Protestantism in Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
Protestants in Ethiopia
are mostly known by the name Pentay (also called in amharic as "መናፍቅ") or short for Pentecostal even though Pentecostals proper are a small minority by comparison. "Pentay" is a term for Christians not belonging to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso
, Roman Catholic
or Ethiopian Catholic
churches.
The total number of Protestants in Ethiopia is believed to be about 20% of the population (according to the magazine Christianity Today, September, 2011, edition, p. 18), or about 17 million.
Established Protestant denominations are relatively abundant in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
. Some urban areas are also evangelizing very fast. Other big Protestant churches in Ethiopia include Meserete Kristos, Gubae Egziabehare (Assembly of God), Mulu Wongel, and Misgana church. There officially is freedom of religion. In Gambela
, Mekane Yesus followers are about 60% of the population. In regions with an Islamic majority, Christians face opposition from local authorities and radical Muslims.
According to "Voice of the Martyrs
", there have been brutal killings of Pentay Christians in rural areas that tend to be overlooked by the Ethiopian government and stay undisclosed to international organizations. "Voice of the Martyrs" also states that Pentay Christians have been murdered by Islamic militants because they refused to renounce their faith. Other Protestant denominations include United Pentecostal, Full Gosp-Mulu Wengel, Heywet Birhane, Seventh-day Adventist
, Meserete Kristos, Sefer Genet, Churches of Christ, Birhane Wengel and Emmanuel Baptist churches. The Protestant minority is growing by about 6.7% per year.
Anglicanism
is represented in Ethiopia by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
; Ethiopia is part of the Diocese of Egypt, which also includes other countries on the Horn of Africa
and in North Africa
. There is one Episcopal church in Addis Ababa
and one in Gambela
.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
are mostly known by the name Pentay (also called in amharic as "መናፍቅ") or short for Pentecostal even though Pentecostals proper are a small minority by comparison. "Pentay" is a term for Christians not belonging to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the predominant Oriental Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church was administratively part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All...
, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso
Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso Church
According to its followers, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso Church stands to preserve the country's orthodox traditions while believing in the full Gospel of the scripture. Most of its members reside in Oromia Region of Ethiopia, however it has several members globally...
, Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
or Ethiopian Catholic
Ethiopian Catholic Church
The Ethiopian Catholic Church is a Metropolitan sui iuris Eastern particular Church within the Catholic Church. Established in 1930, its membership includes inhabitants of Ethiopia and Eritrea....
churches.
The total number of Protestants in Ethiopia is believed to be about 20% of the population (according to the magazine Christianity Today, September, 2011, edition, p. 18), or about 17 million.
Established Protestant denominations are relatively abundant in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of the former Regions 7-11 following the 1994 elections...
. Some urban areas are also evangelizing very fast. Other big Protestant churches in Ethiopia include Meserete Kristos, Gubae Egziabehare (Assembly of God), Mulu Wongel, and Misgana church. There officially is freedom of religion. In Gambela
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
, Mekane Yesus followers are about 60% of the population. In regions with an Islamic majority, Christians face opposition from local authorities and radical Muslims.
According to "Voice of the Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs is the name of several related Christian organizations founded through the influence of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in such countries as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. These VOM missions aim to raise awareness about the many thousands of Christians...
", there have been brutal killings of Pentay Christians in rural areas that tend to be overlooked by the Ethiopian government and stay undisclosed to international organizations. "Voice of the Martyrs" also states that Pentay Christians have been murdered by Islamic militants because they refused to renounce their faith. Other Protestant denominations include United Pentecostal, Full Gosp-Mulu Wengel, Heywet Birhane, Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Meserete Kristos, Sefer Genet, Churches of Christ, Birhane Wengel and Emmanuel Baptist churches. The Protestant minority is growing by about 6.7% per year.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
is represented in Ethiopia by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is a province of the Anglican Communion stretching from Iran in the east to Algeria in the west, and Cyprus in the north to Somalia in the south. It is the largest and the most diverse Anglican province. The church is headed by a President...
; Ethiopia is part of the Diocese of Egypt, which also includes other countries on the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
and in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. There is one Episcopal church in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
and one in Gambela
Gambela, Ethiopia
Gambela is a city in Ethiopia and the capital of the Gambela Region or kilil. Located in Administrative Zone 1, at the confluence of the Baro River and its tributary the Jajjaba, the city has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 526 meters....
.
Sources
- http://www.adherents.com/adhloc/Wh_93.html
- http://www.adherents.com/adhloc/Wh_94.html
- http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71301.htm
- http://sb.od.org/index.php?supp_page=et
- http://www.gmi.org/ow/country/ethi/owtext.html