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Landmark Votes Set New Policy at MKC General Assembly

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Historic votes at Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) General Assembly October 6-7, 2006, have set new policy on two boundary issues, one regarding women in leadership and another regarding baptism of polygamous converts. Delegates also approved a new constitution, replacing one dating from January 1999.

Delegates approved a recommendation in favor of women holding congregational office on the basis of gifts and election. This includes salaried offices such as evangelist, teacher, and pastor, as well as unsalaried offices such as deacon and elder.

Discussion of the issue included recognition that women played important roles as leaders of the underground church during the 1980s, when the Communist government shut down the MKC and seized its properties.

Previous to this vote, there was no official policy, but tradition and custom discouraged the election of women to recognized roles in congregational leadership. Leaders of the underground church of the 1980s had identified a need for policy on this subject, but had tabled a decision until further enlightenment.

The constitution committee presented the recommendation in response to the 2005 General Assembly’s call for further study in preparation for approval of the new constitution. In guidelines for calling congregational leaders, the language of the new constitution speaks of “all members who are gifted” and “men and women.”

In a separate vote, delegates approved a task force recommendation in favor of baptizing polygamous converts, but restricting them from leadership positions. Polygamy, a form of marriage in which a man has more than one wife, is common throughout Africa and in many countries around the world.

Previous MKC policy denied baptism to polygamous converts. Advocates of the change in policy quoted from 1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop must be…the husband of one wife,” as evidence that the early church had polygamous members, and that they were restricted from leadership.

A priority for evangelism played a role in the church’s decision to baptize polygamous converts. Delegates heard testimony from regional church leaders stating that the church’s witness would be handicapped by denying baptism to polygamous converts.

“This decision shows concern for the community, and especially for the wives and the children who are affected,” said General Secretary Mulugeta Zewdie. Experience has shown that church teaching requiring polygamists to divorce multiple wives has often caused extensive suffering for the women and children affected.

“The impact of this decision is that the church will be united in evangelizing and in showing concern for the community in polygamous areas,” Zewdie added.

The task force that prepared the recommendation spent a year in preparation, including Bible study and consultation with other Ethiopian evangelical churches.

Monogamous marriage continues to be the teaching position of the church. Policy regarding church members who take a second wife will remain the same as in the past. “Their membership will be cancelled,” Zewdie clarified.

Delegates also approved the new constitution by more than the required three-fourths vote. The vote completes a process that began in 2004, when the General Assembly called for a new constitution that would address the realities of the growing church. The MKC has 144,604 baptized members in 398 congregations and 785 church planting centers. They also reported that last year there were 20,692 conversions and 13,968 baptisms.

The MKC General Assembly is the governing body of the church. Until now, all voting members have been laymen. The new constitution will change the make-up of the General Assembly. In future, one-third will be full time ministers and two-thirds will be laymen. The General Assembly meets annually.

— Holly Blosser Yoder, MCC/EMM worker in Ethiopia