As Ethiopians with evangelical faith, we once admired the services and books of Billy Graham that we encountered in Ethiopia after the fall of Soviet control. However, we cannot support the impartial acceptance of his son, Franklin Graham, whose political views clearly contradict pastoral ethics, which should remain non-partisan—especially when considering the Ethiopian Archbishop of New York, Father Peter, who was denied entry to Ethiopia for his services.
Despite his widespread influence, Billy Graham was an ally of the corrupt Richard Nixon. Franklin Graham, on the other hand, has openly supported Donald Trump. After moving to the U.S., we learned more about Billy Graham’s legacy and discovered that he urged civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., to abandon their resistance and instead compromise, rather than standing firm for justice. Moreover, Billy Graham never spoke out against prosperity preachers but instead chose to associate with them. He also contradicted core evangelical beliefs by calling Mother Teresa a saint, despite the biblical teaching that sainthood comes through faith in Christ, not by works.
Franklin Graham, with his close ties to Trump—a man who has mocked Black people and even threatened to destroy the Nile Dam—is not fit to lead a crusade. It is no surprise that the Ethiopian government has welcomed Franklin Graham, especially during a time when European leaders are concerned about Trump’s potential return to power. We’ve witnessed the Mayor of Munich weeping after J.D. Vance’s insulting speech, and President Macron pushing for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in response to the shifting global landscape.
Fairness is a core Christian principle—this is the teaching of Christ. That’s why we strongly condemn the Ethiopian government’s rejection of Archbishop Peter, who was a speaker at the People-to-People Forum, advocating for peace and dialogue in Ethiopia. Denying him entry is an act of injustice.
Ethiopian American Orthodox Evangelical Team
