The New President will join EGST Council of Owners
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) in its 20th General Assembly elected Rev. Yonas Yigezu as President of the church. Out of the 446 voting members of the EECMY 274 decided on President-elect Rev Yonas Yigezu, EECMY said
The church’s highest governing body during its meeting from January 22-28, 2017 at the Mekane Yesus Seminary, Addis Ababa further elected Rev. Dr Kiros Lakew (President of the Addis Ababa Synod) as Vice President of the EECMY and Mr. Bacha Gina as Treasurer to serve for the coming four years term.
President-elect Rev. Yonas Yigezu 55, is currently serving at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Central Office as Director for Mission and Theology. He was nominee for the leadership position of the church at the 8-13 August 2016 Council held in Addis Ababa.
After the election Rev. Yonas Yigezu remarked: “God is calling me into a challenge but for enormous blessing ahead. I am team builder and prayer warrior. I see my success in this”.
The outgoing EECMY President, Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idosa has led the church since January 2009 as well as presiding over the LUCCEA of which the EECMY is a member. I am very happy that the unity of the church has been maintained and growth has been recorded in the areas of evangelism and development and social services of the church during the last eight years. I am very happy that the unity of the church has been maintained and growth has been recorded in the areas of evangelism and development and social services of the church during the last eight years. The engagement of the EECMY in mission work nationally and internationally, the Church’s participation in regional and global ecumenical bodies have increased. It is my hope and prayer that the new leadership continues to work hard and sustain the growth”
Rev. Yonas pursued his early education in Horest Spinnings Junior Secondary School in Challia, Wollega and Ghimbi High School. He then studied in Westhill College, England where he took his advanced diploma in Church Management and in Manchester University where he earned his bachelor’s in Development Management policy and MA in Management and Economic Policy. He did his Masters of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary. Currently he is pursuing his PHD in Concordia Theological Seminary, USA. He was ordained in 2006 in West Wollega Bethel Synod, Danbidolo. Rev. Yonas and his wife Ayantu Dufera have four children.
The EECMY became a national church in 1959 and joined the Lutheran World Federation, LWF in 1963 .According to the 2016 EECMY statistics, the Church has 8,564 congregations and 8,310,129 members.
President elect Rev.Yonas who is also Vice Board Chairperson of the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST) will replace the outgoing EECMY President and will join EGST Council of Owners. It is further recalled that 40% of EGST is owned by EECMY, while 40% by Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC) and 20% by the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia, ECFE.
A change of positions is expected at EGST Council of Owners and Board subsequent to the EECMY election outcomes. In 2016 EKHC and ECFE elected new leaders who also replaced former leaders at EGST Council of Owners and Board.
EGST extends best wishes and success during their tenure
