Background
A home based Oromo Christian prayer group which was started in 1987 grew to a church under the name Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Church (OELC) in 1993. OELC became member of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1995. The name of OELC was changed into Our Redeemer Oromo Evangelical Church (OROEC) in 2005. As OROEC continued to be a member of ELCA, the divisive problem created in ELCA in relation to same sex marriage began to spillover into OROEC. ELCA’s stance on same sex marriage created a very unfavorable environment among the majority of Oromo Christians both in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora.
The Oromo Evangelical Church of Minnesota received a certification of incorporation from Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State on October 30, 2019. At the beginning of this church, 176 adults and 120 children were registered as church members.
The then Transitional Council of the church established a committee to draft church constitution and bylaws. The committee prepared a comprehensive document of the constitution and bylaws within three months and it was ratified at a Special Meeting on March 15, 2020. The ratification of the constitution was the first landmark in moving forward as a united, insightful and promising newly established church.
Indeed, the early days of the church were not without a challenge. The outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic soon after was a significant hurdle for this young Church. With the pandemic, in-person service was suspended for an unknown time which lasted for more than a year. It was unfortunate that the growing time of the church ministry was hampered by the gloomy, frightful and difficult days in our generation caused by COVID 19. But with the help of God, our church successfully managed those challenging days by using the online services and prayer line for her regular and special services.
Following the approval of the constitution, the first formal Annual Meeting of the church was held at Woodbury Lutheran church on September 13, 2020. We went to Woodbury Lutheran church in search of big church where our members could maintain a 6 feet distance which was the requirement per CDC guideline as one of the methods to tackle the spread of the virus. At this meeting, the first formal Council of the church was elected, an annual report was shared and agenda items presented by the Transitional Council of the Church were approved.
On January 31, 2021 a Pastoral Call Committee was established at a Special Meeting. The Call Committee nominated Pr. Demelash Yoseph to be called by the church and the church overwhelmingly voted to call Pr. Demelash as the first part-time pastor of the church on the Special Meeting held on April 25, 2021. The installation of the Pastor took place on June 27, 2021. This success was another milestone in the life of our church.
This church is one of the largest Diaspora Oromo churches and considered to be an emerging vibrant and engaging church of our time. By the grace of God, this church continues to grow, and proclaim the Gospel of Christ. This is where the description goes.
