Order of Ethiopia

The Order of Ethiopia was a group from the Ethiopian movement in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa that came into association with the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (since 2006 the Anglican Church of Southern Africa) during most of the 20th century. It was founded and initially led by James Mata Dwane. James Mata Dwane left the A.M.E church as he did not feel his bishops states was valid and thus along with the likes of m. mpumlwane and nehemiya tile left the church. They sought talks with the church of the province and in 1900 a compact was signed by the 7 bishops of the province to be incommunion with the ethiopian church and thus they would concecrate bishops, priest and deacons for the order. There James Mata Dwane was made a deacon, and he died a deacon 10 years later. The church grew; it had various schism in its history--the major ones were when the grandson of James Mata Dwane was made bishop instead of the then president of the church Fr Hopa.

The end of the Order of Ethiopia

In July 1999 the Provincial Synod of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa rescinded its Canon 48, which dealt with the relations between the CPSA and the Order of Ethiopia. The former Order of Ethiopia then decided, on 1999-08-27, to change its name to the Ethiopian Episcopal Church, and declared that the Ethiopian Episcopal Church was the successor in title to the Ibandla laseTiyopia / Order of Ethiopia.

Bibliography

• Dwane, Sigqibo (1999). Ethiopianism and the Ethiopian Episcopal Church. Glosderry: Ethiopian Episcopal Church. ISBN 0-620-24969-2. 

• Verryn, Trevor D. (1972). A history of the Order of Ethiopia. Pretoria: Ecumenical Research Unit.