In the past few weeks, many people across the global Anabaptist family have followed the news that the Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) will no longer host the 2028 global assembly of Mennonite World Conference (MWC), and the Meserete Kristos Seminary (MKS) has ended its formal partnership with Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS). The decision has stirred deep emotions, sparked debate and raised questions about partnership, doctrine, and the nature of unity in the global church.
Two Pennsylvania schools, Dock Mennonite Academy in Lansdale and Lancaster Mennonite School, hosted Anabaptist leaders from Ethiopia in October.
My journey exploring faith leaders’ responses to ethnic-based violence revealed a spectrum of approaches, from nonresistance and nonviolence to self-defense, aggression and confusion. Understanding these diverse perspectives, I think, is vital for developing effective peace-building strategies, fostering resilience and creating cohesive communities capable of addressing root causes of violence.
Meserete Kristos Church held its 94th General Assembly Aug. 28-29 at Meserete Kristos Seminary in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Meserete Kristos Seminary in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, is finalizing plans for a multistory guest facility designed to create income for the seminary for decades to come.
In this article, I will share with you a story of a follower of Jesus, who was persecuted by his community and took a step of faith, perhaps too risky, which eventually led to the transformation of the community.
In a nation fractured by war, where women’s bodies have become battlegrounds and bulldozers have destroyed houses in the name of “development,” Ethiopia’s Meserete Kristos Church faces a reckoning.
The unintended positive outcomes of the Derg regime in Ethiopia underscore a striking dynamic: adversity can sometimes lead to unexpected growth, resilience, and strengthened communities. The experiences of the MKC provide a compelling narrative of how faith can be deepened through hardship and how innovative strategies can emerge in response to oppression.
Mennonite World Conference has announced the theme and dates for its 2028 global assembly in Ethiopia: “Christ Unites Us,” Jan. 11-15.
Comparisons between early Anabaptism and global Anabaptist (and even non-Anabaptist) expressions of faith abounded at a conference hosted by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies in Elizabethtown, Pa., July 22-24.
