Presbyterian Church in Rwanda

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (in French Église presbytérienne au Rwanda or EPR) is a Presbyterian church group in Rwanda. It started in 1907 when missionaries from the Basel Mission came to the country.

By 2024, it had grown to become the largest Presbyterian group in Rwanda, with around 1,624,823 members. This shows how important the church is to many people living there today.

History

In 1907, Protestant missionaries from the Basel Mission arrived in Rwanda. Later, the Belgian Protestant Missionary Society also worked there. In 1959, the church became independent and was named the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. Over time, it built strong ties with churches in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Evangelical Church in Germany. The church grew quickly until 1994 and ran many schools and hospitals.

During a very sad time in Rwanda, the church lost many leaders and members. After that, the church focused on helping different groups in the country get along better. By 2024, it had grown to become the largest Presbyterian church in Rwanda, with over 1.6 million members.

Organisation and Structure

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda used to be very centralized, but in 2008, it began to change. This change lets local church groups, called parishes, have more control and be more self-sufficient. This process is still happening because helping parishes become stronger takes time.

Today, the church has seven main areas, called presbyteries, spread across the country. Each presbytery has many parishes. Even with these changes, there is still a main office in Kigali that helps with overall planning and organization for the whole church.

• Kigali (33 Parishes)
• Rubengera (34 Parishes)
• Remera (14 Parishes)
• Kirinda (12 Parishes)
• Gisenyi (20 Parishes)
• Gitarama (16 Parishes)
• Zinga (17 Parishes)

Activities and Programs

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda works hard to help people in many ways. It supports education, healthcare, and community development. The church runs 100 schools, 7 health centers, and 2 hospitals.

It also helps protect the environment and teaches people in rural areas new skills besides farming. In Kigali, the church has a special care center for homeless boys, giving them a place to live, food, and a chance to learn.

General

After a very sad time in Rwanda, the Presbyterian Church works to help people who were hurt and those who did the hurting to become friends again. The church gives small loans to help people work together and build stronger communities. There are special groups called “Unity and Reconciliation Commissions” in each area, and smaller groups meet in local churches to support this work. The church also joins with the government and local groups each year during a special week to remember those who were lost.

The church believes in the old promises and teachings found in the Apostles' Creed and the Westminster Confession.

Inter-church relations

The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda works together with big groups of churches around the world. It is part of the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. It also has a friendly connection with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).