Global South Anglican

Source: AMIA

March 29, 2006

In an important step that will strengthen future leadership in the Anglican Province of Rwanda, classes have begun as part of the new Kigali Anglican Theological College, Rwanda’s first seminary. Work continues on the construction of the school’s now almost-completed campus, which will be occupied by students following the Easter break. In the meantime teaching is moving forward at the Anglican Provincial Headquarters building in Kigali for the 12 new students helping to inaugurate this phase of the project. “Classes began on March 8, and we are offering two classes: the diploma in theology and an intensive English course,” noted the Rev. Dick Seed, Principal and professor at the school. “It has begun, and we’re at an exciting time. There has been great support from many different sources and the power of God has been evident at every turn.” The school is the fulfillment of a dream long held by Rwanda’s Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, who sees the college as a way of building the church and helping the ongoing healing in the nation that endured genocide a dozen years ago. The campus lies five miles from the capitol city in Kubugu. The Anglican Mission in America, a missionary movement of the Province of Rwanda in N. America, has been actively involved in encouraging and supporting the vision, having given over $225,000 through its churches for construction costs, and books and other resources through its members. Ground was broken in August 2004 at the picturesque site—18.5 acres of gently sloping land nestled between banana tree farms—with the anticipation that it would be in use by February of 2006. Some delays were caused by design alterations and deadlines for equipment delivery that had to be pushed back. However, final work is now being completed that will see the campus in use sometime in April. The first class of students, 11 men and one woman, are already actively involved in ministry, with eight of them already ordained, including three archdeacons. They represent four of the counties nine dioceses. Full diocesan representation is hampered only by cost, as the dioceses must find the $1700 to house and teach each seminary student. It is hoped that all the dioceses will ultimately be able to send several students each. The Rev. Dick Seed and his wife Caroline moved from Nigeria to Rwanda last year to take on roles with the school—Dick as Principal and Professor of Theology, and Caroline as Professor of Missiology and administrator of the library. They joined Dr. Paula Sage, the Academic Dean, in planning for this important opening. Principal Seed admits it has had its share of struggles. “The smaller than anticipated numbers has made a challenging situation doubly so. We have not been able to move ahead in hiring some of the needed administrative staff, and the existing staff are having to wear several hats. From a functioning point of view we simply need more students and some means of providing for their tuition,” stated Rev. Seed. Faced with some of these obstacles, the leadership remains very hopeful and grateful for God’s provision. “We have often faced the void, yet time and again a way has been opened for us,” reflected Seed. “We have been able to find accommodation for the students, we have had the funds to equip this accommodation, library books have been provided, and when it looked impossible to meet the exorbitant price for connection to the power grid, this has been supplied. Our God is Awesome.” For more information on the Kigali Anglican Theological College, contact the Anglican Mission in America at 843-237-0318, or the AMiA’s Office of Clergy Credentialing at 301-270-4178.