Prophetic Ethiopia

Introduction 

Prophetic: The Public Theology Fellowship wishes to express our deep love for the diverse people of Ethiopia. We believe that every person is created by God with precious worth for dignity, security, and flourishing. With this love, we grieve the violence that has devastated people in Ethiopia since the civil war erupted in 2020. We are also gravely concerned by troubling signs that this violence may continue or escalate.   

Our fellowship is oriented by the words of holy scripture: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). We believe that faith leaders and all people of goodwill have a responsibility to courageously bear witness to God’s desire for human dignity, love, and justice. This is our prophetic vocation: to speak truth to power for our mutual flourishing. 

With that sense of responsibility, we have written the following statement of our faith and moral conviction. We share it in response to the ongoing conflict, suffering, and death we grieve in beloved Ethiopia today. We recognize that we can only speak for ourselves and address a few of the urgent concerns in Ethiopia today. But we hope this statement articulates universal moral convictions that can orient, encourage, and challenge all people who desire peace in Ethiopia and beyond.  

1. Dignity and Dehumanization

We affirm that every person is created in the image of God. This means that every person bears sacred value regardless of age, gender, ethnic identity, religion, political stance, and any form of disability. In God’s eyes, all people are our neighbors, and we are called to love each other as ourselves. 

With this conviction, we refuse to see others as unrelated or less than ourselves. We reject the use of any language that refers to others as “enemies” or less than human, for example, as animals, diseases, or demons. We reject any treatment of others that denies their inherent dignity. This way of seeing and relating to our neighbors cannot honor God and has no part in any authentic expression of faith.  

Our words have great power in shaping our relationships and society. Therefore, we long to see our faith communities setting an example in public life of communicating with radical love and respect for others, especially when we differ or disagree. Faith should motivate us to imagine and articulate a healed world where everyone belongs – whoever we are and whatever political or faith inclinations we may have.

2. Religious Plurality and Polarization

Personal faith is a mysterious, evolving journey with public implications. We affirm a posture of faith characterized by humility, curiosity, and compassion toward people who are different from us. We emphasize the need for asking honest questions and listening patiently to one another. We affirm respect for public expressions of religious doubt, questioning, or change of mind. 

With this conviction, we call for self-reflection and an honest confrontation of our flaws and limitations in our faith communities. Rigid statements of certainty do not reflect the integrity of faith but the arrogance of religious identity. We reject an exclusionary, dichotomous worldview and affirm a full-color, dynamic worldview that reflects the complex world God has generously made. We long for discussions of faith marked by open, constructive engagement rather than defensiveness and divisiveness. 

We believe it is unhelpful to compete with one another for converts. We affirm that sharing our faith with one another is an invitation to meaningful dialogue and a shared search for truth rather than a battle that creates winners and losers in an “us vs them” identity. Whenever we see ourselves as superior to someone else, our faith has become false. Authentic faith builds bridges rather than walls. 

3. Embodied Faith and Escapism

We affirm a faith that courageously engages our shared human concerns. These concerns include political justice, economic well being, societal peace, the protection of women and children, and the dignity of persons with disabilities. 

With this conviction, we reject a faith that is solely concerned with “right doctrine” but neglects what Jesus called “the more important matters of the law: mercy, justice, and faithfulness” (Matthew 23). We observe in our religious debates the absence of these essential elements of authentic faith. We want more than a disembodied faith that is solely concerned with going to heaven when we die; we long to see human life flourishing here and now. We desire a faith that is not just about being right but about being transformed. 

We humbly repent for our silence in the face of extreme injustice in Ethiopia. We long to see people of faith asking fundamental social, economic, and political questions that can challenge policies. We long to see people of faith presenting respectful, constructive proposals that can address people in power. We long for faith communities to create space to grieve the heartbreaking injustices in our society, to reflect on the things that are happening around us, and to respond to current problems. These problems include violence, poverty, homelessness, mental illness, indifference to the suffering of others, and the devaluation of women.

4. The Human Family and Religious Nationalism

We affirm once more that all people are created by God with sacred dignity. No nation, ethnicity, or expression of humanity is superior to another in the eyes of God. We are all equally precious and belong to one human family. 

With this conviction, we reject religious nationalism in all its forms. No faith community should seek to capture control over others or claim a superior position to others. While it is good to love one’s country and desire the wellbeing of one’s community, every people on earth has been created by God for freedom, justice, and wellbeing. When our loyalty to our group comes at the expense of others, our loyalty has become idolatrous and dishonors the Creator who made us all.  

We long for faith communities that cultivate the common good. We long for faith communities that grieve and protest when others suffer. We long for faith communities that serve and rejoice when others flourish.  

5. Nonviolence and War

We reject the use of war to seek peace and justice in Ethiopia, the wider region, and around the world. Violence dishonors the image of God in others. Moreover, our history has proved that seeking peace through violence and domination has failed all of us. War has only destroyed lives, displaced people, and devastated Ethiopia’s infrastructure. In the process, we have all become both victims and perpetrators with multiple contradictions complicating our path forward. 

With this conviction, we affirm our agency in the face of feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness. Hope is born out of persistent individual and collective imagination that leads to action. We long for a society in which power and violence are distrusted and peace and justice are cherished.   

We affirm that all of us can respond and contribute positively to our society. We commit to engaging conflicts through nonviolent practices. We affirm a courageous commitment to dialogue, negotiation, lament, rehabilitation, public mercy, shared vision, and peaceful imagination.

6. Youth and Hope

Our youth are not only our future but also our present. They are uniquely gifted and wellsprings of fresh imagination, critical awareness, and authenticity. We affirm a faith that deeply values and actively engages our youth. As Ethiopia becomes an increasingly young population, we affirm devoting increased attention to our youth. 

With this conviction, we express concern that our youth are increasingly pressured and struggle with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and powerlessness. We observe that our youth are often treated like cheap tools by various elite groups. We desire our youth to be valued and empowered to flourish. We long for them to find the encouragement, space, and voice they need to address the issues they care most deeply about and to contribute to our shared wellbeing. 

Our youth must be treated as equal partners in dialogue and action in order for this vision to be realized. Through listening and engaging our youth, we hope to provide a space where they can use their unique gifts for the common good. We must encourage and empower our youth while also remaining humble in hoping to learn from them.

Conclusion

With this statement of public theology above, we commit to starting with ourselves and practicing these values in our relationships and work. We aspire to become prophetic people – humans who seek to speak truth to power, live our faith in action, and contribute to the flourishing of all.  

We warmly invite all who share these values to join us in promoting this vision of faith in Ethiopia and beyond. 

With love, grief, and hope,

The Courage Cohort (in alphabetical order) 

Amen Temesgen

Andrew DeCort

Biruktawit Girma

Chase Lucas

Emnetab Ayele

Fasika Amdeslasie Gebrekirkos

Feven Moges

Geleta Tesfaye Berisso

Hasset Shimeles Hailu

Melak Hailu

Nahom A. Jemberu

Naol Befkadu Hailu

Obse Mekonnen 

Pomy Hailu Legesse

Robel C. Disasa

Sara A. Kedir 

Tekalign Nega Angore

Tizita Seifu

Yared Donis

Yeabsera Adinew