Perception and Identity : A Study of the Relationship between the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Evangelical Churches in Ethiopia / Seblewengel Daniel [print]

Introduction -- Motivation -- Intellectual Framework -- Methodology -- Historical background to the study -- The formation of Ethiopian Christian Identity -- Introduction -- The Aksumite period -- The role of the monarchy -- the Alexandrian connection -- The role of the nine saints and the vernacular scriptures -- Judaic influences -- The move into the interior -- The rise of Islam and its coastal presence -- The long process of westward expansion and the role of Amharic -- The process of Christianization -- Development of learning -- Advance and recession -- The great Jihad and the arrival of western Christianity -- The ninettenth-century expansion of the monarchy and the integration of the south -- Haile Sellassie (1930-1974) and the Italian War and recovery -- Revolution and the Derg -- The post-revolutionary settlement -- Conclusion -- Protestant missions and the emergence of evangelical churches -- Introduction -- Lutherans -- New Evangelical missions and churches -- Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions -- Baptist Missions -- Indigenous initiatives in the south prior to the coming of missionaries -- The establishment of the Ethiopian Kale Herywet Church (EKHC) -- Pentecostals -- Transformation and polarization: the outcomes of Pentecostal movement -- The sufficiency of scripture in vernacular -- Conclusion -- The Anglican-Orthodox encounter: an attempt to revitalize the Church of Ethiopia -- Introductio -- An overview of evangelicalism in England and the establishment of the church missionary society - The political an spiritual condition of Ethiopia in the Nineteenth century -- The missionaries' interlude in Egypt -- Firsthand experience of Abyssinian Christianity -- Kugler in Tigray -- Gobat in Gondar -- The deaths of Kugler and Sabagadis -- The aftermath -- Conclusion of the First attempt to revitalize the church of Ethiopia -- New recruits, greater challenges -- CMS in Shewa -- The end of CMS mission to Ethiopia -- Renewed efforts of amuel Gobat -- Conclusion -- Evangelical-Ethiopian orthodox church encounter: a story of mutual antagonism and misunderstanding -- Introduction -- Brief history of the encounter between Ethiopian orthodox church and evangelicals -- "We are the church in Ethopia" -- The tsere-mariam accusation through the centuries -- The depiction of Evangelicals as Mete (Foreign) -- Longstanding doctrinal differences between EOC and evangelicals: the depiction of evangelicals as Menafiq and "thieves" -- The Ethiopian Orthodox church's perception of Pentecostals -- Concluding remarks -- The evangelicals' perceptions of the EOC -- The evangelicals' perception of themselves as believers "..." -- The evangelical view of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as authoritarian and discriminatory -- The depiction of the Orthodox as Ahzabl without Christ -- The two great battle grounds and one of the consequences -- The Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus -- Sola Scriptura and the Mother-Tongue translations of the Bible -- the issue of burial -- Conclusion -- Contemporary reformation impulses in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church -- Introduction -- An overview of reformation in the church -- The controversy over the term Tehadiso -- An overview of reformation movements -- Aba Estifanos, the "Ancestor" of modern reformers -- Expelled insiders -- Tension between reforming and preserving the tradition of the church -- The in-between reformers -- "Silent" reformers -- Poplar preachers and singers -- Mahbere Kidusan: the "watchdog" of ancient tradition -- The evangelicals and reformation movements -- conclusion -- Conclusion.

Ethiopia is an icon of freedom and indigenous Christianity across Africa due to its historic independence, ancient Christian identity and rich religious heritage. However, Ethiopia and its various Christian denominations have their own understandings of this identity and how these communities relate to one another. In this detailed study, Dr Seblewengel Daniel explores the perception and identity of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and evangelical church in Ethiopia and examines the relations between the two. Beginning with the earliest evangelical missionary engagement with the Orthodox church, Dr Daniel skilfully uses historical and theological frameworks to explain the dynamics at play when approaching the relations over two centuries between these two churches and their respective communities. Daniel ultimately emphasizes that what unites the Orthodox and evangelical church is greater than what divides - namely an ancient faith in the triune God. This important study urges both sides to place the Bible at the centre, using it to understand their differences, and challenges them to take responsibility for past negative perceptions in order to move forward together in greater unity and mutual respect.

https://www.amazon.com/Perception-Identity-Relationship-Ethiopian-Evangelical/dp/1783686340/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9781783686346&qid=1589399531&sr=8-1

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