Fifty pastors from the Adventist? Wait — ADEPR is the Pentecostal church in Rwanda — are taking part in a six-day training focused on strengthening national unity, promoting resilience and fostering responsible citizenship.
The training, which began on October 5 at the Nkumba Leadership Training Centre in Burera District, brings together 38 participants and 12 trainers drawn from ADEPR parishes and provinces across the country.
The programme was officially opened by Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Jean Damascène Bizimana, who said religious leaders have an important role to play in shaping a united and peaceful Rwanda.
Much of the training is centred on the “Ndi Umunyarwanda” programme, with sessions covering Rwanda’s history, national unity, efforts to combat genocide ideology and the role of religious institutions in building a cohesive and secure society.
Bizimana commended ADEPR for its contribution to development and reconciliation efforts in partnership with the government. He also highlighted the responsibility of religious institutions in promoting unity and strengthening social cohesion.
The minister praised ADEPR for taking steps to implement national unity programmes, including removing pastoral responsibilities from members found to have participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He criticised those who continue to shield or defend people involved in the genocide.
Bizimana also discussed the historical role of religious institutions in the breakdown of social cohesion in Rwanda. He explained how colonial rule introduced and reinforced ethnic divisions among Rwandans and how political actors later exploited those divisions.
He urged the pastors to examine their own responsibilities, understand their role as examples within their communities and share the lessons from the training with their congregations.
The minister further addressed the continued presence of genocide ideology in some religious communities, as well as cases involving denial and minimisation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
ADEPR is among Rwanda’s largest religious denominations. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, it had 2,820,813 followers, representing 21.3% of Rwanda’s population.
The church has more than 3,100 congregations across the country and is involved in evangelism as well as education, healthcare, reconciliation and community development.
The six-day training will run through October 10.
