A Chicago-area congregation, formerly of the Episcopal Church, now signed up with the Church of Rwanda, is discovering that international politics make strange bedfellows.
A suburban Chicago church sought leadership from Rwanda amid theological disputes with the Episcopal Church. This week, it found itself in conflict with its leaders over Rwandan politics.
All Souls Anglican Church had invited Paul Rusesabagina, whose life was featured in the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda, to speak during Sunday morning services. The Wheaton, Illinois, church, a member of the Rwandan-led Anglican Mission in America, invited him as part of a fundraiser to build a school in Gashirabwoba, Rwanda.
On Thursday, however, Emmanuel Kolini, the Anglican archbishop of Rwanda, asked All Soul’s pastor J. Martin Johnson to rescind the invitation.
Rusesabagina has been at odds with the president of Rwanda. The archbishop feared that the event could create a strain in the relationship between the Anglican Church of Rwanda and the government.
[… A]fter President Kagame found out Rusesabagina was supposed to speak to speak at a church overseen by archbishop of Rwanda, he contacted Kolini, who then told the church to cancel the event, Johnson said.
Nice.
Some might consider it a weakness, but I consider it a strength, of the Episcopal Church that I cannot imagine something like this happening under its auspices. If George W. Bush asked Bp. Jefferts-Schori to have a congregation cancel an appearance by, say, Michael Moore, not only would she most likely decline to do so, but the congregation’s rector would most likely decline to do so as well, with no overt repercussions.
But, hey, that’s the kind of sloppy, revisionist, “Satanic” thinking that leads folks to leave TEC and sign up with the Church of Rwanda. I hope they find it spiritually fulfilling.
Cool. They’re learning that they’re Rwanda’s bitch. Hope they like the feel of the beat-down ’cause there’s more to come.