Above: A woman who says she was roughed up while being
removed from church by cops in Garland, Texas, has filed an an internal affairs complaint with the department.
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Updated: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
New York (Tadias) – An internal affairs complaint has been filed against the Garland Police Department by Sophia Zerihun, an Ethiopian woman who says she was roughed up while being removed from a church service by off-duty police officers, FOX 4 news reports.
The incident happened at the Dallas Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Garland, Texas, on Sunday, May 2nd when a female congregate, Yeshi Zerihun, interrupted morning announcements to ask questions about church business, including about the presence of the unusually large number of police officers outside the church that day. She was told her questions were out of order, but other worshipers began shouting for answers.
“That’s when one of the Board members marched in with three or four officers following him,” Zerihun told FOX 4.
An amateur video shows the cops entering the church following a man in a suit and hysteria breaking out.
WATCH
This is pure discrimination!
oho my God it is amazing news!!!!!!
What? Wow! This so ridiculous. I also blame the board member who unnecessarily alarmed the police officers in the first place. But for the off-duty cops to behave in such a disrespectful manner in the middle of worship is so totally shameful. The victim’s lawyer, the former judge, said it perfectly: It is absolutely crazy that this is happening in the United States of America in the 21st century. Shameful, if not illegal.
Question: What kind of official authority do off-duty police officers have?
One big problem the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in diaspora has is that the priests and the board memeberrs don’t really know that they are there to serve the people. after all they are paid by the people (from the weekly and monthly contribution).
And the other problem is that there is a limit for the priests and also for the board members when things don’t work right everyone has the right to ask questions and get answer. Some of the board members actually think that their appointment is a life time appointment . Sad to see but i say this, i have been through this in few places and all i can say is no matter who (priest or a board memebr) they are just humans and when they mess up they need to be criticized and if not corrected then fire them.
Regarding the police in side the church? i have no saying as this is the most rediculous thing i have ever seen.
sorry for every thing that happened!!!
Do I sense power struggle … capitalistic manifestation of the Orthodox church.
This story is outrageous. The board needs to be held accountable for their actions and I am glad to see that they have a lawsuit against them. It is also unacceptable for the police to behave in such a violent and inappropriate manner. They need to be held accountable. I believe that there needs to be national media attention on this issues, because frankly it sounds like marshall law in Texas. Let us tweet and get this out in facebook so that it create attention and news worthy buzz. I understand that we have the elections back at home to worry about but this is something we can do here which won’t take much effort but will have some major impact.
I am sure most Ethiopian churches have a non profit status and the laws governing faith based insitituions must apply to them too. This includes but is not limited to having a board member that is transparent and accountable to the congregation. This may have been contrary to the belief, mindset and intentions of most individuals serving on the board of the majority of our churches.
Oh my God! What kind of a man would treat a beautiful lady this way on a Sunday morning? That’s the tragic part for me. But you know what? I don’t think the police officers are prejudiced. They are just ignorant. They were just trying to please their bosses (the Ethiopian church board members). They know they were doing something that they will not even think of doing, had this incident taken place in the middle an Italian catholic service, presbyterian, or baptist church in Garland because they know how to behave in a church. After all, they pride themselves as “Southern Gentlemen.” But here, they were nothing but gentlemanly. On that terrible morning in Garland on May 2 the cops totally forgot their good manners while freighting women and children. Frankly, I have no doubt that the way they acted is an embarrassment to their colleagues as well. They give bad name to so many other fine police officers across America who wear the same uniform.
Above all, the ones to blame here, in my opinion, are the over-zealous church board-members, especially the gentleman who marched in with the cops behind him! Sue him. Sue the church too.
To, Sophia, I am so sorry what happened to you that morning. But look at it this way, god has turned your horror into a teachable moment for all us. Stay Strong!
The comentator above me has a point. If sofia has to sue anybody, it’s the boardmembr who led the police in. She should sue, since he is the one to blame for escalating the incident. Surly the police officers were out of line, but since they don’t understand the language, it seems to me they were not sure as to how they ought to handle the matter. Besides, if the lady was blue eyed white american the police would think twice about manhandling her in a sacred church of all the places!
I must say God is working in his own way to finally expose the deep seated arogance and coruption of the board members who have been swindling money and taking advantage of poor church members by manipulating and cohoresing them. I have witnesed the uneducated trusting new immigrants being manipulated and used as a source of income while the elderly have been cheated from thier minimal income. The corruption is so vast that the board membrs may even bribe and do things mafia style working with various businesses. They have become too powerful and have mismanaged peoples money and they do not think they have to answer to anyone. Just in case there is a misunderstanding a board membr position is not a liftime appointement. It is important to get fresh ideas and fresh people for the good of the church and the people. Instead by using intimidation tactics the board has managed to dictate the people for years. The action of the off duty officers shows how powerful the board is and how much influence it has even on U.S govrnment public officers. I propose that the board and board members financial record get investigated. I encourage every church member be proactive and use this chance to expose the board of all its wrong doing by using the power of the internate. To Sophia I applaud you for your courage and know that God is using you for a biger cause!!
I am a deeply disturbed with the action of the board member. Here is the man, who is elected to server the people who are paying the priest salary as well as whoever is on the church payroll and he is acting like somebody disturbed him in his private home. Does he not have a shame to bring a police officers in the church with their shoes on???? is it not our religion custom that the church is sacred place that one has to take his shoes off before entering. I hope the people of Taxes will get this Balege individual out of their congregation. It is not Sophia who should apologies it should be the board member. I agree with the Young Ethiopian that this should be a national news. If it is not for American people only but for our people as well. Because this kind of feud between board and perisher has been going on for far too long.
It is very troubling and worrisome to witness what happened at this church. I hope other churches learn a lesson from this disgusting incident.
Hi guys,
Remenber these days. Big shame! It is the end of the world. It is told in a bible published by the church in Mekele.
Most of you commented based on the video without knowing the background or the root cause of the problem. The Board is elected by the congregation. From what I know the members of the current Board are new; they have been in service without any compensation for less that 2 years. It is true that there were members in the past Board; that have been stayed for more than 10 years. Most of the problems were inherited from the past Board who did not even produce an open financial report.
Did the Board acted reasonably on that day; the video does not tell the entire story. There were people who came to the church prepared to disturb the worship. Based on the information they received they acted prudently.
The problem in Dallas church has been going on for several years. Do not blame the board just from a few minutes of video clip; by the way which was taken and supplied to the media by the people who has an agenda to destroy the church – who has a thinking “if we can not control the church it should be destroy mentality.” It is really sad it come to this; waging war on the media to prompt their agenda. Shame on you! You will not succeed; the congregation of the Dallas church has spoken by electing principled and honest peoples and the old days of doing business secretly are gone for good.
Suggestion to Fox 4 News and Tadias you may go on fact finding mission and report an in-depth investigation by interviewing both sides and other neutral observers to get to the bottom of the story.
This is a sad day and story for all Christians in the Universe. First of all it is a shame for a media of any kind to report a one-sided story to get ratings, credit, name, and/or…, whatever. Freedom of the press does not give any right to write or broadcast half truths and out right lies. Get your facts straight before you put out such a ridiculous lie against a Church and cause harm to Christians around the globe. After all these lies are being litigated in a court of law, they do not need to be litigated in the courts of public opinion, the least you can do is wait until the courts decision.
This whole shenanigan has been orchestrated by the Ethiopian gov and its buchiloch the Taliban alternative Mahibere kidusan, who are trying to take over a church they have been robbing for years and now when they get kicked out, they tried the courts several times and lost. Therefore they came up with an insidious plan to turn the lights in the sanctuary off and throw shoes and people down from a balcony on top of people sitting downstairs while they are screaming at the top of their lungs. All of these things were to happen during liturgy, except their disastrous plan did not happen, because the board got wind and in order to protect the Church and the worshiping public hired off-duty police officers and closed off the balcony. Witnessed in court, in their presence. Don’t you think they should be thrown in jail?
Their anger burned and they were determined to interrupt the worship service anyway, by using Yeshi and her sister to ask questions and the rest of them join in the disturbance. The Board had no choice except having law enforcement involved before the situation escalated and got out of hand and children and the elderly are hurt. These people claim to be members of the Church, 99.9% of them are not. They have been kicked out of Churchs around the U.S. and came to Dallas to practice their highway robbery of taking over a Church they did not build. This will not stand in a country of laws and justice.
To all of you out there that blindly judge something, anything you have no knowledge of, be careful, you are also being judged. There are always two sides to a story.
To Sophia Zerihun and her sister since some of the posters called you a hero; let me ask you a question. Is it a normal procedure to ask a question before the service is over? This is not a meeting; it is just a usual announcement. If you have been attending church you know the norms. You could ask your question after the service is over and got an answer from the Board member. Look the result from this incident; and who benefited? Our church did not; the worshiper went home saddened and crying some of them may not come back again. On top of that the entire world knows about this negative incident because of the plot; not the good did the church have been doing for the past 20 years or so. Are you an innocent bystander caught in an emotion; and a sinister plot?
The answer is in you my sisters. I do not expect an answer, but answer it to yourself since you know the truth you can not lie to yourself. If you do and if you have a good conscience you will be an enemy of yourself; when you hate yourself it is very difficult to live a peaceful existence. I hope you mend the wrong and be a productive church member.
First of all let me join all of you in expressing my anger to the incident we have all witnessed. I do not know the facts that lead to this outrageous and embarrassing event; however, I completely reject the idea that you can throw a Christian out of the church because he asked a question. I feel like it contradicts the church’s teaching.
To my sister Sophia: I am sorry this has to happened to you but that is the price you pay when you challenge the “power”. (whether for good cause or bad that is)
Beletu said “They have been kicked out of Churches around the U.S. and came to Dallas to practice their highway robbery of taking over a Church they did not build.” I am sorry to say this but you sound way smarter than this , one need not to build the church to claim that church as her/his own what matters is that she/ he is baptized in the name of our father. That is all what is required not how much money you put in towards building the church.
I can sense that obviously there is a big tension going on inside the church between two competing groups. But on this particular Sunday, god made one of the group’s plan backfire, leading to this amusing news. The board should have been more prudent when they decided to escalate security at the church. As to your complaints about the media, the minute you involve public safety authorities (police officers) and file lawsuits (public record), that’s fair game for NEWS, mama!
There is a democratic way for the church to solve this crisis. It is called having emergency election where all the due paying members of the church vote to replace the board and the head priest himself (if necessary).
For how long are the board members at the Dallas Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Garland, Texas elected for? And who elects them? Can someone answer me please?
Thanks
The last Board President has seved for more than ten years using intimidations.
WG and Seramawit seem to be logical and understanding and open to learn what really happened. Elsa was close to the Truth the last board chairman has been with the Church since its existence and 90% of the time he was the board chair and a gang leader. He shamelessly tried and did everything in his power to stay as Chairman, but this time St. Michael won and threw him out. The majority of the board members are new and want to clean God’s house from corruption and gangsters. But even though the corrupt have a majority support, St. Michael has the sword, remember the story in the Bible where He lifted his sword up and thousands upon thousands expired. It seems that He might do the same here, because enemies of the Church have banded together and are trying everything short of…….God forbid.
To answer Seramawit’s questions, the paying members of the Church elect three board members every year for a term of 3 years and they spoke with theirs votes the last 2 years by voting in fresh people that never served in the board, except for the previous Chairman who managed to get enough votes to get him reelected. But St. Michael kicked the rascal out. He and his cronies along with Woyane and Mahibere Satan are the ones organizing this crime on this Church and its innocent members. God has not even began to punish this people, watch and stay tuned, there is no where to hide when God unleashes his wrath against his enemies. God’s House is sacred and it is a house of worship not chaos. The tape they themselves uploaded on YouTube even after editing shows the women pulling and shoving police officers. Where in the U.S. do you fight a police officer and not go to jail. They could have easily put at least 30 people in jail, except it was a Church and they had seen from outside how religious we pretend to be when we bow, prostrate, and kiss the building and they thought we were peaceful people. Not really, some of us showed our true colors, and then instead of admitting our mistakes and ask for forgiveness, we try hard to hurt the Church. Let me ask a question, why do we go to Church with evil thougts and intentions?
@ Seramawit: The Board is elected by the registered members of the church; according to the bylaws. The Board members serve usually for 2 to 3 years (one term) but can be reelected again and again. The revised bylaws has a term limit and I believe it is two consecutive terms. All the Board members serve for free without any compensation. There was a meeting held at Dallas church to install new Board Members who’s term expired several weeks prior to the incident and new board members were elected but a certain group did not get their favorite people in the Board. When they failed on that they created anarchy and filed a lawsuit. Procedures have been followed to install the current Board member through election; of course there are some elements who dispute that.
Dear beletu or anesu?
You don’t know mahibere kidusan members. They go to church for only one reason “to praise the Lord”. No matter how you painted them the truth always speaks for it self. All they did is give a little extra for the church, eaither money, time or knowledge they have while you and your friends sit at the starbucks coffee shop and divide the ethiopian community in every way possible. Where did you come to the idea of thrawing shoes from the balcony? or screaming from the balcony? why do they do that? to get what? are you out of your mind? You guys are always suspecious and paranoid. You think every body is like you, ill minded. Do a favor to yourself. I know it is hard to give extra money or time for the church but at least don’t get in the way of those who do. Stop backbiting and name tagging.
Thank you all for your answers. Basically what I am trying to say is that as Ethiopians and as Christians, we have the responsibility to resolve this issue in a peaceful manner. We have to open our hearts to forgive each other for whatever happened in the past. That’s what our religion requires us to do. Let us not be suspicious and mean to each other. In my opinion, the bitterness among worshipers of the same religion, is the devil’s work to destroy your unity and by extension the Ethiopian church. Please protect our church and protect yourself.
Just remember that generations of Ethiopians for thousands of years preserved this church for you to enjoy in Texas through reverence and respect for the Tabot. Please be worthy keepers of it down there in Garland, Texas.
The Dallas Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Garland, Texas has brought shame and embarrassment to all of us Ethiopian Christians all over the world. But you also have the opportunity to turn this into a triumph for our beloved church. You need to rise above your petty differences and become a proud example of conflict resolution within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church family. And you need to do it soon! Involve older people from the community (shemaglewoch), elder respected priests (kesoch) from outside, the lawyers (tebeqoch) and others to assist. Whatever you need to do, do it fast and resolve your problems. You can then proudly (rightly so) declare to the world that you have resolved your internal church management issues amicably. You can hold a joint press conference. That will be a victory for all! That’s the best way to end this sorry story.
I recommend that everyone go online to the church’s website http://www.stmichaeleoc.org/ where the church has posted the court case and a notice at the front of the page. It seems the facts are written there about the board’s activites. The burden of proof is on the board to prove their innocence in the activities preceeding the event on Sunday, May 2nd. It appears that they took draconian measures to wield control over the church. Tadias Magazine should report on this court case.
I was there on 05/18/2010 Court hearing to support my Church on the other lawsuit, which was wrongly filed by two individual that are not a member. The lawsuit was filed on 05/07/2010 and served on the church around 05/09/10. It seems to me unusual the Court did not give the norm 20 days response notice before it held a hearing. I invite your attention to the Church’s website and read it for yourself.
The other interesting thing is that on May 17th 2010, a night before this Court hearing on the other case, the local Fox TV broadcasted the video clip from the May 2nd, 2010 Sunday Church Service incident. Is there a relationship to the lawsuit? It begs the question to the Plaintiff’s Attorney why introduce the same video in the case and release it to the media the night before the court hearing? It is a clear PR strategy to create a public outcry and influence the judiciary system as well as the outcome of the pending court case.
BTW, the video cameraman was busted while in witness-stand as he admitted being a member of Maheber Kidusan.
I salute those who are brave to stand against this organized crime on our Faith and Church.
Dear All,
Where is the compassion and understanding to each other? regardless what her question was, she should have been treated like any other human being; like our lord Jesus Christ treated us . I can not believe that when individuals take total authority in God’s house. Let us come as one, at least,in God’s house. Let us educate ourselves when we should and we should not be calling a police officer, as she had not been reported that she was threatening the congregation with a gun. Any way, it is too late to say a bunch of words in the mishap such as this. Let our lord give us the everlasting patience and caring to each other.
It is a complete violation of Orthodox church canon law and AUTOMATIC ANATHEMA for the church leadership to invite police officers into the sanctuary to act in this way — no matter how well intentioned. Within the scope of Orthodox teaching, those board members and clergy are NO LONGER a part Orthodox Christianity based on the canon law’s automatic anathematization for such an act. For a bishop to permit them to continue to fulfill any parish responsibilities at this point would be unthinkable and unacceptable to the rest of the Orthodox world.
Is it not amazing how quick we are to pass judgment on something we have no idea or even a clue? The court of law always asks questions, looks at evidence and makes judgment based on facts. The court of public opinion always looks sensational stories and makes judgment based on what it sees or reads. Looks are deceiving, that is why we need to bite our tongues and ask all the questions before we show our ignorance to the world by feeling and acting emotional and spout baseless lies. Members of this Church need to participate in releasing/sharing what they had seen and know which will help answer some of these questions. Whether the board did the right thing or not, whether the so called victims were the perpetrators or not, need to be answered before we butcher the names and lives of the people and/or the Church. Tadias did a disservice when it put out a not researched story for whatever reason. What is happening in this Church is a present day miracle where St. Michael the Archangel is Himself cleaning His house in mysterious ways.
Hopefully some third party like the FBI would investigate and reveal the facts and put all the criminal elements in this Church in jail.
What the heck is Maheber Kidusan. Can you explain?
Maheber Kidusan are the other group that apparently filed the law suit, unrelated to this case. There is bad blood between members of the Maheber Kidusan (some former board members), which I call the “Illuminati” wannabes, and the new board. Who is at fault? The video does not lie. Asking a question, however out of order, does not and should not lead to an arrest. Period. No one was calling fire in a crowded theater. What the lady was asking was legitimate. I mean, if I see sevearl police cars parked outside anywhere, let alone my own church, I would like to know what’s going on? What’s wrong with that?
Selam again,
I just wanted to add that I agree with Young Ethiopian. She has interesting ideas. Thank you for the link to the Court case. Is there a relationship between the pending lawsuit and the May 2 debacle? It needs to be investigated. But I doubt that there is any connection at all.
@ Rahel: Maheber Kidusan is a loose association of individuals who thinks they have a right to control Ethiopian Orthodox church in North America. In most church their members are underground involved in Sunday school waiting a favorable condition to take over. They claim they are protector of the church; I am not sure from whom. They have created havoc in most church disturbing sermons and services.
To be fair to this group the main body in Ethiopia has done good service to the church. Helping the monastery and renovating historical church place and preserving the history of the church. Their main contribution is recruiting and engaging university students to participate in the development of the church. If they have stayed to these good deeds they would have received overwhelming support from the Orthodox followers here in North America. Their record speaks to itself in North America. They have been shunned from most churches. They have concluded Dallas is the place they can revive and have put their energy and resources in Dallas. I am not sure their sources funding; they are very secretive, their members do not even admit they are part of the group. Some refer them “the Taliban.”
Dear Mulu,
I cannot agree more. We need the FBI more than ever. The so-called MK or Maheber Kidusan has embezzled Hundreds thousands of Dollars from this Church and may be from others. There are documents showing that there is a violation of law in this Church accounting. We all the members of this particular Church had received the annual report of accounting prepared by an outside auditor and clearly stated the story of an accounted funds by MK and other former and other official who resigned not long a go.
The sisters on the video clips are not a member to our congregation.
This is an organized crime if you read the transcript of the Court proceed on 05/18/10 of the Dallas County 101 District Court. Alternatively, follow this link to our Church website http://stmichaeleoc.org and look on the Court Case title on the left.
I am also inviting Tadias to research further and if I can be assistance, I am happy to provide, when I receive the request.
Please we need your prayer very much. Our Church also will hold a prayer week soon and welcome to join us. It does not mean that our Church is saved for now, such a test will continue as a challenge for every Christian.
God bless our Congregation, Church and change the mind of those who stand on the other side so we all can be accepted into his Kingdom.
Amen
I pray for all of you.
One other thing, the Court had ruled on 05/18/10 hearing, “Announcement is part of the Church Service”. In addition, please show me where in the Bible or in our faith is it documented that one can interrupt or ask a question during service time?
Regarding the Police presence, it was born out of the information received by the Trustee for the safety and well-being of the congregation and property. This was also part of the Court document and the Board acted accordingly.
Please have a better look before pointing finger. This is a House of God where we go to cleanse our sin, not to engage in the forbidden. The Church has done superb job cleaning the bad spirit and fighting wrongdoing in the Court of Law.
I sure am glad Rahel asked a genuine question. “What the heck is Maheber Kidusan? Can you explain?” Instead of me explaining to you and probably get you more confused I would like for yout to go to this links and read how Mahibere Kidusan planned and worked hard to destroy Ethiopians living out of the country and steal their Churches. Read the articles, 52 page Memeria to destroy our religion. Haimanot Yegel New Hager Yegara New (Emperor Haile Selassie)
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/3972
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/2008/kidane_mehret_virginia.pdf
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/8051
This is way out of control and disturbing!
This only goes to point out the unspiritual nature of those who lead in the EOC. Like the pharasees that opposed the Lord Jesus we see their true motives, they are false shepherds, lording over the people, making their worship and service burdensome by heaping rules and vain practices instead of teaching simple devotion to the Holy Scriptures. May hope is that many will seek the true gospel.
This is by far the most disrespectful Event that took place in the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Once again the lack of sensitivity shows in this video, while I understand the officer are trying to do their Jobs, they forgot they were entering into Non profit church where people do have the right to ask question and answer is demanded by law. It was unnecessary to drag and force a member out, Just because board members decide to show their Pharisees way of leadership. I think this should have been an awaken moment for the entire Ethiopian Orthodox church to demand their right in a non profit organization Movement such as Bylaws exc. And also if this was not a black church they officer probably wouldn’t walk inside the church with their shoes on. Or even drag a defenseless women and put here in the back of a police car, The Ethiopian Orthodox church is use to lead in a dictatorship style for so long they thought their sheep’s are still asleep (members) little did they Know thanks to the charismatic movement the sheep’s are Now being force to confront authority. I don’t believe involving government authority to fix church problems. 1 corn: 6; 1-7 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!