In September, an extra synod had to meet in the Netherlands to make a number of appointments. An extra synod also met in Burundi. Not to appoint professors, but to elect a new synod board because the chairman of the old board had resigned. And that did not go without a hitch.
There are some major tensions in the church there. One of the senior pastors is causing a lot of unrest. As a result, the preparation group had also sought permission from the government in advance for the place where the synod would be held, keeping in mind the safety of the synod attendees.
This turned out to be for good reason. Members of the congregation to which that senior pastor belongs came to cause a riot towards the end of the synod. Precautions taken prevented a brawl.
The synod elected Rev Innocent Nimpagaritse as its new president and legal representative. He is no stranger to mission. He is someone with a certain authority in the churches there, and has held this position before. His right-hand man will be Rev John Ndizeye, who was the general secretary in the previous synod board. He too knows mission well.
We wish the new board many blessings in their work and hope that peace will soon return to the churches.
