{"id":67875,"date":"2012-12-21T17:06:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-21T22:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mereja.com\/amharic\/?guid=af6bfe6cb58a95e7bcfc61a6f0985bd3"},"modified":"2012-12-21T17:06:00","modified_gmt":"2012-12-21T22:06:00","slug":"the-eotc-patriarchate-a-cause-for-disunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.net\/amharic\/67875","title":{"rendered":"The EOTC Patriarchate: A Cause for Disunity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n(By Teklu Abate\nEXCLUSIVELY for Deje Selam):- The division of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido\nChurch (EOTC) into two competing synods has a single cause: the way the most\ninfamous patriarch, the late Abune Paulos, was instated as leader of the church\ntwenty years ago.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/a>  <\/span>The then members of\nthe synod did not oppose the political maneuvering made and several even\npraised the move. That effectively divided the top leadership of the church\nthat survived countless challenges before. For the last two decades, the two\nsynods invested a lot of their time and resources to \u2018fight and kill\u2019 each\nother, which in the end unfavorably checked the church\u2019s growth and\ndevelopment.<\/span>
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\nThree reconciliation\nefforts were made so far, all ended in fiasco. Some argued that the third one,\nwhich took place in Dallas, was relatively smooth, peaceful, and promising. The\nsigns such folks identified include the fact that delegates of the two synods\nshared prayers and meals together, that they showed respect to each other, and\nthat both sides agreed to further negotiate in January 2013. Had the parties\nbeen secular, these signs could have been dubbed significant. But we are\ntalking about bishops who reached or are supposed to reach the highest level of\nspirituality and wisdom. In principle, they should not have allowed the\ndivision of the synod in the first place. Or at least, they should have solved\nthe problem in just one negotiation. Unfortunately, it seems that they want to\nmake \u201creconciliation\u201d their annual agenda. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nReconciliation Failed?<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nIn my previous post, <\/span>http:\/\/tekluabate.blogspot.no\/2012\/11\/eotcthe-two-synods.html<\/span><\/a><\/span>, I, based on some clues and cues available then, indicated\nthat the 3rd<\/sup> reconciliation effort would be no different than the\nprevious ones. And that unfortunately seems materialized now. The synod in\nAddis disgraced itself by making perhaps the most offensive, immature, and upsetting\ndecision ever. There is this time around ample evidence which testifies to the\nfact that reconciliation was never genuinely sought after in the first place.\nAll the talks and media bravados seemed to show a false political gesture made\nto simply \u2018please\u2019 the public.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThe synod delegated four\nmembers for the peace talks in Dallas. Astonishingly, the Addis Ababa synod\ndeliberately sent bold signals which showed the lack of interest and readiness thereof\nto embrace peace and unity. One, they first distributed the rumors that a law\nthat supports patriarch choice was being formulated. Two, they in one way or\nanother indicated that they would soon elect nominating committee that would oversee\nchoice of a patriarch. Three, the Acting Patriarch Abune Natanael emphatically\ntold VOA that Abune Merkorios could not assume his position as patriarch. And\nhe talked of the possibility of offering Abune Merkorios cars, houses, and\nother utilities and facilities if he wishes to enter the country. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThis was the most\ndevastating news to the reconciliation committee and the entire Christian\ncommunity and unity lovers. How on earth a father of such position and age came\nup with these childish, egoistic, amoral, and ice-cold speeches? Abune Natanael\ninitially worked hard to ease the tensions between the two synods and to even\nallow Abune Merkorios to serve the church while residing in Addis. Lately, the\nbishop clearly and publicly appeared dismissive, dictatorial, and cruel in his\ninterviews. In a way, his talk sent shockwaves to the entire church community\nand powerfully signaled the beginning of the end of peace and unity talks.   <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThe Landmark       <\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nWhile we were\nregurgitating Abune Natanael\u2019s incapacitating talks, two more developments that\nseemed to mark the impossibility of unity emerged. One, a bylaw that governs\npatriarch choice is now ratified. The law left no room for God to intervene\nduring election of patriarchs- voting will be used to choose a leader from\nbeginning to end. This leaves pretty good space for manipulating elections for\nwhatever reasons. Two, the most severe blow to the reconciliation and unity\neffort was made a day before: a nominating committee of 13 personalities was elected.\nThe committee will identify, in just less than two months, potential candidates\nwho would bid for the church\u2019s highest office. Whatelse could herald the complete\nfailure of the peace talks than this one? Nothing. But am not still advising\nthe peace committee to quit their jobs. Just keep going!<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThe synod did not even\nwait for the words\/reports of the peace delegation sent to Dallas. Nor they incorporated\nthe views of the delegation committee members into the bylaws and in the\nselection of nominating committee members. Interesting is that one of the\ndelegates, Abune Athnatios, made it clear that the decision made by the Synod\nin Addis is simply unbelievable and vowed to oppose it in the strongest\nmeasures available. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThese are the facts on\nthe ground so far. They all point to a direction- to choose a patriarch. To me,\nthe synod has slammed its doors against some of the most sought virtues, peace\nand unity. It is up to the entire church community to knock at their doors. If\nthey prefer to fall into a deep sleep, God would open the doors against their\nwill.  <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nWhat to Do<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nShall we Christians and\nall unity-lover Ethiopians keep silent? I believe in the power of a unified\n\u2018struggle\u2019. I believe that all Christians must have a good say when it comes to\nEOTC\u2019s big affairs. I believe that well-spirited efforts at various levels\nwould accrue good results. We have several weeks to go before they nominate and\nelect another tomato-loving patriarch. To me, all the following are the stakeholders\nwho could bring down the \u2018wall\u2019 that stands between the two synods.  <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nSynod Members<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nThere are several great\nbishops who are fighting all the injustices taking place in the church. They\nshould intensify their struggle by bringing to their side the so-called neutral\nbishops who prefer silence. They must also try to convince those bishops who support\nchoosing a patriarch now. They should stop collaborating with the nominating\ncommittee and spread the injustice made to all concerned people by all means\navailable. Do not sign on minutes that facilitate, directly or indirectly, the\nnomination and election of a patriarch. Persuade potential candidates to stand\nfor the unity of the church by rejecting their nominations. If the election\ncampaign is unabated, make media announcements and leave for monasteries. Also\ncrucial is for the peace and reconciliation delegation to stand united and to\ndemand the synod to forsake their decision. If no result comes out, announce\nthat to the public and retreat to our monasteries, to which you are near and\ndear. <\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nNominating Committee<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nThe nominating committee\nmust understand that their assignment will not ensure peace and unity-\nsomething upon which the church itself is founded. They must turn down their\nnominations and join the bishops that prioritize reconciliation. Do not let\nyourself be part of the untidy heap. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nChurch Leaders and Parish Councils   <\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nLeaders and parish\ncouncils of individual churches have a huge possibility to say \u201cNo\u201d to this\nunjust decision. In a way, these are, and not synod members, closer and dearer\nto millions of Christians. They must reject invitations to collaborate with the\nnominating committee. They must criticize in formal letters and meetings the\ndecision made by the synod and clearly show that they would not financially\ncontribute to the patriarchate if peace and unity are not given priority. They\nshould hold unity and peace as preconditions for financial support and\naccountability. They should bring together preachers and associations for this\ncause. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nSpiritual Associations and Preachers<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nThere are several\nassociations within EOTC \u2018premise\u2019. This is the time when they and their\nmembers should stand in clear defense of peace and unity. They should not\nrecognize the nominating committee and stop all sorts of support to the synod.\nPreachers also have a huge opportunity to talk to thousands of Christians on a\ndaily basis. Out of sheer love for unity and peace, which the Gospel is all\nabout, they must create awareness among the masses. Serve God\u2019s words and not\npolitically massaged words of some bishops.   <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nOrdinary Christians<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nActually, ordinary\nChristians have a final power, the power to either reject or accept the\ndecision made. The problem is that nearly most Christians think that it is not\nbeing spiritual to discuss with and\/or confront the elderly including synod\nmembers. Yes, we need to respect and collaborate with bishops at all times but\nnow. If the bishops behave wild, we must challenge them. If they compromise the\nchurch\u2019s mission and vision- peace and unity- we must hold them accountable.\nFor the million Christians, there is no any critical time to \u2018fight\u2019 injustice than\nthis one. There are a whole lot of strategies to use to oppose the decision.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nv    <\/span><\/span>Continue individual and collective prayers <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Believe that opposing this decision is your God-given\nand constitutional right<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Believe that your say counts in the end <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Tell synod members in different ways\/media that the\ndecision passed is not in the interest of the church and hence it will not be\naccepted<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Urge your parish councils to criticize the decision\nand to stop collaborating with the synod until they solve their problems<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>To collect petitions that oppose the decision and\ndeliver them to the synod <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Threaten not to pay anything to the churches until the\nsynod brings unity<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Support, morally and financially, those bishops and other\npeople who oppose the decision<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Make entirely peaceful demonstrations just around the\npatriarchate<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Do not listen to anybody who preaches the importance\nof the decision passed  <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Do not question for a second your religion because of\nthe synod\u2019s failure; leadership failure is not strictly speaking equal to\ninstitutional failure<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nv    <\/span><\/span>Look for ways of collaborating with Christians who\nbelong to the synod abroad<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThe Media<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nLocal and Diaspora media\n(websites, blogs, prints, and television and radio broadcasts) have a great\nrole to play. They should facilitate information sharing on daily basis.\nAlthough the majority of Diaspora media are inaccessible to the average\nEthiopian back home, they could still influence millions. However, care must be\ntaken not to exploit the opportunity for political gains. The issue at hand is\nabout EOTC unity and peace and the immediate and most appropriate people to\nbe held accountable must be the synod members<\/i><\/b>. They must defend the church from any\nkind of pressure from everywhere.<\/i><\/b> The government must be the least\nimportant factor for us despite its interventionist role.  <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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\nThe Government<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n If I say that the government is not playing\nbehind the scene, they would make mockeries and mockeries out of me. And I do\nnot want to be such a person. Yes, we are having a government who is highly\ninterventionist although it publicizes the independence of religion and\ngovernment. My message to them is direct and simple. That your role at this\npoint in time is one and only one- just to ensure the security and safety of all\nthe bishops and the entire church community. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nThe writer could be reached at teklu.abate<\/span>@<\/span>gmail.com and also blogs at <\/span>http:\/\/tekluabate.blogspot.no\/<\/span><\/a><\/span>.     <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
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Deje Selam is a venue of news, views and opinions about or related to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. dejeselam@gmail.com<\/div>
\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(By Teklu Abate
\nEXCLUSIVELY for Deje Selam):- The division of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido
\nChurch (EOTC) into two competing synods has a single cause: the way the most
\ninfamous patriarch, the late Abune Paulos, was instated as leader of the chu…<\/p>\n

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