Dr Yoseph Mengistu

Yoseph Mengistu did his undergraduate degrees in Ethiopia: BA in economics (Addis Ababa University) and B.Th. in Theology at the Evangelical Theological College of Addis Ababa (ETC).

He earned his Master of Theology (MTh) degree from London School of Theology (Brunel University) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from SOAS (University of London). His doctoral research, initially supervised by Professor David Appleyard and later by Dr Erica Hunter, was on the Christological Implications of the Pneumatology of St Cyril of Alexandria in Orthodox Ethiopia.

An experienced and qualified language teacher, having completed Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching the Languages of the Wider World (PGCE-TLWW), Yoseph has been teaching and convening all Amharic modules offered by SOAS for over a decade. Furthermore, he has served as a visiting lecturer at Roehampton University (where he taught Exploring Christian Theology modules in their Ministerial Theology Department) as well as Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST), teaching Contextualisation. Yoseph also serves as a trustee and member of the advisory council of two national charities.

In addition to his love of ancient and modern languages, Yoseph has specialised in historical theology as well as history and doctrines of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christianity in particular Ethiopian Orthodoxy. Athanasian by upbringing and Augustinian by training, he is particularly interested in the nuances of Ethiopian Christian traditions, written and oral, in comparison to and in dialogue with Western Christianity.

He is fascinated with Ethiopian history, culture (broadly defined), and literature; missionary Christianities (including emergent churches); Black Studies, Public Square theology, religion, and culture in Africa including traditional religion and Islam.