections to Mennonites in Ethiopia,
the President of MK College, Negash Kebede, is an old family friend. I
have many fond memories of my childhood years in Ethiopia; although I
was also aware that it was a time of great hardship for many Ethiopian
people since they were living under the brutal regime of the Communist
dictator, Col. Mengistu.
This past summer my husband and I were able to visit Ethiopia and
spent several days at MK College where we were warmly welcomed. The
students are looking forward to this course and the opportunity to study
with Christian students from Messiah.
Professionally, my academic specialty is missions and Christianity in
Africa, and I am beginning a new project on the history of Mennonites
and education in Ethiopia and Tanzania, which is why my family visited
both Ethiopia and Tanzania this past summer. So, both personally and
professionally, I am excited about helping students connect, in Ethiopia,
with the global Christian church!
Concluding Thoughts:
Ethiopia is an Amazing Country!
Ancient Christian history still living in the Orthodox
Church.
Christian kingdom that survived for 1600 years producing
world famous architecture and art.
Vibrant Evangelical church history with churches growing
underground during the Communist dictatorship.
Only one of two countries to remain independent during
the European colonial period in Africa, now the
headquarters of the African Union.
Addis Ababa, built amongst hills covered with eucalyptus
trees, is currently experiencing a building-boom.
World-renowned, flavorful cuisine.
Diverse and unique geography of highlands and lowlands,
with extinct volcanoes and hot springs.
Any Questions?
The cost for this cross-cultural is $3950.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other
questions!
Anne Marie Stoner-Eby
Department of History
[email protected]
Boyer 262, x2046