Memher Zebene, the charlatan preacher who has been causing havoc at the MedhaneAlem Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Maryland, has finally succeeded this Sunday in taking over the church.
In the period leading up to Sunday’s vote, Zebene and friends have waged an aggressive “election campaign” like a politician. In their dirty campaign, one of the tactics they used was to intimidate and chase away several long time members of the church.
In the first place, the election it self is illegal since according to a long standing Ethiopian Orthodox Church rule, a new head of church cannot be chosen while incumbent head is alive. MedhaneAlem Church’s head is sick but still alive. To Zebene and his cult-like group of blind followers the church’s rule is meaningless.
Even after such a dirty campaign full of intimidation, where the church’s membership has dwindled down to less than 300, he has received only 190 votes. Many have decided not to participate in the illegal voting and 69 voted against him. With this many long time members of the church opposing him, Zebene cannot be a legitimate head of the church even if the voting is legal. If he has any semblance of integrity and care for the church’s well-being, he would not have dragged it through such ugly fight.
But as I stated in the past, Zebene is not a religious leader. He is a vainglorious cult leader and a thug who has no respect for Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditions and the Church’s elders and scholars.
His rude behavior toward elder church members, fellow preachers, as well as any one who questions him is appalling. A couple of years ago he even threatened to physically attack Addis Dimts Radio host Abebe Belew while he was on air.
In teaching the Bible, he some times makes up his own story. One time while preaching he said Ethiopia’s Queen Saba spoke with King Solomon in Amharic.
There are close to a hundred Ethiopian church in North America. All most all of them are providing needed spiritual service to their members with little or no controversy. These churches are being led by great, selfless Ethiopians who have no interest in profiting from the churches they are elected to lead. Unfortunately there are a couple of church such as MedhaneAlem of Maryland who are being hijacked by charlatans.
53 thoughts on “Charlatan preacher takes over Maryland’s MedhaneAlem Church”
#49 Disgusted in disguise you are a disgrace for our church by appointing a new Aleka while the former one is still alive. Where did you obtain your education? You must be a master con artist. You pretend to be an intellectual but you are a block head. In stead of nit picking somebody’s language or writing style learn about Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from elder church fathers.
#50 and #51 what do you expect “like a father like a son” Aba Diabilos took over while the former Patriarch still alive. I won’t be surprise if Zebene will put up a statue of him self outside of D.G Medhane Alem Church.
What is all this hoopla about Zebene?
No doubt hs is a good preacher that knows
the Orthodox church very well. Is he a threat to your religion? Why don’t you people concentrate on the bigger issur of
your country? Zebene is not a threat to Medhanalem church, his power is limited.
He will not involve in the day to day operation of the church, that belongs to the board. There is no way that he will turn orve the church to Aba Paulos.