|
PASTORS
GATHER TO CONSIDER THEIR ROLE AS PEACE-MAKERS
"Surely
His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may
dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other." Psalm 85 vs
9-10
The Archbishop and Bishops and
just over a hundred pastors representing all the dioceses of
the Anglican Church of Burundi gathered between 14 - 16th
November 2007 in Bujumbura to consider the role of the Church
in the building and consolidation of peace in Burundi. This
continued the project to increase the capacity of 250 pastors
and 250 lay people over a period of two years.
In his opening speech the Most
Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of
Burundi, reminded participants that they had come together as
one, united Church with the mission to be peace-makers so that
God is honoured in the Church and the country experiences
healing and reconciliation.
| A series of Bible studies
were given by the Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi, Deputy
Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University. He spoke
of the love of God demonstrated at the Cross as the
foundation of peace and justice along with Christian
unity, truth, and forgiveness. He challenged
participants to let the Gospel transform them so that
individually and corporately they could be peace-makers
and ambassadors of reconciliation. |
|
Consideration was given to
traditional values of the culture, key Christian values, good
governance, truth and justice for reconciliation, and the role
of civil society in the consolidation of peace.
 |
It was noted that many
leaders, including pastors, died in the conflicts of
previous years. Both the Church and the country have
been wounded. Traumatised lives need to experience
healing and to find peace. Families and communities need
to be reconciled. A whole generation of children and
young people that has known only war needs to be shown
love and taught Christian values. |
The Church has an important
role to play in addressing the wrongs of the past, encouraging
sustainable peace and good governance, bringing God's healing
love to wounded lives, upholding trust and justice, and
helping people to be reconciled.
|
