"Being a Role Model and Living Inclusivity"

Interview with Dr Bruk Ayele Asale, former head of the Mekane-Yesus Seminary.

Dr Bruk Ayele Asale was President of the Mekane-Yesus Seminary in Addis Abbeba from 2016 to the end of 2024. The theological college, which also includes a Faculty of Music and Media, developed successfully during this time. After eight years, the theologian was unable to extend his term of office. His successor was elected in december 2024 and his name is Rev. Dr. Misgana Mathewos.

During his recent stay in Hermannsburg, Dr Bruk Ayele Asale looked back on his time as director of the Mekane-Yesus Seminary. He also spoke about who his role models are and which Bible verses have given him strength.

Dr Bruk, you have been in Germany for a week and have held numerous talks. What significance do these encounters have for you?

The meeting with Dr Emmanuel Kileo, the director of the ELM, was particularly important for me. He is new in office and I had the opportunity to discuss with him what the partnership between the Mekane-Yesus Seminary and the ELM means for us. In addition, it was a time to express my sincere gratitude to all ELM leaders for thier gracious support and sincere partnership during my tenure as the MYS President.

When you look back to the beginning of your presidency, what was different then? What changes were there during your presidency?

To be honest, in 2016 I was not particularly happy about this request from the church. The Mekane-Yesus Seminary was going downhill at the time. But I was then pushed a bit, and it was amazing what happened. 

The text from Ephesians 3:20-21 comes to my mind. It helped me a lot. The verses say that God wants to work with us and in us. We become active and God works at the same time. He does this far more effectively than we would realise and expect at first glance. The most impressive thing was that the number of students has increased significantly. Eight years ago we had around 160 students, now there are 531. Back then there were 24 faculty members, now there are 54, including 20 women. Eight years ago, there were only two female faculty members, but now they grew to be more than 20. The number of women students has also increased significantly, from about less than 10 eight years ago to over 130 now. In terms of infrastructure and financial sustainability, the Seminary has been advanced a lot. The human capacity building, especially that of recruting young faculty members was remarkable.

Has the content also changed?

Back then we only had one programme, now we have a whole series. The new Bible translation programme is very important, and we have now started the Master's level there. We have a new programme for Bible work, a department for missions, a Master's programme for Christian-Muslim relations. 

There is a new post-graduate diploma (PGD in Biblical and theological studies), a new MTh program, Youth and Children Program at BTh level, and in the School of Music and Media, worship music is a new subject. 

And we have expanded the TEE (Theological Education by Extension) programme from diploma to batchelor’s level and, since 2024, a PHD programme. Overall, the quality of teaching has also been improved significantly.

So are you satisfied when you look back on the past eight years? Or are there still things you would like to see done?

Both. I didn't expect that we would achieve all this in eight years. But, of course, there is still a lot to do. In the Mekane-Yesus Church, you can only be in office for two terms. But if I had another chance to continue working, I would dedicate myself to establsih the archive, but also to publications and I would set up several other academic programs, which timely and needed by the church. These include peace and reconciliation department, Christian Leadership, Center for Global Mission Studies, Center for Ethiopian Church Studies, Center for languages‘ Studies, and so on.

If you look at the entire Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ethiopia, what are the biggest challenges at the moment?

Well, first of all, there are many positive developments. The church as a whole is growing; the base is functioning well. The congregations are very much busy with outreach and evangelism. The mission work has been so alive and the laity are highly involved in ministry. But, of course, we also have many problems. The ethnic divisions in the country are a huge challenge for the church. The church should be the light of the world. At the same time, people are also killing each other within the church because of their ethnicity. People are obsessed with thoughts of their ethnic identity. The idea that we are all one in Christ fades into the background. Sometimes I wonder if we have really understood the gospel, that we are renewed in Jesus Christ.

When a church calls a new pastor, the first thing they ask is which ethnic group he belongs to. And in some areas, people are returning to their traditional religions, some are both in the church and connected to these traditions.

Which ethnic groups are specifically involved in these conflicts?

I would say there is no exception for this problem. But it is more visible in some ethinc groups in the church. For instance, there is the division between Oromo and non-Oromo. But there are also conflicts within the Oromo, depending on which region they come from. In the south alone, there are around 50 different ethnic groups. They are neighbours and kill each other and also burn down churches. Then there is retaliation. The fighting is everywhere.

When you look at this sad reality, what role can the Mekane Yesus Seminary play? How can it change the situation?

We have two approaches. The students come from different regions and we discuss this openly and thematise it in seminars. We also try to be a role model, employing faculty members from all regions and ethnicities. We want to be inclusive in terms of ethnicity, gender, and different spiritual currents that have shaped us historically. We teach inclusivity, we practice it and we discuss it. It's difficult, but we do our best.

Do you also have students from abroad?

Yes, from Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, and in the past also Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Due to the Bible translation programmes, we also hope that students from Cameroon, Ghana, Botswana and Liberia will come to us.

As President, you had many representative and organisational tasks. Will you be devoting more time to teaching afterwards?

When I finish my term of office, I will. And I plan to devote more time to research. But before that, I want to take a sabbatical and use it to write about the challenges and identity of the Mekane-Yesus Church.

What interests you most in research?

I would like to find out more about our current challenges. Why do we have these particular problems in Ethiopia? The church is growing, we are proclaiming the Christian message and at the same time we are killing each other. I would like to explore what tools are needed for peace and reconciliation.

I am also very interested in gender justice, especially because we are a very patriarchal society and there is a lot of abuse against women. Women are oppressed - in the church and outside. And what is also very important for us is how we can incorporate the ecological question into our faith.

With regard to the search for peace and reconciliation, are there people, perhaps also in history, who encourage you and are role models?

The greatest role models are my parents, especially my mother. There were 14 children at our home. Of course we had many conflicts among ourselves. Nevertheless, it was a peaceful house because of my parents' wisdom. My mum taught us that you always have to pay a price for peace. Peace doesn't just come because you want it. It is a precious commodity.

In terms of historical figures, Nelson Mandela is the best example for me: forgiveness is possible. And peace is always linked to justice from Mandela's point of view. The golden rule of the Bible is: do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself. Mandela fought against white supremacy, but also against black supremacy. Gudina Tumsa (former Secretary General) is also a role model for peace, reconciliation and justice.

How do you like it in Germany? Have you made any observations, perhaps about things that you find surprising, funny or impressive?

The first time, eight years ago, I was somewhat shocked by secularisation. Before I became president of the Mekane-Yesus Seminary, I was in Berlin for three months and visited various churches. Even then, there were only a few people who went to church and were active there. But those who are there do so wholeheartedly and have a passion for the Christian message.