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Ministry of Reconciliation in the Context of Ethnic Ideology and Genocide: a Theological Evaluation of the Presbyterian Church I

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Ministry of Reconciliation in the Context of Ethnic Ideology and Genocide: a Theological Evaluation of the Presbyterian Church I Ministry of Reconciliation in the Context of Ethnic Ideology and Genocide: A Theological Evaluation of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda By Nagaju Muke Dissertation presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Missiology in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof. David Xolile Simon December 2016 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the authorship owner thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. December 2016 Signature: Copyright © 2016 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT This dissertation frames the1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which took over a million people’s lives as a result of the contextual factors emerging from Rwandan history. Given the destruction of social cohesion after the 1994 genocide, this study employs a realist evaluation approach proposed by Pawson and Tilley (1997; 2004) to develop a theological understanding and definition of reconciliation, which incorporates the need to truly address the context of modern Rwanda. A realist approach includes interrogating the context of interventions in order to understand how and why mechanisms can trigger particular outcomes. In conducting this realist evaluation of the history leading up to the 1994 genocide, ethnic ideology is identified as the main factor creating division. This ideology was a phenomenon artificially created and introduced by policies of colonialists and missionaries, exploited by the “Hutu power” movement after independence, and reinforced by the sectarian policies of the Rwandan government. This ideology sought to categorize the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa communities as ethnically and racially distinct, despite the fact that they all share one ethnicity, one language and a common heritage as Banyarwanda. Taking this understanding of ethnic ideology as a description of the underlying problem in Rwanda, this dissertation seeks to apply theological resources for understanding reconciliation in a way that can undo the effects of ethnic ideology. This new vision of reconciliation will be used to evaluate how the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (PCR) also referred to by its French name, l’ Eglise Prebytérienne au Rwanda (EPR), addresses ethnic ideology and responds to the effects and consequences of the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. A closer look at the development of ethnic ideology through Rwandan national and church history, as well as consideration of the various government-led attempts at reconciliation will inform this evaluation. It was found that the EPR has shown significant achievements in the process of reconciliation, but that ethnic ideology still persists. This finding highlights the need for the EPR to provide a clear theology of a shared identity versus one national ethnic identity “Ndi Umunyaranda” (I am a Rwandan) provided by the government in post-genocide Rwanda, which will help church members and other Rwandans to overcome divisions related to ethnicity. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za OPSOMMING Hierdie verhandeling omvat die 1994-volkslagting van die Tutsi’s in Rwanda waar meer as ʼn miljoen mense uitgemoor is, ʼn direkte gevolg van die kontekstuele faktore wat uit die Rwandese geskiedenis verrys het. In ag genome die verwoesting van sosiale samehang ná die 1994-slagting, implementeer hierdie studie ʼn realistiese evalueringsbenadering voorgehou deur Pawson en Tilley (1997: 2004). Deur middel van hierdie evalueringsbenadering word ʼn teologiese begrip en definisie van versoening te ontwikkel waarby die behoefte geïnkorporeer word om die konteks van moderne Rwanda werklik te ondersoek. ʼn Realistiese benadering behels ʼn beoordeling van die konteks van intervensies ten einde te verstaan hoe en waarom meganismes sekere uitkomste kan sneller. In die uitvoer van hierdie realistiese evaluering van die geskiedenis wat die 1994-volkslagting voorafgegaan het, word etniese ideologie as die hooffaktor in die ontstaan van verdeeldheid geïdentifiseer. Hierdie ideologie is as kunsmatige verskynsel deur die beleide van kolonialiste en sendelinge geskep en ingevoer, deur die “Hutu-mag” uitgebuit en deur die sektariese beleide van die Rwandese owerheid versterk. Die ideologie was daarop gerig om die Hutu-, Tutsi- en Twa-gemeenskappe op grond van etniesiteit en ras van mekaar te onderskei, ondanks die feit dat hulle een etnisiteit, een taal en ʼn gemeenskaplike nalatenskap as Banjarwanda gedeel het. Deur die implementering van hierdie definisie van etniese ideologie as ʼn beskrywing van die onderliggende probleem in Rwanda, soek die navorser na teologiese hulpmiddels om versoening op ʼn manier te verstaan wat die gevolge van etniese ideologie ongedaan kan maak. Hierdie nuwe siening van versoening sal gebruik word om die wyse te evalueer waarop die leraars van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Rwanda (PKR, in Frans le Eglise Prebytérienne au Rwanda, of EPR) etniese ideologie hanteer en op die uitwerking en gevolge van die 1994-volksmoord op die Tutsi reageer. ʼn Nader beskouing van die ontwikkeling van etniese ideologie deur die loop van Rwandese nasionale en kerkgeskiedenis, sowel as die oorweging van verskeie regeringsgeleide pogings vir versoening, sal hierdie evaluering onderlê. In hierdie tesis word daar bevind dat die EPR merkwaardige sukses in die versoeningsproses bereik het, maar dat etniese ideologie steeds bestaan. Hierdie analise beklemtoon die behoefte aan die daarstelling van ʼn duidelike teologie van ʼn gedeelde identiteit deur die EPR tenoor een nasionale etniese identiteit “Ndi Umunyaranda” (Ek is ʼn Rwandees) wat deur die owerheid in die post- volkslagting Rwanda verskaf is. Sodoende sal kerklidmate en ander Rwandese in staat gestel word om etnies gebaseerde verdeeldheid te bowe te kom. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to a number of people who have supported me during the course of my doctoral studies. Each person mentioned played a significant role in helping me get to where I am today. I am deeply grateful to all of you: First of all, I would like to thank the Almighty God for the grace He has given me to accomplish this complex task and complete this dissertation. If it were not for God, this would have been an impossible task. Glory to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. My special appreciation goes to Prof. D.X. Simon, my supervisor, for assisting me through all the stages of this study. I would never have completed this dissertation without his input and wise counsel. His wise advice, guidance and discerning counsel helped shape this study and challenged me to be a better scholar. Thank you! My thanks should be extended to Rev. Dr. Elisée Musemakweli, the former president of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda and to Rev. Dr. Paschal Bataringaya, the current president of the EPR, for their good leadership allowing pastors to further their studies. I will always be thankful to them for giving me permission to continue with my studies. I would also like to thank all who contributed to the financial support of my studies. I express my sincere gratitude to United Evangelical Mission (UEM) for sponsoring my PhD (Missiology) studies at Stellenbosch University, may God bless UEM. I would also like to thank the international office of Stellenbosch University for the post- graduate merit scholarship award. My appreciation also goes to the Curatorium of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa for their financial support. A special thanks to my husband Valéry Nsenga Rubibi, who has played a significant role in my life and continually encouraged me along the way. I am honoured to have him as my husband. He has provided me with ample love and support of all kind, saying: “You are able and you will make it”. Thank you for giving me your blessing to leave you and our four children at home for the duration of my studies. Your love, iv Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za spiritual and moral support has always comforted me. My son Gratien Muragwa, and my three daughters, Angelique Uwigiciro, Noella Niyigena and Sylvie Ingabire deserve special mention. Though my heart was broken when I thought about the impact of my absence on your lives, your patience and understanding encouraged me, helped me and pushed me. Thanks to my wonderful family! I wish to thank my brothers, Jean Byiringiro, Fidel Muke Ndahiriwe, Niyingize Muke, Alex Muhumure, and Innocent Ntamuhanga Muke for their valuable companionship and friendship. To my sisters, Dorothy Nabeza Nantore and your husband Pastor Gad Biregeya, Josiane Nyabitanga and Solange Nyirandatwa, my thanks for your invaluable support and prayer. A deep expression of gratitude is extended to my father Pastor Dieudonnée Muke Ruhumuriza, who despite a strong patriarchal system and influences told me that education is a necessity for women. His appreciation, affirmation and Christian values molded me into the person I am today. I am sincerely grateful to Jonas Mutwaza and his wife Ramu Namuteto, and Joseph Nkinzingabo and his wife Jacqueline Nyirankundwa, for their inspiration, prayer and encouragement. Your support and counsel are always much appreciated. I would also like to thank the ministers in the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda. Notably: Rev. Therese Mukamakuza, Rev. Prince Karangwa, and Rev. Jerome Bizimana for your encouragement during this journey. My profound appreciation to Rev. Mayshara Rurenza and all church members of Kibungo parish, as well as Pastor Paul Nkurunziza and all church members of Rwamagana parish. I know that you prayed for me on many occasions, may God bless you. I also sincerely thank the staff at Stellenbosch University, as well as the staff at the writing lab service for introducing me to academic writing. Among the many people who contributed to the writing of this dissertation, a special thanks goes to Patrick Dunn.
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