Anglican Communion News Service

The Rt. Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi

Photo Credit: EEB

The Rt. Rev. Bernard Ntahoturi, Bishop of Matana diocese, was elected as the 3rd Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Burundi on the 2nd June, 2005.

Bishop Bernard was ordained in 1973 and then followed theological training at Ridley Hall and St. John’s, Cambridge, UK, for 3 years.

He went into education and civil service before serving as Provincial Secretary of the EEB for 5 years.

He became Bishop of Matana in 1997.

Among many things, he has served as the vice-moderator of ACT International for 2 years and as a member of the Anglican Consultative Council Standing Committee for ACC 9-11. He is a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, and has more recently been President of the National Council of Churches in Burundi.

Asked about his vision for the Church he said, “I see the Church as an instrument of God’s reconciling and healing ministry in a country torn by years of ethnic conflict and acute poverty. I hope to see the dioceses of the Anglican Church of Burundi working together to seek God’s will so as to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.”

The enthronement is planned to take place on 17th July 2005 when the Archbishop of Canterbury will be visiting Burundi.