Rwandan elected to head continental religious body

A Rwandan, Rev. Dr. Andre Karamaga from the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda was last week unanimously elected as the new General Secretary to All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). AACC is the largest Pan-African ecumenical fellowship on the continent, representing more than 120 million Christians in 173 churches, councils of churches and Christian organisations from 40 African countries. Rev. Karamaga succeeds Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala of South Africa whose term ends in December 2008. All 31 members who make up the General Committee voted for Rev. Karamaga revealed Pastor Elysee Musemakweli, the President of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda who is also a member of the committee. Karamaga’s inauguration will be held during the forthcoming AACC General Assembly which will take place in Maputo, Mozambique from December 7-12. Though he meets all necessary criteria, Rev. Karamaga, did not apply for his new office but was nominated by his own church in Rwanda. Well versed with the ecumenical movement, he holds a Ph.D in theology and has vast experience having worked with the AACC as its Programme Executive in charge of Theology (1990-1995) and as a member of its policy-making organs. Speaking to The New Times last Friday on his arrival from Nairobi where the AACC headquarters is, Rev. Karamaga said that he was happy, humbled and honoured to lead the African churches. ”It is a big forum that has dealt with conflict resolutions, illiteracy, poverty reduction, fighting pandemics and the like, in different countries. I was appointed because of the history of my country and how Rwanda has been able to get out of the ashes of Genocide,” he said in an interview. He is the first Rwandan appointed to lead this council of churches in Africa since it was founded in 1963 . Rev. Karamaga has been working as Executive Secretary (African Desk) in the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Born in 1938, he was trained as a teacher, and then went to a theological seminary in former Butare - now Huye District. In 1975, Rev. Karamaga was ordained pastor and studied for his Masters degree in Theology in Cameroon from 1977 -80, before returning to Rwanda in 1981. He got his Ph.D in Theology in 1988, in Lausanne University of Theology in Switzerland . He told The New Times that this contributed to his determination to return to Rwanda hence becoming the president of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. Thechurch lost 40 of its 65 pastors during the 1994 Genocide of Tutsis. Rev. Karamaga also served as the President of the Conseil Protestante du Rwanda (CPR); and as Vice-President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Ends

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Rwandan elected to head continental religious body