The Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST), through its Training and Capacity Building Programme (TCBP), conducted a sensitisation workshop for 25 church leaders from the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE), Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC), and Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). The workshop was held at Mehal Meseret Christos Church in Dire Dawa.
The workshop introduced the TCBP’s objectives, implementation plans, thematic areas, training modalities, and the respective roles and expectations of EGST and participating church leaders. It aimed to establish a shared understanding of the programme and lay the foundation for collaborative implementation.
A key highlight was the opportunity for church leaders to reflect on their contexts, identify pressing capacity-building needs, and collectively determine priorities requiring immediate attention. Through a facilitated, participatory process, participants were encouraged to articulate their actual needs and contribute to shaping a programme responsive to their ministry and community realities.
Participants welcomed EGST’s engagement in Dire Dawa and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to strengthen the capacity of the wider Christian community. They also demonstrated a strong willingness to collaborate in implementing the programme.
The workshop marked an important step towards building shared ownership and strengthening partnerships between EGST and local churches to equip church leaders and practitioners for more effective ministry and community engagement.
We seek to subject our thoughts and actions to God’s Word and affirm the power of Scripture to effect change in individual lives, churches and society.
We come together as a community of learners not for our sake only but also for the sake of others. We seek to grow in our understanding of God and his ways, so that we may help others to acknowledge his governance over the world with its rich possibilities for both individual transformation and for social and cultural renewal.
We believe that theological education speaks to and out of its local context as a dynamic interaction between the local context, the global context and Scripture.
We strongly believe that unity among the churches of Ethiopia is important and can be fostered through cooperative, inter-denominational graduate-level theological education. We also seek to partner with individuals, institutions, churches and organizations within and outside Ethiopia.
We value learning alongside people from different traditions and churches. Exposure to varying traditions challenges thinking about God and the diversity of his work in the world. While EGST promotes unity, it also appreciates and respects diversity.
We value the importance of worshipping God with our minds and strive for excellence both in our rigorous study of Scripture and in our critical analysis of context.
We seek to be people who model Christ’s values such as love, humility, compassion, justice, integrity, self-control, and holiness.
We seek to promote ecumenical relationships among churches in Ethiopia in order to enhance mutual understanding.
