[Anglican Communion News Service] Anglican Communion Secretary General the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo recently completed a visit to the Anglican Church of Burundi. His visit involved an address to the House of Bishops, meeting with community project teams and preaching at the ordination service of six new deacons. Poggo was hosted by Archbishop Sixbert Macumi, provincial secretary the Rev. Fabien Niyomwungere , members of the provincial Episcopal team and the Mothers’ Union.
Macumi said, “The Anglican Church of Burundi has been pleased to welcome the secretary general to our province. We give thanks to God for this special time of fellowship. As a House of Bishops, we have shared stories about the needs and realities of mission in Burundi. We have heard from the secretary general about the work of the Anglican Communion office and given thanks for our shared life together, as well as discuss issues that impairs communion between Anglicans. Through it all, we have expressed the Anglican Church of Burundi’s deep commitment to the unity and life of the Anglican Communion. We continue to pray for our global witness and the work of the secretary general in his ministry.”
Poggo said of his visit, “It has been a joy to visit our Anglican brothers and sisters in Burundi. The people of Burundi are facing numerous challenges, including political instability, extreme poverty, rising cases of Mpox, a fuel crisis and environmental issues of flooding and landslides. But in the Anglican Church of Burundi, I see a community dedicated to addressing these issues head on and building a more hopeful future for their nation. I give thanks for their faithful witness and service as they share the Good News of the Christian faith.”
The Anglican Church of Burundi
The Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi came into existence in 1992 and covers the whole of Burundi. It is a province of nine dioceses – Buhiga, Bujumbura, Buye, Gitega, Makamba, Matana, Muyinga, Rumonge and Rutana.
The province was established following years of missionary activity in the region, which began in 1935. A series of mission stations, hospitals and colleges developed, and in 1948 Mothers’ Union began in the area.
The province’s mission is to “fulfil Christ’s mission by proclaiming and sharing the Gospel, making disciples, empowering and transforming the community, advocating for justice, and contributing to the holistic and sustainable development of all of creation.”
Burundi is often referred to as the heart of Africa. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Lake Tanganyika lies along its southwestern border.
Burundi is listed as one of the poorest nations in the world. Independence was won in 1962, but political and financial instability continues to cause deep issues in the country. During the secretary general’s visit, the needs facing the people of Burundi are evident. There’s a fuel crisis – and many petrol stations closed.
Deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss are ecological concerns. Around the corner from the Anglican Faith Centre in Bujumbura, the people are rebuilding the village following a recent landslide. Many communities on the shore of Lake Tanganyika have been devastated flooding.
There are reports of Mpox rising. Since the first confirmed case in July 2024, Burundi has reported 564 Mpox cases, 62.9% of which are under 19 years old, and over 1,576 suspected cases.
During his visit, Poggo visited a community impacted by flooding. Buildings and livelihoods have been destroyed. Local children play in the dirty water, making boats. Many people have left the region – but some are not able to relocate.
However, one man continues to stay. He is the local priest at the Anglican parish of Gatumba, in Bujumbura. Welcoming the secretary general, he showed the watermarks on his church building due to flooding.
He is concerned for the welfare of those members of his parish that have relocated to regions too far to visit on foot or bicycle. He explained to Poggo that he and his wife choose to stay and keep the church open for the families that remain, saying, “If people want to come and pray, there needs to be a space.”
Empowering women
Claudette Kigeme is the provincial coordinator of Mothers’ Union in the region, which has a network of 26,500 members. Their main focus is the holistic development of families and nurturing people in faith. Education and literacy programs are prioritized, as literacy levels amongst women are low in Burundi, and many girls do not have access to education. Mothers’ Union also works to tackle gender-based violence, delivering awareness programs that target both men and women. Kigeme explained that involving men helps to shift attitudes and moves the work beyond “victims chatting to victims.”
The Mothers’ Union is working to invest in change. Kigeme says, “We don’t want to deny that Burundi is one of the poorest countries, but we see that as potential that we can change. With leadership and strategic planning, we can come out of it. We have the assets that are currently underutilized. We need to invest in the youth generation. The present reality doesn’t need to be our defining story.”
Investing in youth
A commitment to youth development is also a major priority for the province’s Director of Evangelism, the Rev. Thérence Nduwayo. He is currently developing a youthwork offering that’s based on small group meetings and discipleship programs. The focus is on developing life skills for young people, so that they can carve out a more hopeful future.
Attendance is a challenge. For many young people, going to a church program means missing work opportunities. Some ask for money to attend, so they don’t lose income. The pressures are real, but Nduwayo is undeterred. He currently is writing a book for parents on supporting teenage development.
Educating future leaders: Bujumbura Christian University
Located on the same site as the provincial office and faith center is the Bujumbura Christian University. The Rev. Pascal Bigirimana, the vice chancellor, welcomed Poggo to tour the site. He described the vision for the university as providing theological training and capacity building amongst young leaders.
Disciplines include theology, economics, science and business administration. There are plans to add a department for environmental studies and agricultural business, as well as translation and interpretation. The team is currently seeking an alternative site, to accommodate more students and in turn generate more funding.
Meeting with the House of Bishops
At the House of Bishops, Poggo was invited to share updates on the work of the Anglican Communion Office and perspectives on the life of the Anglican Communion. He said that his aims in visiting the province were to “learn, share, listen and encourage.”
The bishops gathered also gave updates on the ministry of their dioceses. Speaking of the many issues impacting the Anglican Communion, the spirit of the meeting was one of collaboration and joint commitment to Christian unity.
The house discussed communion differences about human sexuality but also outlined that there are additional mission priorities that need attention. The newest bishop in the House expressed that the Church of Burundi is “busy with evangelism, church growth, financial stability, community issues, extreme poverty, low levels of education, poor health and domestic violence.”
Poggo preaches at an ordination service
The conclusion of the secretary general’s visit was at the ordination service held at Cathedrale Saint Andre, in the parish of Mukoni in the Diocese of Muyinga. The service was lead by the bishop of Muyinga diocese, the Rt. Rev. Jean Berchmans Mweningoma. Six people were ordained as deacons: Joseph Ncahoruri, Pacifique Ndacayizeye, Innocent Ndayishimiye, Elyse Nkeshimana, Bonke Nkundimana and Manasse Niheme. The service included joyful praise, dancing and music, with contributions from Mothers’ Union, youth and children’s choirs.
Poggo’s sermon acknowledged the Church of Burundi as a valued member of the communion and thanked them for their ministry. He addressed the new deacons, encouraging them to be servants and witnesses for Christ. Referencing Paul in the book of Acts, he said “deacons are worthy of respect,” but that this a respect that should be earned. He urged the new deacons, “Don’t fight to be respected – earn it by how you behave.” His sermon continued to focus on the importance of humility, honesty and service, saying: “Be a servant leader. Don’t let power get into your head. Be a visionary leader – help people look forward and look ahead. Empower people to know that they can do it.”
The sermon ended with an encouragement to the congregation to pray for their leaders and consider how they can give with generosity to the work of the Church.
The secretary general was accompanied by two members of the Anglican Communion Office team, Caroline Thompson, private secretary for the secretary general; and Janet Miles, director of public engagement.