New Primates for Rwanda & Papua New Guinea

The principal of Kigali Anglican Theological College, Louis Muvunyi, has been elected by his fellow bishops as the next Primate of Rwanda. He succeeds Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini who has reached 65, the mandatory retirement age for Rwandan bishops.

"I am looking forward to seeing the Church in Rwanda fulfilling its mission and contributing to the healing and the revival of our nation," Muvunyi told the press.

In 1994, Rwanda suffered through a horrific genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed in the course of a hundred days. Healing from the trauma is still ongoing.

Archbishop Kolini, in an interview reported on the website All Africa, described his successor as a deeply spiritual person, theologically able and a humble man, who is widely respected both among his fellow bishops and the entire population.

"I'm so excited that such a disciplined and inspirational figure has come on board; I believe he's a blessing to this nation," Kolini said. "I think I have done my part and it is time for me to pass on the mantle.”

Papua New Guinea elects new Primate

On June 11 the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea elected the Rt. Rev. Joseph Kopapa as its new Primate. He had been the Bishop of Popondota Diocese. Archbishop Kopapa is the fifth Archbishop since the Church’s independence from the Province of Australia. Archbishop Kopapa succeeds the former Primate, James Ayong, who retired in 2009. Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea off the northeast corner of Australia. It is a land of high mountain ranges and tropical rain forests. Most of the inhabitants rely on subsistence farming. Over 850 indigenous languages are spoken. The 2000 census showed 96% of the nearly 7 million citizens were members of a Christian church; however, many citizens combine their Christian faith with some of their pre-Christian traditional indigenous practices.