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Theological Training in Rwanda

Theological Training in Rwanda

AMIA Wave-on-line News

The small African nation of Rwanda has suffered much loss in the last ten years. The genocide of 1994 cost it an estimated 800,000 lives, and left it to walk a difficult road of rebuilding and restoration. It has also paid in other ways. When the Anglican Province of Rwanda came to the aid of orthodox Episcopalians in the United States, it was threatened with the loss of financial support from the powerful Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA). When the province went ahead, on principle, to establish the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), it felt the wrath of the ECUSA hierarchy in the forfeiture of much needed financial support. In one instance, Trinity Church Wall Street withdrew a promised sum of funds to theological education in Rwanda—an amount of over $150,000 that was subsequently raised by the fledgling AMiA.

Today, Theological Education by Extension, or TEE, is thriving in Rwanda, having trained nearly 2,000 candidates since 1999. The Rev. Canon Martin Nzaramba, TEE’s Coordinator, is clear about the vital role the program fills: “Our immediate vision is to help the Episcopal Church in Rwanda to grow numerically and spiritually. We also desire to offer theological education to all levels of our church leaders, that our churches would have abundant life.” Nzaramba was beaten in the early stages of the genocide, presumed killed and buried alive. He regained consciousness, got out of the grave and walked to safety in Burundi!

Last year the TEE program trained Diocesan coordinators and facilitators across the country that oversee the local programs and administrate the appropriate examinations each term. They hope to train 60% of church leaders by the end of 2007.

The House of Bishops in Rwanda has declared that it has a goal to establish a residential theological college that would also be home to the extension program. Several Anglican Mission congregations have expressed interest in assisting with this goal, and attendees of the AMiA’s Winter Conference in Destin will have opportunity to contribute to this project through the conference offerings.

For Canon Nzaramba, it is a partnership that is paying important ministry dividends in Rwanda, “We are pleased that the program is progressing so well, and we’re very thankful for the support we have received.”

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Anglican Mission in America
http://www.theamia.org

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