Sorry
friends for the long gap in writing. It is not because of lack of things to
share but because of lack of time to do so. The last weeks have filled with
teaching, grading, visitors, seminars, conferences and worship services. I will
do my best to capture some of this for you in future writing. Today I want to
focus on a first for PIASS – the installation of a chancellor.
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| New Chancellor in his chair |
On
March 7, 2014 Rev Dr André Karamaga was installed as PIASS’ first chancellor. This was in
order to comply with the Rwandan government Law N° 27/2013 of 24/05/2013 that
required all institutions of higher learning to have chancellors and vice
chancellors. This was part of an educational reorganizational structure by the
government. So our rector became the vice chancellor and the Protestant
Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) installed its first chancellor.
The role is largely ceremonial, presiding at graduation ceremonies and the like.
The installation sent the tone for just such occasions, with all the pomp and
ceremony one could wish for.
The
new chancellor is well-known in Africa. Presently, Rev Dr Karamaga is the
General Secretary of All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). From 2002 to
2008, he worked as Executive Secretary (African Desk) in the World Council of
Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. He served as the president of the Presbyterian
Church in Rwanda from 1995 to 2001. He brings ceremony and experience to his position.
The
festivities began early in the morning with a first-ever alumni meeting. Alumni
of theology go back to the 1970s. The small chapel was overflowing as pastors
kept coming. They represented all the protestant denominations in Rwanda and
included bishops and denominational presidents as well as “regular” pastors.
The present faculty was invited to make an appearance and be introduced but it
was evident that there really wasn’t room for “visitors,” so after the
introductions, those of us who were not alums we were given the opportunity to
escape and we did. But we re-appeared for the luncheon before the installation
service.
To begin the
installation service, the faculty dressed in full academic regalia and
processed in to the main lecture hall, followed by invitees, among them government
officials, alumni and the PIASS community. After welcome speeches, we moved to the
main event. The new chancellor was introduced and sworn in and then given his
chair, an imposing seat that was especially carved for the event. This was
followed by more speeches, first from the new chancellor and then the guest of honor, Rev
Dr Samuel Kobia, the former General Secretary of the World Council of Churches,
and today, the Ecumenical Envoy to South Sudan, who spoke on “Eradicating
Poverty.” The festivities ended with photos and a reception on the lawn. It was
a gala event and promises to pave the way for more ceremonial celebrations.
