A history of christianity in bale ca.1890 - 1991

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is exploring the history of Christianity in Bale from ca1890 to 1991.The study covers the period from the rule of Emperor Menelik II to the coming to power of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government. The study is important to shed light on the history of Christianity in Bale. Especially, it assesses how different Christian faiths and churches spread in Bale and the role played by the EOTC, the EECMY, the Gala Hiwot, the Full Gospel and the Mäsärätä Kerestos Church in the socio- economic development of the people of Bale province. The study was conducted making use of the data collected from both primary and secondary sources. To mention, archival sources, thesis, PhD dissertations, journals, proceedings, magazines, books and periodical publications were used. In addition to this, fifty-five oral informants were also interviewed. The collected data were evaluated by checking and counter checking with other sources. Finally, analysis and discussions were made using the qualitative method of research. In Bale Province, the work of evangelization of the Christian faith was very weak. The propagation of Orthodox Tewahedo faith to some extent strengthened in line with the spread of the Protestant faith. Until 1991, the interaction between the Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the different sects of Protestant churches as well as the Catholic Church was not good. The believers of the Protestant faith and the followers of the Catholic Church were perceived as heretics by the believers of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith and segregate in the different social life of the society. However, that ugly relationship improved and relaxed in line with the freedom of worship the people of the country enjoyed following government change in1991.The harmonious relationship and tolerance existed for centuries between Christians and Muslims of Bale also continued as before until these days. Before 1960s the role played by the different churches found in Bale in development work that benefit the people of the area was not satisfactory. However, from 1970 onwards the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the different sects of Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church engaged themselves in rendering holistic services for the people of the area such as by opening schools, clinics, helping deep poor people and carrying out other development works.