The Lutheran World Federation congratulates Rev. Prince Atupenda Kalisa, who was recently elected bishop of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda, assuring him and the church of the global communion’s prayers and support.
The LWF “will always stand alongside its member churches and peoples, accompanying them and strengthening their capacities so that they may share hope and impact the world,” General Secretary Anne Burghardt wrote to Kalisa.
Burghardt underlined the Rwandese Lutheran church’s contribution to promoting LWF’s values including gender justice, creating opportunities for both women and men, and empowering young people to take responsibility in the church.
Kalisa and the new LCR General Secretary Rev. Jackson Musafiri were elected at the church’s General Assembly on 7 February. The new bishop will be consecrated in August.
Ordained in 2009, Kalisa has served as LCR General Secretary since 2024, and as the church’s interim leader since Bishop Evalister Mugabo retired over a year ago. He studied theology at the Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany, and is currently pursuing his doctorate studies in Systematic Theology with the Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary, Florida, United States.
