Posted Wednesday 9 April 2008
It’s hard to believe it’s a year since we welcomed visitors from Kentucky and Byumba for the Growing Together Project, writes , convenor of the Companion Dioceses Action Network.
A DVD of some of the photos was shown at Synod and is available for anyone interested. Since those visits we have been exchanging news with both dioceses and continuing our links.
Byumba, Rwanda
The Rev Meg Gillebaud, who has visited us over the years, is retiring from her role in charge of clergy and catechist training in Byumba.
Her successor is Canon Pheneas Zimulinda who was with us last April. He has started his new job and his family have moved from Muhura to Byumba town.
Bishop Onesphore tells us that many more clergy are needed and training is a priority. The Provincial Overseas Committee of the SEC has agreed to help with a grant towards theological training in his diocese.
Our diocesan project is also still running. Over the first two years we sent almost £30,000, in roughly equal allocations, to each of the seven projects we are supporting.
St Andrew’s Milngavie has well established links with Byuma. These started as a personal link with pastor Elson and his parish of Muhura. However, Elson and his family have now been sent to take charge of a distant rural parish. So now as well as support for Muhura, with its new priest, Dismas, they help Elson in his new responsibilities.
St Andrew’s had raised money to buy a motorbike for Muhura parish which, of course, Elson had to leave behind.
Pastor Samuel, one of our visitors last year, told us: “I have to walk four hours to reach some of my churches.” That hit home with many of us, and a fundraising project is being started to buy motorbikes for pastors in the remaining six regions of Byumba.
So far we have got £1,500, but at £2,500 per bike it is very much an ongoing fund! If you wish to contribute or do some fundraising please do contact me.
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky connections continue. Bishop Ted, with wife Barbara, will be one of the bishops visiting the diocese before Lambeth, 11-15 July. Look out for more publicity.
Bob Nesmith, whom we met last April, is continuing to explore the possibility of a micro-credit scheme with Byumba.
Bob has passed on a request from his church, St Matthew’s Louisville, which is seeking a link with Glasgow North-East region and hopes to visit Scotland soon. Another Kentucky church is planning a link with Milngavie.
Do let me know if you already have a link with either of our companion dioceses that’s not mentioned here, or have other overseas interests, so that all information about overseas connections can be drawn together. Resources to help with making new overseas links are always available.
Category: Companion Dioceses Action Network
