where are we heading?

On October 27, 2013 the Forum had organised to have a general meeting for the purposes of raising awareness about the current administrative and other issue in our church. Some may question why this meeting could have not taken place in the church. It is a good question and the problem is the church leadership does not believe or see the necessities of  public meeting and dicussions about church matters. It is the desire of the Forum members to conduct such meetings in our own church. Unfortunately the people who run the church do not believe in having orderly meetings  and open discussions and the history of their tenures is the evidence to this fact.

When the meeting called to ratify the BY-Laws 1, we were told to come to the meeting to discuss matters about the church. You all know many of our church goers and members showed at the meeting and they were told if they are not a member they cannot attend the meeting. Not only that there were two police officres at the door. We have heard the rumours that they (the church leadership)have been telling thier so-called supporters to make payments to become members and be ready to vote on the by-law that was never seen or  heard by anyone outside of the board members and Aba. Once we were inside we were told we are here to hear and ratify a by-laws. It took Alemayehu two and half hours to read the whole by-law and we were then asked to give an informed consent to it. Some attendees did ask question and they were ignored. 

This by-law was enacted in an illegal way.

1. Aba and the board should have  announced their intentions or suggestion to have a new by-laws;

2. The administration should by majority vote amend or repeal the old by-laws;

3. There should have been a constitution drafting committee made of the congregants, board members and Aba to draft the bylaws

3. The new by-laws should have been given  in hard or soft copy to all members to review and study it.

4.When the constuitution drafting committe is ready   with the first draft, it should have been open for dicussion,amendment, etc

5. The date on which  the constitution will be ratified should have been announced ahead of time and give all members enough time to satisfy the requirement for voting.

6. Then we call the bylaw has received full consent and can be applied.

Unfotunately none of these procedures were followed by Aba and his appointed board members. Therefore it is for this reason why this bylaw cannot stand as it is; lets leave the details of its content.  It  is a matter for another time.

Such disregard of others right could have not taken place as one of the attendees of the October 27, 2013 said, "if we did some house keeping early on about eight to ten years ago,  we could not have ourselves in this current mess." If things were taken care of "before the egg hatches".....as the saying goes.

It is of no use to resort to crude and unlawful ways to justfy the unjustifiable and insist to have ones own way as it was demostrated this Saturday meetings by the so-called supportes of Aba; but well meaning and level-headed people  see the problem and seek solution, and that way we arrive at amicable solutions.

Expelling our brothers, sisters and their children from the church cannot solve the problems that were accumulated over the last decade. More cover up to cover an existing problems could only lead to more problems. Better to see the day light and come out clean.  Only the truth can set us free. We pledge to have forgiving hearts  for any personal tresspassings but anything of criminal nature is for the law to deal with it. 

If we continue along the path we are following, I am afraid we are destined to a place we would not like to be. I pray the merciful God grant us the power and wisdom to see this folly.