Église Protestante Reformée du Burundi

The Église Protestante Reformée du Burundi (EPRB) is a conservative Reformed denomination in Burundi. The Christian Reformed Church (CGK) of the Netherlands has a continuing relationship with the EPRB, holding yearly seminars in Burundi, if possible, and supporting students with bursaries.[1] As of 2014, the church claims 1530 members across 10 parishes.[2]

EPRB Kamenge parishioners founded and operate a Christian nursery school named Maranatha.[1] The EPRB also maintains a Job Center in the city of Makamba.[3]

History

The EPRB claims to have been legally established in January 2000 by M. Ferdinand Ntancuti.[4] By 2003, it was a small group led by Rev. J. Bararu. In the summer of 2008, Rev. Bararu, who had previously been a member of CGK Culemborg, asked his Dutch contacts for assistance growing the church.[5] In response, a group of Dutch theologians, pioneered by Rev. L. den Butter, traveled to Bujumbura (the largest city in and then-capital of Burundi) in Oct 2010, to educate pastors, elders and deacons.[6]

In 2012, due to a schism Rev. Bararu departed and was succeeded by Rev. I. Nimpagaritse. By 2013, Bararu was accused of stealing missionary money from the CGK churches, and a suit was laid against him.[7] Later in 2012, a Synod was formed to decide an issue of doctrine, administration, or application. In 2013, the foundation stones of a new church building were laid in Kamenge, a Bujumbura suburb.[8]

An October 2016 issue regarding the issuance of visas for a trip to the Netherlands shook the church, causing a lot of bad blood.[9] This caused the cancellation of the yearly CGK visit in 2017.[10] Later that year, a special synod was held to resolve issues within the church and Rev. Nimparagiste became chairman of the Synod.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Burundi". Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  2. ^ "Actualites" [News] (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  3. ^ "LE CENTRE DES METIERS POUR JEUNES DE MAKAMBA EN SIGLE CMJ" [The Job Center for the Youth of Makamba (CMJ)] (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  4. ^ "Qui sommes-nous?" [Who are we?] (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  5. ^ "Burundi". Zendingsnieuws (in Dutch). Vol. 6, no. 9. Oct 2010.
  6. ^ "CGK starten zendingswerk in drie landen" [CGK Starts Missionary Work in New Lands]. nederlandsdagblad (in Dutch). 2010-10-26. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  7. ^ "Predikant in Burundi stal zendingsgeld" [Burundi Pastor Steals Missionary Money]. nederlandsdagblad (in Dutch). 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  8. ^ "Index". www.cgk.nl. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  9. ^ "Burundi – werkbezoek" [Burundi - Work Visit] (PDF). Zendingsnieuws (in Dutch). Vol. 13, no. 10. Nov 2017.
  10. ^ "Geen cursus in Burundi" [No Course in Burundi] (PDF). Zendingsnieuws (in Dutch). Vol. 13, no. 6. Jun 2017.
  11. ^ "Synode Burundi" [Burundi Synod]. Zendingsnieuws (in Dutch). Vol. 15, no. 2. Feb 2018.
  12. ^ "Terug naar Burundi" [Return to Burundi] (PDF). Zendingsnieuws (in Dutch). Vol. 13, no. 8. Sep 2017.