The members of the executive committee met on Friday January 17, 2025, in the premises of the ROHERO parish in the Bujumbura district.
The executive committee meeting, presided by the resident bishop Daniel Wandabula, was attended by different church leaders such as Hon. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, the Legal Representative and Dean of Superintendents, the Rev.Lazare BANKURUNAZE his deputy Legal representative and bishop’s assistant, Conference lay leader, Conference Secretary, district superintendents and their laity, board chairpersons, coordinators and presidents of Methodist Organizations at conference level. The meeting was also attended by guests from other Annual Conferences: Rev David Muwaya from Uganda and Rev Augustin Bahati from Rwanda.
The opening prayer was led by the Resident Bishop and the legal representative, on behalf of the church in Burundi and himself, thanked the Almighty God for planning and carrying out the meeting and safe trip of the attendees from near and far. He welcomed and wished them a warm stay in Bujumbura. The Rev. Dr. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA delivered morning devotion quoting 2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands”. He told delegates to shine and use their gifts to serve the church and the community.
In the opening remarks, Bishop Daniel Wandabula, the Resident Bishop explained that Burundi Annual Conference is the other church of all East Africa Area. “I am happy now that Burundi is going to receive the national Bishop in March”, he said.
He also appreciated that Burundi Annual Conference has already submitted his apportionment to the Bishop’s office and GCFA. “This is my last executive meeting with the Burundi Annual Conference, the next will be chaired by the new elected Bishop, added the Bishop.
The executive meeting agenda mainly focused on the process of 29th march 2025 celebration of handover and takeover between the current bishop and new bishop that will be elected on march 15th 2025 in Africa Central conference to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and on different reports among them YAMBASU project report, regionalization updates.
The committee that is in charge of the March 29th’s event updated the meeting members to where preparations are. He indicated that the event has a theme from Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine! For your light has come; the glory of the LORD has risen upon you” and will take place at Ingoma Stadium, Gitega. The venue is preferred depending on the big number of participants from both Burundi and outside the country.
On Yambasu Agriculture Initiative, it is value chain focused on agriculture and livestock. Dr Josiane Manirakiza the project coordinator told that the project is off to a good start with land totaling 20 hectares. The agriculture will be centered on sunflower, peanut and soy. Pig breeding will dominate the livestock side. The harvests will be consumed after processing in order to generate income and contribute to human well-being.
Mrs Godelieve Manirakiza, one of the regionalization’s trainees in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, indicated that regionalization will not cause any challenge because they have got much information about it and they are informing church members so that they can understand what it is to avoid rumors.
Before closing the meeting, the resident bishop made a point to show an overall picture of the East Africa Central Conference which will be established in the coming days. He mentioned that the central conference will be responsible of guiding and strengthening the church. He ended by wishing a farewell since Burundi is going to have a new bishop. He invited all church members to stay united. “United we stand divided we fall”, emphasized the Bishop.
The Reverend Emmanuel Sinzohagera thanked all the participants in general and the Bishop in particular for the leadership and advocacy, the love to Burundi church and for the heart of being with the church of Burundi. He promised that the church in Burundi will always cooperate with him since he has been with it for years.
The Rev. Valentine CIMPAYE, the district superintendent of Bujumbura District, closed the meeting with a prayer.
On the sidelines of the executive meeting, a training for superintendents and their lay leaders, finance committee and development committee was organized and led by Reverend David Muwaya, the Special Assistant of the Secretary of GBGM to the East Africa Episcopal Area, on January 18th 2025. The objective of the training was to inform for some and update for others on how to plan development projects and find financing from United Methodist Church agencies.
It has been also an opportunity to know Global Ministries and its program inventory and how they work with people to witness to what God has done and is doing, and to learn from what God is doing in every land where disciples gather in the name of Jesus Christ”.
The trainer emphasized the transparent management that must be carried out throughout the project. This is to allow the funds to be used faithfully for carrying out the activities described, the perpetuation of the project in order to be able to finance itself subsequently. “Give me a fish and I will eat today but teach me how to fish and I will eat for a lifetime”, quoted Rev David.
