General Background

Rev. Dr. Célestin Nsengimana is the holder of PhD of Theology in Liturgical Studies (Protestant Theological University, Amsterdam), Master's degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation (University of Rwanda) & Bachelor's degree in Protestant Theology (Faculté de Théologie Protestante de Butare). His areas of interest include Liturgical Studies, Church Governance, memories studies, ritual studies, Genocide Studies, cultural studies, transitional justice, conflict analysis, reconciliation, conflict prevention, sources and dynamics of conflicts in Africa, post-war reconstruction, peace movements, Human Rights, Christian approaches to peacebuilding, conflict sensitive development & project management. Nsengimana is currently working as Dean of the PIASS’s Faculty of Development Studies, and Lecturer of Practical Theology and Christian Approaches to Peace building. Prior to these positions, Nsengimana worked as Parish Minister (1999-2005), President of Rubengera Region (2007-2010), Butare Region (2010-2013), and Gitarama Presbytery (2013-2018) within the Presbyterian church in Rwanda. He also served as Academic Secretary of the Faculty of Protestant Theology (2010- 2011 and 2013), Primary (1993-1995) and secondary school (1995-1997) teacher. From 2018 to 2022, Nsengimana worked on his research project as PhD candidate at the Protestant Theological University (PThU) based in Amsterdam and Groningen, The Netherlands. His doctoral dissertation entitled “Genocide commemoration and reconciliation in Rwanda form a liturgical ritual perspective” was published in the Netherlands Studies in Ritual and Liturgy 27 (ISSN 1571-8808).

Publications

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN : Genocide commemoration and reconciliation in Rwanda from a liturgical ritual perspective (Netherlands Studies in Ritual and Liturgy 27, Institute for Ritual and Liturgical Studies/ Centre for Religion and Heritage : Amsterdam/ Groningen 2023). https://www.pthu.nl/irilis/news-events/news/2023/03/new-publication-in-netherlands-studies-in-ritual-and-liturgy-on-genocide-commemoration-and-reconciliation-in-rwanda/

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN: “Genocide commemoration in Rwanda: Remembrance of the dead and accomplishment of missed funeral rituals”, in PAUL POST, MARCEL BARNARD, MARTIN HOONDERT & MIRRELA KLOMP (Eds): Handbook of disaster ritual: Multidisciplinary perspectives, cases and themes (Liturgia condenda 32, Peeters Publishers: Leuven /Paris / Bristol, CT. 2021) 347-360.https://www.peeters-leuven.be/pdf/9789042946491.pdf

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN & DENYSE MUKANTWARI: “Critical thinking and peace education in post-genocide Rwanda: A comparative study on selected schools of Huye district in the Southern province of Rwanda”, in PIASS: Education quality in Rwanda: Challenges and opportunities (PIASS publication series 14, Butare-Huye: Rwanda, October 2021) 129-165. https://piass.ac.rw/files/SW%202019-%2016092021%20-Peer-Reviewed%20(Final).pdf

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN: Peacebuilding initiatives of the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda: An impact assessment (Globethic.net: Geneva 2015). https://www.amazon.com/Peacebuilding-Initiatives-Presbyterian-Post-Genocide-Rwandan/dp/2889310442

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN & KANDEMA JULIE: “Current debate and future perspectives on the remarriage of divorcees within Protestant Churches in today's Rwandan context”, in PIASS: Violence and conflict management in families and communities (PIASS publication series 6, Butare-Huye: Rwanda 2013) 9-31.

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN: “L’E.P.R. et l’Islam”, in ELISÉE MUSEMAKWELI, LYDIA BLOMMAERT & WILLY WILLEMS (Eds.): Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda : Sa mission et son témoignage 1907-2007 (PRODOC : Bruxelles 2007) 60-71.

NSENGIMANA CÉLESTIN : “Panorama historique des régions, de paroisses et des zones d’évangélisation de l’Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda”, in MUSEMAKWELI , BLOMAERT & WILLEMS : Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda 74-150.

PROJECTS

• 1. 2022: Building social capital in higher leaning institutions: Exploration of cultural similarities and differences (Ongoing research project)
• 2. 2021-2022: Grassroots experience of memory, healing and reconciliation (Ongoing research project)
• 3. 2015-2016: Joint research PIASS-RGB on “Church Governance in Rwanda” (coordinated by Gatwa Th.).
• 4. 2015: Peace and conflict sensitivity assessment of Ngoma Community Development Project (Kamonyi District). Consultancy report submitted to Good Neighbors/ Rwanda on 16 June 2015 (32 pages).
• 5. 2009: Translation and adaptation of a Sunday school book from French to Kinyarwanda (see Jaap van der Neut : Nyereka inzira: Amategeko yadufasha ate kubaho mu mudendezo? eSeLeR (Support a la promotion de la literature au Rwanda), Soest, Pays-Bas (152 pages)

CONFERENCES: PRESENTATION & FACILITATION

• 1. Restorative Justice And Reconciliation In Post-Genocide Rwanda: Analysis of the Contribution of Participative Justice "Gacaca“ in Restoration and Consolidation of Interpersonal Relationships ( PIASS Winter School, January 25, 2016 )
• 2. I am because you are: cultural perspective of peacemaking in post-genocide Rwanda (at Pittsburg Theological Seminary, September 2019).
• 3. Church growth in Rwanda: Ideas and methods used by the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda
• 4. Genocide commemoration and restoration of relationships in Rwanda (PIASS research seminar 26 June 2019)

Research Interests

1. 1. Christian approaches to peacebuilding
2. 2. African theology of reconciliation
3. 3. Church governance
4. 4. Cultural anthropology
5. 5. Worship studies
6. 6. Disaster rituals
7. 7. Conflict analysis
8. 8. Conflict sensitive development