Backstory to the AMiA Conflict - Mark Quay
Backstory to the AMiA Conflict
By Mark Quay
December 9, 2011
For what it's worth, here's my take on the situation in the AMiA (AM or Mission). This is my view based upon what I saw during my the last three trips to Rwanda and from the conversations I had with a number of members of the Rwandan HoB and the Provincial Office, but it is only my view.
I'm not addressing anything with regard to the way +Chuck Murphy and Pawley's Island and the AM's Council of Bishops are handling this matter. Instead I think there's some backstory in Rwanda that needs to be addressed. Again, this is my understanding and my opinion. It is not that of Anglican School of Ministry or the Anglican Mission in the Americas.
Sorry if it comes across as a little rambling. When the Province of Rwanda was recovering after the genocide, there were only two sitting bishops who were in place before the Genocide: +Onesphore Rwaje of Byumba and +Alexis Bilindabagabo of Gahini. +Alexis was just barely junior to +Onesphore. When ++ Emmanuel Kolini and +John Rucyahana came to the rescue of what became the AMiA, there was a lot of resistance and resentment from the Rwandan House of Bishops. ++Kolini had to use a lot of capital plus the G-word (genocide). When he likened the situation in The Episcopal Church to the 1994 Genocide, resistance went underground. ++Kolini was able to closely tie the Province with the AM by force of personality-he is quite charismatic in an oddly quiet way-and personal relationship with +Chuck Murphy.
This together with his strong ally, +Rucyahana, was sufficient for a while to overcome the anger at the loss of TEC money. However, as the retirement of both approached, they were beginning to lose influence. Old resentments began to rear up. New bishops were elected, many of whom had connections with TEC in the past. While they are evangelicals in their theology, they have a divided worldview, not seeing the theological virus which comes with TEC money.
They deplored TEC's stands but many wanted ++Kolini to not take such a high profile and earn the ire of TEC (and the Church of England as well). What was perceived as ++Kolini's agenda was in trouble. When I was in Rwanda for the consecration of +Louis Muvunyi as Bishop of Kigali, it was a badly kept secret that, while most in the Rwandan HoB wanted +Onesphore to be the next AB, +Alexis wanted the job very badly.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
By Mark Quay
December 9, 2011
For what it's worth, here's my take on the situation in the AMiA (AM or Mission). This is my view based upon what I saw during my the last three trips to Rwanda and from the conversations I had with a number of members of the Rwandan HoB and the Provincial Office, but it is only my view.I'm not addressing anything with regard to the way +Chuck Murphy and Pawley's Island and the AM's Council of Bishops are handling this matter. Instead I think there's some backstory in Rwanda that needs to be addressed. Again, this is my understanding and my opinion. It is not that of Anglican School of Ministry or the Anglican Mission in the Americas.
Sorry if it comes across as a little rambling. When the Province of Rwanda was recovering after the genocide, there were only two sitting bishops who were in place before the Genocide: +Onesphore Rwaje of Byumba and +Alexis Bilindabagabo of Gahini. +Alexis was just barely junior to +Onesphore. When ++ Emmanuel Kolini and +John Rucyahana came to the rescue of what became the AMiA, there was a lot of resistance and resentment from the Rwandan House of Bishops. ++Kolini had to use a lot of capital plus the G-word (genocide). When he likened the situation in The Episcopal Church to the 1994 Genocide, resistance went underground. ++Kolini was able to closely tie the Province with the AM by force of personality-he is quite charismatic in an oddly quiet way-and personal relationship with +Chuck Murphy.
This together with his strong ally, +Rucyahana, was sufficient for a while to overcome the anger at the loss of TEC money. However, as the retirement of both approached, they were beginning to lose influence. Old resentments began to rear up. New bishops were elected, many of whom had connections with TEC in the past. While they are evangelicals in their theology, they have a divided worldview, not seeing the theological virus which comes with TEC money.
They deplored TEC's stands but many wanted ++Kolini to not take such a high profile and earn the ire of TEC (and the Church of England as well). What was perceived as ++Kolini's agenda was in trouble. When I was in Rwanda for the consecration of +Louis Muvunyi as Bishop of Kigali, it was a badly kept secret that, while most in the Rwandan HoB wanted +Onesphore to be the next AB, +Alexis wanted the job very badly.
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
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