Information about Kigali diocese
The Diocese of Kigali is one of 11 dioceses that form the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. It contains the country 's capital, Kigali City.
The Diocese is divided into six archdeaconries and has around 40 parishes and some 190 local churches with more than 50 pastors.
The diocesan vision is:
To be a church that glorifies God and impacts the community through our fellowship, evangelism, discipleship, economic development and reconciled relationships.
The diocesan mission is:
To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, in word and deed, for the holistic transformation of lives of church members and communities.
Diocesan objectives are:
- To be a church that promotes worship
- To be a church that preaches with the aim of increasing the number of its membership
- To teach and train the members through to Christian maturity
- To encourage and build fellowship among the members
- To be a church that promotes social development.
- To improve the performance and welfare of staff.
The diocesan departments are:
- Church and Community Transformation (Revd Andrew Kayiranga)
- Education (Robert)
- Youth (Manasse Tuyizera)
- Administration and Finance (Revd Samuel Mugisha - Diocesan Secretary)
- Evangelism, Mission and Training (Revd Maurice Rukimbira)
- Mothers ' Union (Peace Mukamisha)
Rwanda is a country that has come out of a genocide which saw the murders of over one million men, women and children in 100 days in 1994.
Many people fled to churches in previous troubles during the 1950s onwards and found protection. In the 1994 genocide this was not the case. Predominantly Catholic churches were the site of huge massacres with very few survivors. This has had an understandable impact of the church in Rwanda and on its mission.
Part of this impact has been that Islam has grown in Rwanda, as there are a number of cases where people were protected by Muslims during the genocide.
The church has had to learn how to be very honest about the failings of the past and to seek ways in which it can engage with its own communities in working towards a healed future. Today it takes a key role in reconciliation, restoration and rehabilitation as well as social and development responsibilities.
Despite (or perhaps because of) this, people generally speaking have a far greater awareness and openness of spiritual matters in Rwanda than in contemporary United Kingdom.
I YO UZA KWIMENYA
UKAMENYA NTUBA
W ARANYI SHE
If you knew me
And you really knew yourself
You would not have killed me