Theodore Mutabazi told the Isango star that RGB, as public institution, respects the internal code of conduct that different organizations, including the religious ones, have set up of them to function.
He said that during a radio show aired in the studios of Isango Star with the invited journalist Museminali Marcel.
The debate assessed the situation that led to the schism in the Pentecost church in the past days which led to quarrels between the detached section and the ADEPER.
Journalist Museminali said that the RG B might have been influenced by other institutions to allow the ousted Pentecost leaders to return in the high executive body of the Pentecost church.
For him, the RG B did not play its role of ensuring internal well functioning of the Pentecost church, as a public institution responsible of regulating the function of such bodies.
Mutabazi, who represented the RGB (Rwanda Governance Board), responded that the role of the RGB is not to dictate to either institution on how it has to manage its structures rather to provide advises to them every time necessary.
According to the law, every institution has its full rights to define its internal structures and legal procedures to take in case things go the other way wrong, he said.
He said that the RGB intervenes to regulate the situation when it is beyond the capacity of concerned members of the association or institution.
Museminali wondered why some of the former ADEPR religious officials who were ousted from the leading body returned back and were inserted into the newly set up leading body.
Theodore Mutabazi responded that it was a decision taken by the ADEPR officials as no other institution has the legal ability of intervening in matters that concern an officially recognized institution that has its internal status.
The ADEPR members were the only ones who selected their leaders, none else intervened, Mutabazi responded to Museminali.
Mutabazi appreciated the fact that more other branches of ADEPR were set up, calling it a testimony that the evangelical efforts of the ADEPR members bore fruits.
At the other hand, Museminali found the setting up of other ADEPR related branches was a fruit of misunderstanding rather than being a result of fruitful evangelization.
If some people claim that money from the Church’s treasury has been stolen or misused, this cannot be qualified as an evangelical move forward, it was a serious issue that concerned over a million of Rwandans, Museminali said.
One of the journalists who led the show asked why the EPMER( this is a branch that detached itself from the ADEPER) members who wanted to launch the branch were denied access to the hall in which the inauguration ceremony was scheduled to take place.
Mutabazi said that this was due to the fact the officials of Kimironko Sector where the hall is located found that the ceremony could cause trouble and disturb the security in the neighborhood.
In the debate, journalist Museminali said that journalists did their job in informing the audience about the schism in the ADEPR but some of the journalists were influenced by the public opinion about the internal division in ADEPR.
Listeners said that religious organizations in general are no longer completing the role of spreading the gospel message and are increasingly becoming financially and politically motivated.
Other listeners called upon the government to intervene in the management of the religious organizations as to regulate how they function before the situation deteriorates.
In his concluding remarks, Theos Mutabazi urged the religious organizations, in particular to respect their organizational status and strive to maintain order and coherence among adherents.
This weekly show takes place every Sunday and is aired at different radio stations including Isango, Ishingiro, Izuba, Inkoramutima, and Isangano. It aims at increasing and encouraging debating skills about key issues facing Rwanda and the international community at large.
It is supervised by Institut Panos- Europe and the Association Rwandaise des Journalistes (ARJ)
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