Lausanne World Pulse – Remembering Genocide with Hope: Rwanda Heals Through Forgiveness and Reconciliation
By Celestin Musekura
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ALARM and other organizations have been working to raise up leaders and encourage reconciliation in nations affected by genocide and hate. |
The 1994 genocide resulted in the death of close to one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Many church and community leaders were killed. ALARM was born to fill the leadership gap. Over the past ten years, ALARM and other organizations have been working to raise up leaders and encourage reconciliation in Rwanda and other nations that were affected. This event was especially significant because it was the first occasion in which church leaders together acknowledged the failure of the Church in preventing genocide through its teachings. Many churches are disrespected today because they failed to intervene and in many cases even to condemn the genocide. Although more than a decade has passed since the tragedy, the Church as a whole has not come together to agree on a unified approach to reconcile and resolve the problems that resulted from it. In this sense, the groups responsible for the genocide were much more strategic than the Church has been in the aftermath.
During his address at the April conference, ALARM Rwandan country director, Rev. André Mfitumukiza, said, “The Church has not been responsible enough in building and healing this nation. As church leaders, we are ashamed and guilty when many critics come to us through various speeches. However, we want to take up full responsibility for our failure and change our image as we work toward a better society.”1
As a step toward further reconciliation, Rev. Mfitumukiza identified himself as a Hutu and challenged all Hutus in the audience to come forward, kneel and apologize for the role their tribe had in the genocide. In return, Tutsi church leaders forgave the Hutus present and likewise asked forgiveness for the way they had generalized and criminalized all Hutus. This event was applauded nationally as an important event in bringing hope, healing and reconciliation to the country. Pages: ALL Prev 1 2 3 Next
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Dr. Celestin Musekura, a Rwandan and ordained Baptist minister, is the president and founder of African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries, Inc (ALARM, Inc). He trains leaders and is involved in tribal and political forgiveness and reconciliation in East and Central Africa. |