| File:Ecfelogo.gif | |
| Classification | Protestant |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Evangelical |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Geographical areas | Ethiopia, United States, Norway, Kenya, Eritrea, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom |
| Members | ~15,000,000 |
| Official Website | Official ECFE website (english) |
P'ent'ay or Pentay (Amharic: ፔንጤ) is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches. The term "Pentay" (also Pente) is an abbreviation of the word "Pentecostal"; however, it is widely used when referring to all Ethiopian Protestant or Anabaptist Christians.[1] The normal rendition, as in many parts of the world, would be main line Evangelical. The four major Evangelical denominations in Ethiopia are: the Kale Heywet (Word of Life); Mekane Yesus (Place of Jesus) or Lutheran; Mulu Wongel (Full Gospel) and Meserete Kristos (meaning "Christ foundation") or Mennonite. Some P'ent'ay communities - especially Mekane Yesus - have been influenced by the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which represents mainstream, traditional Ethiopian Christianity. But for the most part they are very Pentecostal in their worship and theology.
The unique Pentay name or label indicates the influence of Pentecostal movement on the other mainstream world Protestant branches of Baptists, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Mennonites who have influence on most Ethiopian Protestant churches.[2]