From July 8 to 10, 2026, the town of Cankuzo, in Buhumuza province, welcomed the second session of the Burundi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Presided over by Bishop Emmanuel Sinzohagera, who leads the Burundi-Rwanda episcopal area, the gathering brought together several hundred delegates, pastors and lay members alike from every district of the country, united around a single theme: “Every branch that bears fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2).
Over three days, the assembly moved gently between times of worship, committee work, report presentations, elections, and decisions that will shape the Church’s path forward. Here is a look back at the highlights of this session.
A Gentle Opening, Rooted in the Spirit of Pruning
The session began with a solemn procession followed by hymns of thanksgiving. Bishop Sinzohagera then delivered the official opening address before offering a meditation titled “Being Pruned,” drawing on the biblical examples of Joseph, David, and Moses. From their stories, he drew four gentle lessons for walking through seasons of trial: stay rooted, let God shape you, learn to be patient, and remain firmly planted. This message set the spiritual tone for the whole Conference, and the 744 delegates present among the hundreds summoned from across the country, then came together to share in Holy Communion.
Elections to Prepare for the Future
One of the Conference’s key institutional moments came with the elections. Dr. Théodore Mbazumutima was reelected Lay Leader of the Conference, with Hon. Rubin Ntamavyariro as the associated Lay Leader, a choice approved unanimously.
Rev. Valentine Cimpaye was elected Secretary of the Conference, entrusted with recording its proceedings and safeguarding its official minutes. Eighteen delegates (nine pastors and nine lay members) were also elected to represent the Church of Burundi at the 2028 General Conference, as well as at the central and regional levels.
Five Districts for a Stronger Pastoral Organization
Among the most significant decisions of this session was the Church’s territorial reorganization. Following a proposal from the committee responsible for reviewing district boundaries, the Conference approved a new five-district structure: Buhumuza (seat in Cankuzo), Burunga (seat in Kayero), Butanyerera (seat in Ngozi), Bujumbura, and Gitega (seats unchanged) in step with Burundi’s new provincial organization. A five-year transition period was set aside for the parishes affected by this realignment.
Reports Reflecting a Church in Motion
Over the three days, delegates reviewed close to a dozen reports tracing the Church’s activity over the past year: reports from the Bishop, the Lay Leader, finances, membership statistics, and property management, along with reports from UMDA, the Church’s development agency, and from its various groups: men, women, youth, and children.
Among the standout figures: close to 220 million Burundian francs invested in health infrastructure by UMDA, 32 sewing machines distributed to women trained in tailoring, and a hotel project in Gitega valued at 6 billion Burundian francs, led by the men’s group. The reports also pointed to ongoing challenges: unregistered or disputed Church land, a low proportion of men among active members, and the need for greater financial consistency across districts.
A Consecration Service for New Servants of the Church
The second day of the Conference was marked by a deeply moving consecration service. Sixty people were admitted to probationary ministry, twenty-five were consecrated as pastors, six as deacons, one pastor was received by transfer, and two others were reinstated to pastoral ministry. Ahead of the ceremony, those about to be consecrated received a message on preserving personal and pastoral integrity, before the assembly came together once more to share in Holy Communion.
A Vision for the Next Seven Years
The final day was devoted to the last outstanding reports, along with Bishop Sinzohagera’s presentation of his vision for the Church’s future over the next seven years. The Conference closed with a prayer and the symbolic presentation of shepherd’s staffs to the pastors, a fitting sign of their calling as shepherds within the United Methodist Church of Burundi.
The next gathering is already on the calendar: a crusade of celebration set to take place July 10-12, 2026, carrying forward the spirit of this Annual Conference.
Life across the Church’s groups: women, men, youth, and children at the heart of the Annual Conference