Anglican Communion News Service

Two thousand people listened carefully as the Anglican Bishop of Lango, Uganda, the Rt Revd Melchizedek Otim recounted the trauma of having to hide in exile from Idi Amin's forces in 1977. "98% of my district was Christian, yet the people who plotted against me to kill me were members of my own diocese, and fellow Christians," recalled the emotional bishop.

He related a similar story from the recent Rwandan genocide reports in a book called, "The Angels have left us", where Tutsi victims and Hutu executioners were members of the same congregation. The bishop challenged the Anglican Church of Rwanda to begin the process of community reconciliation by creating health and women's development programmes for both ethnic groups. The bishop and other Ugandan bishops present at the 13 April service, pledged the support of the Anglican Church in Rwanda.

Among the congregation at St Peter's Cathedral in Kabale, 12 miles from the Rwandan border were delegates from Rwanda, Uganda and the United States of America. Eighty church leaders spent four days sharing resources and information on successful health, development, AIDS and women's programmes from the Kabale area, which could be replicated in Rwanda.

The Dean of the Province of the Church in Rwanda, the Rt Revd Onesphore Rwaje, reminded the delegates that the first Christians in Rwanda taught from three foundation principles including evangelism, health and education which were all still needed as the church proclaimed the gospel of reconciliation. The Dean was accompanied by several Diocesan Secretaries, youth and Mothers' Union representatives, and health workers who received intensive training on how to implement AIDS prevention programmes, organise employment projects, write grant proposals and train emerging leadership in the Church. The conference keynote speaker was the Revd Severin Ndayizeye, General Secretary of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa which co-ordinates the 35 million members Anglican Church in Africa. :"As a Burundian, all my family were killed in the northern part of my country during the genocide," he told conference delegates. "This conference has helped me begin the slow process of healing the pain and fear I feel as a Tutsi, towards my Hutu brothers and sisters." Fr Severin's emotional testimony prompted an outpouring of tears and embraces as Hutu and Tutsi delegates moved around the cathedral during an exchange of the kiss of peace. The Bishop of the host diocese of Kigezi, the Rt Revd William Rukirande was invited to pronounce a solemn absolution over the delegates, asking God's forgiveness for past wrongs. "This moment was just what we needed," said one delegate who thanked the conference organisers and sponsors.

Sixteen delegates from the USA were present throughout including six from Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, California. Members of the parish presented a cheque for $1,000 to Bishop Rwaje, recently raised by the parish Sunday School to purchase a generator for a church orphanage. Delegates also presented funds for the continuation of the work of reconciliation in Rwanda which were raised by the Stones Network, a California non profit organisation concerned about international health and reconciliation programmes.

"We want to expand these excellent Ugandan programmes to her neighbours," said the Revd Albert Ogle, President of the Stones Network, who led the American delegation. Partnership from the US and Britain will have an opportunity to ensure youth are educated about AIDS through the Anglican Church's extensive networks, and the successful "Save Youth from AIDS," programme which is funded by UNICEF "The local churches need funds for health and women's projects designed to bring Hutu and Tutsi together for common issues," said Fr Ogle who is returning to the US to organise support through the Stones Network.

The Ugandan Minister for Information, the Honourable Ruhakana Rugunda thanked the conference sponsors on behalf of the President of Uganda and the government:"The churches may be in a stronger position than government to promote reconciliation in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. We have to work together for peace in this region and there is certainly enough work for us all to do." The Minister reviewed the recent rebellion in Zaire and conflict in Rwanda and Burundi as indicators of democratic change in Central Africa. "We can see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel," he assured delegates, encouraging them to continue the struggle for reconciliation in the region.

Article from a report sent to ACNS by the Revd Richard Shackell, USA