The EGST Board at its meeting held on 24 July 2017 approved graduation of all the 61 candidates (49 male, 12 female) recommended by the Faculty Council. On July 29, 2017, EGST awards post graduate degrees to the 17th batch of candidates in its campus. The 61 graduates are composed of five programmes – 3 in Theology, 29 in Biblical and Theological Studies, 9 in Leadership and Management, 14 in Development Studies and 7 in Post Graduate Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies. The proportion of female graduates this year, 20%, indicated a decline by 14% of female students’ completion rate compared to last year’s 34%. According to projections from the EGST Registrar’s Office, the number of expected active studentship for the 2017/18 academic year is expected to be 203 (153 male, 50 female).
The graduation ceremony is planned to include speeches, a sermon, worship, academic awards, testimonies and charge to the graduates among other things. Religious leaders from different ecumenical traditions as well as government officials are expected to attend the event.
In his congratulatory message to the graduates, Rev. Yonas Yigezu, EECMY President remarked his gratitude to God and the owners. “We are delighted to see EGST – greatly valued and vital institution – continue equipping theologians and potential leaders to serve the Church and society.” He further noted that “at this historic moment, one of our foremost tasks should be equipping believers to become disciples so that they are enabled to defend the doctrine and order of our Church as well as be good shepherds for the flock.”
Dr. Eyasu Elias, the EKHC President, in his note stated that “at a time when the younger generation in Ethiopia is facing daunting and pervasive influence of the post-modern culture, secularism and moral decay, schools like EGST are instrumental to empower young people to be a generation of servant-leaders capable of raising the banner of truth high and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
Pastor Tsadiku Abdo, the ECFE President, on his part said that “today, instead of challenging you to become a leader, motivator and trembler, I want to challenge you to live your passion and become best version of what God is calling you to be.”
Chairperson of the EGST Board, Dr. Tesfaye Yacob, sent his message emphasizing on intellectual pursuit, commitment and mission. “Our unchanging mission to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel starts here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and extends to the ends of the earth. This demands dogged perseverance, iron discipline, integrity in the truth, disciplined humility and living everyday with eternal perspective” he remarked.
“In ecclesial settings, despite the claims that the church membership has increased, sound biblical teaching, historic faith and Christian values are being compromised by the leaders and followers of a “different gospel” – a gospel that undermines the cross of Christ and defines Christianity only in light of wealth, health and success”, EGST Director, Dr. Misgana Mathewos, indicated in his congratulatory message.
The Director further cautioned that “the church is in dire need of theologically competent and ethically sensitive cutting-edge leadership that provides direction and discernment to many souls who are confused by the deteriorating spirituality and morality in progress” and called on the graduates to respond to such challenges.
EGST exists to equip Christ-like women and men through theological and related studies and stimulate research for the service of church and society in Ethiopia and beyond. The main areas of work are teaching, research and community engagement. EGST currently offers five programmes; Post Graduate Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies (PGD), Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies (MABTS), Master of Arts in Leadership and Management (MALM), Master of Arts in Development Studies with specialization areas in Community Development and Theology and Gender, Health and Theology (MADevS), as well as Master of Theology (MTh). EGST plans to start other programmes and is making preparations towards introducing PhD programme in 2017/18. With the current 61 graduates included, EGST have graduated a total of 517 masters and postgraduate diploma alumnus since its establishment in 1997.
In 2010, EGST has been awarded accreditation by the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA), recognizing the teaching standards and contextual relevance of EGST’s programs as well as the overall administration and resources of the school. EGST is also registered in Ethiopia according to Proclamation Number 691/2003 by the Ministry of Federal and Pastoral Development Affairs to serve church and society with the objective of teaching, research and community engagement.
EGST was jointly founded in 1997 by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC), and the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE), which together represent the majority of the Evangelical believers in Ethiopia.
(EGST Public Relations, July 26, 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more information contact us at publicrelaltion@egst.edu.et; tehitenamesfin@gmail.com; 0911075087 or devecom@egst.edu.et; saraelon@yahoo.com; 0911866128
