In his opening speech, Burundi Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi reminded participants that they had come together "as one, united Church with the mission to be peace-makers so that God is honored in the Church and the country experiences healing and reconciliation."

A series of Bible studies were given by the Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi, deputy vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University. Senyonyi spoke of God's love, demonstrated at the Cross, as the foundation of peace and justice, Christian unity, truth, and forgiveness. He challenged participants to let the Gospel transform them so that individually and corporately they could be peace-makers and ambassadors of reconciliation.

Consideration was given to traditional cultural and key Christian values, good governance, truth and justice for reconciliation, and the role of civil society in the consolidation of peace.

Throughout the three-day gathering, it was noted that many leaders, including pastors, died in the conflicts of previous years. "Both the Church and the country have been wounded. Traumatized lives need to experience healing and to find peace. Families and communities need to be reconciled. A whole generation of children and young people that has known only war needs to be shown love and taught Christian values," a provincial news release noted.

"The Church has an important role to play in addressing the wrongs of the past, encouraging sustainable peace and good governance, bringing God's healing love to wounded lives, upholding trust and justice, and helping people to be reconciled."