A Critique of Bishop Yustus Ruhindi's Eucharistic Theology in Light of the Anglican Communion's Eucharistic Theology

Abstract

A critique of Ruhindi's Eucharistic theology which admits Christians to the Holy Table without concern for their outward conformance to Christian norms has brought conflict within the Province of the Church of Uganda that teaches the theology of Eucharistic Exclusivism. The purpose of the study was to analyze Ruhindi's Eucharistic theology and suggest ways in which the Eucharistic theology in the Church of Uganda can be improved so as to be accepted by all dioceses. It is paramount to preserve and keep the Holy Sacrament sacred but it is also equally important to understand the context as Africans, Church of the Province of Uganda and even to the level of a Diocese. From the reviewed literature, it was evident that the church leaders should be charged to serve under obligation to fulfill the command of Jesus, "who hates sin but loves sinners," to hold up the weak, heal the sick, to bind up the broken, to bring again the outcasts and to seek the lost. There is much need for every church to be engaged in continuous self-examination, scrutinize its traditions in the light of the Holy Scriptures and see where it is necessary to make changes, to restate and re-interpret its doctrine and to bring back the mind of Christ into the church. This is exactly what is needed in dealing with the pastoral problems in the Church of Uganda today. The study revealed that the church of Uganda should facilitate and support the Commission for Liturgy and more particularly on Sacraments and make it more active, put more attention in strengthening unity in diversity, have model and well informed church leadership who must be under the full submission of God. Christians need to understand that to take the Holy Eucharist unworthily means being selfish, disregarding the needs of others in the church, satisfying own cravings, and not having a sense of community or mutual fellowship. Members need to be taught how to examine themselves prior to Eucharist. This, therefore, calls upon Christians the need to confess sins to God and to take an inventory of their spiritual lives.