A ministry purpose of the church is to let people know that Jesus can deliver them from pain and sorrow and cast out the devil’s strongholds in every way, wherever they are. Today, there are many reasons people may not be encouraged in churches planting. Critics of church planting have voiced various objections. Some are opposed to any church planting and there are growing number who have been actively involved in church planting ventures, where they encountered unexpected problems, who are now more cautious (Murray 2001).
The World know church planting in Rwanda since 2018 became an issue. Over 6,000 churches countrywide and 714 in Kigali City were closed due to public policy requirements. The Authorities said: “Worshiping should be done in an organized way and meet minimum standards. Exercising your freedom of worship should not encroach on other people’s rights. They have been asked to halt operations until they meet the requirements. Justus Kangwagye is quoted to have said”. (Africa news 2018). In July 2024, in less than a week 5,600 churches are closed (Igihe.com newsletter, 2024).Today, the religious right continues to mature as a movement and grow in its influence. Public policy makers think that the church’s voice on public policy can be silenced, and the church must be separated from public policy. We do realize that in Rwanda, no liberal Christians who can speak publicly about the policies elaborated to govern the church. As a church planter and theologian, I acknowledge that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the people. I also acknowledge the existence of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) to regulate FBOs institutions. In this case I appreciate RGB to close churches who do not fulfill the requirements. People should glorify God in a safe place. You cannot put your life into risk in the name of worshiping God. However, we should also acknowledge that worshipping or exercising ministry calling is not at all about having money. Government policy makers tend to think that people need first to have money to go through the calling. My tweets will be giving some gaps in in some requirements which are complicated in Rwandans FBOs Law.
Rwanda is organized Country with most of the population who are Christians. One of the ministry problems in rwandan policies is about complicated requirements for church planting. Since 2018, the Government increased the effort to restrict church planting movement which made many churches operate in a non-formal status. The exiting church leaders support the restrictions on new churches planted advancing that the Country have enough churches geographically. The Church Leaders of existing churches support these restrictions as some of them turned the church great commission to businesses where you will find a church leader renting the church building to another church or selling the church legal personalities under the form of what is normally called covers.
The law Official Gazette no.37 bis of 10/09/2018 is against the Rwandan Constitution of 2003 amended in 2015 which stipulate that every Rwandan has freedom of religion meaning church belonging selection. It seems that the new law governing churches insinuate that anyone who needs to plant a church or to lead church or to do ministry should dispose money.
I may offer some critiques on some of the requirements among the 14 items RGB under the leadrship of Dr Usta Kaitesi instaured:
Critique #1: Requesting letter issued by District authorities agreeing to collaborate with the organization
In this law, Rwanda Government Board (RGB) requires the people who need to plant a new church to request the collaboration letter to the district. This means that the district must accept to collaborate with non-existing institution. This a different procedure comparing to what Rwanda Development Board (RDB), requires when you want to register a business in Rwanda. This is the implication of capitalism mind of policy makers who think that the country needs money to save its people while also spiritual satisfaction is also needed (Cfr John Sobrino, No salvation without the poor). The RDB never limits a businesses to start operate while RGB limits church growth.
Advocacy #1: District collaboration Letter should be removed in requirements
RGB should facilitate those who need to plant the church to get provisional certificates, they start operations and after if the Churches or Ministries are not complying with the laws they close them. The procedure applied to Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs) should also apply to Faith Based Organizations (FBOs).
Critique 2: RGB requires that a church request a letter to District certifying that the church construction meets standards of that area:
In Rwandan laws governing properties, a land title must be transferred to recognized individual or organization. RGB state that to register a church, you must have a building constructed in two (2) hactares. First of all all, You cannot own property when the institution does not exist. The land title when you buy the land must be registered under an individual or a recognized institution. The reality is that the Government put in place this requirement to prohibit registration of new churches and to find ways of closing existing ones. Regarding, the option of renting it is also complicated because no one can invest in a church building. Many people in Rwanda build Conference Halls for businesses not for worshipping only.
Advocacy #2: Requesting a church building to a non existing church should be removed in RGB requirements.
RGB should be reminded that the new churches do not have rights to open bank accounts, they do not have a legal statutes. How they can possess land and building?
How RGB obligate someone to rent a Conference Hall in application process and they do prohibit them to use it? There is something missing in this regulation. What is someone rent a Hall and at the end they do not obtain the Church legal personality? Who refund them that money? There is a gap in these requirements, and that is capitalism which make people waste their resources.
Critique #3: The legal representative and of his/her deputy should possess a bachelor’s degree in religious studies or bachelor’s degree in any field with a valid certificate in religious studies issued by a recognized institution
Advocacy #3: Removal of the theology certificate from accredited institution
I do agree that a pastor should be someone who studied theology because he will be dealing with citizens souls. However, this should be done gradually since, the accredited institutions are few and since many called pastors cannot afford to pay tuition fees. HEC, MINEDUC, REB, MINALOC have first to avail theology section in all levels of education. May be in secondary schools. Before that process, RGB should accept theological certificate from a recognized institution even if it is not accredited. These requirements limited the church growth in Rwanda, and it is part of oppressing the poor.
Advocacy #3: Revise the requirements about the theology certificate from accredited institution since those institutions are few in Rwanda. Rwanda has only four accredited theological institutions (African College of Theology, East African College of Theology (EACT), Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS), and Kibogora Polytechnic. I do agree that a pastor should be someone who studied theology because he will be dealing with citizens souls. However, this should be done gradually since, the accredited institutions are few and since many called pastors cannot afford to pay tuition fees. HEC, MINEDUC, REB, MINALOC have first to avail theology section in all levels of education. May be in secondary schools. Before that process, RGB should accept theological certificate from a recognized institution even if it is not accredited. HEC also complicated equivalence process which will limit pastors to get recognized. These requirements limit the church growth in Rwanda. Policy makers should not act as capitalist workers. They need also to consider freedom of worship of citizens. Once, Theology schools will be availed enormously, then the RGB can start closing churches.
To conclude, Rwanda is a country that have good governance in many other areas, and it will not leave this component out.
Imana iguhe umugisha, abo bireba bagerageze ku kumva .