The Episcopal Church of the Province of Rwanda faces enormous challenges as it rebuilds from the the genocide of 1994. The genocide, displacement of persons and the apparent collapse of leadership within church structure were addressed during the provincial synod July 6-7 at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Kigali.

The Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, was an adviser and consultant to the synod at the request of local bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The synod voted to present an ultimatum to the bishops living outside the country for them to return. Letters are to be hand-delivered to those bishops, representing four dioceses, within a few weeks. The bishops have three months to respond. A provincial council will judge the responses of the bishops in exile when they are gathered.

Canon Peterson said theological education and training is an important issue for the church in Rwanda.

"The three theological training centers in Rwanda have been closed since the genocide and there is a crying need for educated clergy," he said.

The questions of how to give pastoral care to the Rwandan refugees still in camps in Tanzania, Zaire, Burundi and Uganda, how to help thousands of widows and orphans and how to provide spiritual and material repair to churches were discussed. "Throughout the synod there was great sense that this church was integral to the Anglican Communion," Canon Peterson said.

Anglican Communion News Service contributed to this article.