Polygamy Sanctions by the Mennonite Church in Ethiopia

Planted by the Eastern Mennonite Missions in 1948, the Ethiopian Meserete Kristos Church is the largest national body in the Mennonite World Conference. With 484 official congregations, and 834 congregation planting centers, it is also the largest national Anabaptist conference in the world.

This Ethiopian Mennonite Church has included polygamy in its definition of marriage. A Mennonite Weekly Review article entitled What is a Mennonite? An Ethiopian Definition states that plural marriages are sanctioned by the denomination.

Disciplined, holy lives are important, but the church is also committed to redemptive approaches, meeting people where they are. Several years ago the church agreed a man and his multiple wives can all be instructed and become full members, barred only from leadership roles.

Sources:

http://www.anabaptistwiki.org/mediawiki/index.php/Meserete_Kristos_Church,_Ethiopia/
http://www.mennoworld.org/2012/6/25/what-mennonite-ethiopian-definition/?print=1/