We are delighted to have Bishop Pontein with us as a Visiting Fellow from 15 April to 5 June.The Right Revd Pontien Ribakare is currently Bishop of the Diocese of Rutana in Burundi, Central-East Africa. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Bujumbura Christian University (BCU’s governing body) as well as Chairman of the General Assembly of the Burundi Mission Alliance. He is also a member of the Anglican Consultative Council, within the Anglican Communion.
Prior to this, Bishop Pontien had accumulated experience in mission and ministry while serving in a diversity of contexts including 8 years as Archdeacon of Rutana. It was during this period that the Diocese of Rutana was created and established as a new Diocese within the Anglican province of Burundi, in 2017. Bishop Pontien’s work and ministry were at the centre of this development. Of particular importance was his work in the training and equipping of local leadership and holistic development of the region.
He had also previously served as vicar of Kiryama and as Chaplain of the Matana Theological Institute as well as the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Department Coordinator within Matana Diocese.
Bishop Pontien is also currently responsible for Education in general, within the Anglican Province of Burundi. Education is an area close to Bishop Pontien’s heart. He is keen to promote the education of local communities and church leaders as well as his own.
He has a Master’s Degree (2018) in Organisational Leadership and Governance from the Bujumbura International Leadership University, Burundi and a Bachelor’s Degree in Divinity, from the Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda.
He regularly participates in short courses and special training programmes and symposia including:
Transformational Leadership (2019, Rwanda) – Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA)
Financial Sustainability (2019, Nairobi, Kenya)
Governance and Human Resources (2018, Zambia) - Trinity Wall Street
The Role of a Bishop (2018, Canterbury, UK)
Christian Leadership and Sustainable Development (2011, South Africa) – ACAT Center
Church and Community Mobilisation Process (2008 – 2009, Rwanda) - Tearfund
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