Note #9032 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
 

05625 Nov. 22, 2005

Ethiopian says homosexuality issue jeopardizes partnership with PC(USA)

by Jerry L. Van Marter

ORLANDO, FL - Any move by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to allow the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians would jeopardize its relationship with its main partner in Ethiopia, the president of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) said here last week.

"For us, this a confessional issue, over which we lament and pray for you and to God that it shouldn't happen," the Rev. Iteffa Gobena said during the annual gathering of the Presbyterian Coalition, a group that opposes any changes in the PC(USA)'s current constitutional ban on the ordination of anyone who doesn't practice "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and woman or chastity in singleness."

"I take home that we prayed with you, we lament on this with you," Gobena said. "God will not lead us into shame."

Gobena, who was the EECMY's evangelism director before becoming its president several years ago, reflected on his church's rapid growth. In the past 50 years it has grown by about 1000 percent, to about 4 million members. The roots of Protestant Christianity in Ethiopia date to the middle of the 19th century, when Lutheran and Presbyterian missionaries arrived there.

The church has survived through schisms, Italian (fascist) occupation during World War II, and numerous political upheavals. "Our identity lies in knowing that God is revealing his Son yesterday, today and tomorrow to all people," Gobena said.

The ministries of the EECMY are varied, but focused mainly on health, schools and peacemaking, Gobena said. "We are very active in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs, because more than 5 percent of our people are infected," he said. "We must work closely with other countries, too, because people move around so much."

The EECMY's peace office has been "instrumental in reforming the government, promoting civic responsibility and resolving conflicts between tribes and reconciling the Ethiopian/Eritrean conflict," he said, adding that Ethiopia has "come to a relatively modest democratic government" after years of dictatorship.

"EECMY has brought spiritual, material and political hope to the people," Gobena said, "but there's still a lot of poverty."