Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
12 October 2007
Bujumbura — The international Anglican Peace and Justice Network (APJN) recently concluded its triennial meeting in Kigali, Rwanda and Bujumbura, Burundi, with a call to the church to intensify peace building activities in the region.
The meeting, from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, drew participants from 17 provinces of the Anglican Communion. The focus was on conflict transformation and exploring the role of violence in societies throughout the world.
Bishop Pie Ntukamazina of the Diocese of Bujumbura, a leader of its steering committee, hosted the APJN on behalf of the Anglican Provinces of Rwanda and Burundi.
The meeting began with a welcome address in Kigali by Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, primate of the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
APJN's convener, Dr. Jenny Te Paa of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, guided participants through the agenda.
The communiqué says that the Network "sees the critical work for justice and peace in all areas of conflict and violence mentioned in this communiqué and elsewhere as central to the mission of the Church to reconcile all things to Christ."
A primary recommendation noted "our firm conviction that the Anglican Communion increase its presence in the regions and countries in conflict, and to be in solidarity with the affected local Anglican provinces and jurisdictions."
This "increased solidarity" is especially needed, the communiqué says, with the Anglican provinces in the Great Lakes region of eastern Africa.
The Great Lakes region includes countries surrounding Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria. Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have a combined population of 107 million people.
"While this solidarity should include a ministry of presence, we encourage the members of the Anglican Communion to strive to partner with the Anglican provinces and dioceses in the Great Lakes region, as well as with other provinces witnessing in the midst of civil strife and war to support all current efforts by those partners seeking to build peace and resolve conflict in their societies," the Network's communiqué says.
"One member posed the question: How many resources is the Communion willing to provide to these sister and brother members of the Communion caught up in seemingly endless cycles of violence and its resulting suffering, displacement and poverty?"
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