EOTC Synod Renewed its Failure

Same Trajectory

Scapegoating

To a layperson, these decisions seem a little bit spiritual and compromising. But it is
just the tip of the ice berg. Deep inside lies a lot scapegoating- character
assassination. The long communiqué read by Abune Abraham via government-
controlled media has a clear goal: to ‘assassinate’ the credibility and identity of the
synod abroad. Long explanations are given to justify 1) how “wrongly and without
interferences” Abune Merkorios left his position; 2) how the synod abroad has been
reluctant to make peace a reality; and 3) how much resources and efforts the home
synod “genuinely” invested in the peace talks. The explanations are meant to tell the
public that the synod abroad is the cause of the problem and the home synod is the
holy peace negotiator and savior of the great church. Abune Merkorios and the
synod abroad are identified as the scapegoats- the ones and only ones who are
responsible for the chaos and stagnation of the church. One would be tempted to ask
this: Is that, from spiritual point of view, encouraged to assassin the identity and
character of others? That is why the communiqué looked much political and has
nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity: faith in truth, mercy, unity, and
love.

Interestingly, the public already knew the CAUSE of the problem. The people knew
that the synod members are under the mercy and whims of the ruling party. Millions
knew that Dr Shiferaw and Ato Abay make the patriarchate their other official seats
and the synod members their ‘valued’ clients. They intimidate and harass the synod
members 24/7 and gave such ultimatums as the confiscation of lands owned by
synod members and possible prosecution of resisting bishops. And they equated the
return of Abune Merkorios to the return of the mass murderer Mengistu
Hailemariam.

What is hilarious is that the synod members denied such ‘naked’ government
interventions. The fact is that the government was the real cause of the problem and
it is still the biggest factor that explains much of the phenomenon. At least, history
would judge the government for its constant breach of its own constitution. For now,
government guys got the guns and the guts to terrorize in public the powerless
monks.

This does however not mean that the synod members are not to be blamed for the
failure. In fact, they must be considered the REASONS behind the mess as
preventing the church from interventions of all sorts is their major job. They do not
want to make sacrifices of some sort. They tend to love and care for their earthly life,
sometimes to a greater scale compared to the secular lives of ordinary believers.
What they fear and respect is government officials and cadres, and not God and over
forty million Christians. Simply, they failed twenty years ago and they failed this
time around, too.

Mind the Gap

One jacket does not fit all. There are several members of the home synod who are
neck-to-neck with government representatives and pro-government bishops. That is
mainly why the communiqué read by Abune Abraham does not have stamps and
numbers on it. Only a limited number of the bishops are acting like belligerent
cadres. They believe (or at least appear to believe) that Ethiopia has got the most
popular and developmental government ever. A more ugly stuff is when they decide
to invite the government to squash resisting/peace loving bishops. Using
government as a shield, they would like to usurp and ‘own’ the church. In simple
terms, they are power thirsted few who are poised to win this time around again.

What to Do?

• Those members of the home synod who vehemently oppose government
  intervention and the decision passed need to carry on their resistance. Create unity
  among yourselves and try to speak even louder. Do not sign on the minutes and
  clearly show defiance against all sorts of ultimatum.

• The nominating committee must understand that their assignment will not ensure
  peace and unity- something upon which the church itself is founded. They must turn
  down their nominations and join the bishops that prioritize reconciliation. Do not let
  yourself to be part of the untidy heap.

• Leaders and parish councils of individual churches have a huge possibility to say
  “No” to this unjust decision. In a way, these are (and not the synod) who are closer
  and dearer to millions of Christians. They must reject invitations that request
  collaboration with and to the nominating committee. They must criticize in formal
  letters and meetings the decision made by the synod and clearly show that they
  would not financially contribute to the patriarchate if peace and unity are not given
  priority. They should bring together preachers and spiritual associations for this
  cause.

• Collect petitions that oppose the decision and deliver them to the synod

• Make entirely peaceful demonstrations just around the patriarchate and/or within
  churches

• Do not question for a second your religion/EOTC because of the synod’s failure;
  leadership failure is not strictly speaking equal to institutional failure. Leaders are
  temporary executive arms.

• Look forward for ways of collaborating with Christians abroad irrespective of their
  synod affiliation

• The media should continue spreading the truth surrounding the matter

The writer could be reached at [email protected] and also blogs at
http://tekluabate.blogspot.no/.