The Église Protestante Reformée du Burundi (EPRB) is a conservative Reformed denomination in Burundi. The Christian Reformed Church (CGK) of the Netherlands has a continuing relationship with the EPRB, holding yearly seminars in Burundi, if possible, and supporting students with bursaries.^[1] As of 2014, the church claims 1530 members across 10 parishes.^[2]

EPRB Kamenge parishioners founded and operate a Christian nursery school named Maranatha.^[1] The EPRB also maintains a Job Center in the city of Makamba.^[3]

History

The EPRB claims to have been legally established in January 2000 by M. Ferdinand Ntancuti.^[4] By 2003, it was a small group led by Rev. J. Bararu. In the summer of 2008, Rev. Bararu, who had previously been a member of CGK Culemborg, asked his Dutch contacts for assistance growing the church.^[5] In response, a group of Dutch theologians, pioneered by Rev. L. den Butter, traveled to Bujumbura (the largest city in and then-capital of Burundi) in Oct 2010, to educate pastors, elders and deacons.^[6]

In 2012, due to a schism Rev. Bararu departed and was succeeded by Rev. I. Nimpagaritse. By 2013, Bararu was accused of stealing missionary money from the CGK churches, and a suit was laid against him.^[7] Later in 2012, a Synod was formed to decide an issue of doctrine, administration, or application. In 2013, the foundation stones of a new church building were laid in Kamenge, a Bujumbura suburb.^[8]

An October 2016 issue regarding the issuance of visas for a trip to the Netherlands shook the church, causing a lot of bad blood.^[9] This caused the cancellation of the yearly CGK visit in 2017.^[10] Later that year, a special synod was held to resolve issues within the church and Rev. Nimparagiste became chairman of the Synod.^[11][12]

References

External links

• website