On June 17, 1996, 29 leaders representing the Mekane Yesus Seminary, the Evangelical Theological College and the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia signed a commitment towards the establishment of a graduate school of theology.
The first post graduate theological institution in the Horn of Africa, the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, was dedicated on 14 February 1997.
On 14 February 1998, EGST was officially dedicated as a joint Graduate School of Theology. Dr. Peter Cotterell, the founding director, emphasized the uniqueness and wonder of the spirit of cooperation and unity between the two major evangelical denominations in Ethiopia and their respective undergraduate theological colleges, that allowed EGST…Read More
In 2000, Reverend Dr. Debela Birri, was installed as the second director of EGST. His time of directorship, 2000 – 2007, is generally referred to as a period of establishment and organization of EGST.
Having started with 15 students by offering courses in systematic theology in 1998, EGST graduated its first batch in June 2001. A total of 12 students graduated – six in Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies and six in Master of Theology.
EGST dedicated its first campus together with the third graduation in June 2003. before owning its own campus, EGST operated in rented offices and classes were being held at ETC and MYTS.
The first Faculty Development Plan was launched to realize 70% Ethiopian teaching staff in 10 years.
Two of the Female Faculty Development Plan Candidates, Sofanit Tamene and Meron Tekleberhan, went for PhD.
