GLI (Great Lakes Institute)
We recently participated part-time in a 5-day leadership institute in Kampala, Uganda, offering participants an opportunity to interact with and learn from Christian leaders from the “Great Lakes” region of East Africa. The Institute is organized by the Center for Reconciliation of Duke University and has been supported by World Vision, ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries), and MCC. About 120 Christian leaders (inter-confessional, Catholic and Protestant of many varieties) from Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda came together for a time of rest, community, and learning rooted in the biblical vision of reconciliation. This region of Africa has experienced (and is experiencing) some of the worst cases of civil unrest, war, genocide and poverty. The struggle continues for peace, healing, social transformation and reconciliation.
The Institute was held at Ggaba National Catholic Seminary with its restful green lawns, trees, and brick buildings southeast of Kampala city center. Mornings began with worship, followed by a plenary session, morning tea, and another plenary session. All sessions were held in English and French. Lunch was a slightly longer break during which time Sally Jo ran a book table for the participants. We left after this to return to the office to get some needed MCC work done. At the Seminary there were seminars for the participants and worship ended the day. There was a pilgrimage to Namugongo Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine one day. (We have now been there four times and hopefully that will be the subject of our next blog!)
