Greeting, Friends!!
The Episcopal Church of South Sudan came about with the Church Missionary Society working to spread Christianity in the area in 1899. The Diocese of Sudan was part of the Jerusalem archbishopric. It is currently under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The new Province was established in 1976. It is a province of the Anglican Communion located in South Sudan. The province is large, containing eight internal provinces and 61 dioceses.
It is now known as The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan with approximately 3.5 million members. Since the first civil war started, in 1983, the area has been challenged with civil and religious unrest. That war ended after 21 years. South Sudan was in conflict with Sudan and got its independence in 2011 making it one of the world’s newest countries. Conflict continued after independence arresting economic growth. Unfortunately another civil war started in 2013 and ended at the beginning of this year. We pray for continuing peace. There has and still is a constant flow of refugees throughout the region. This has been a challenge to the church.
D024: Support for The Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan and Their Efforts to Foster Peace
Resolved, That the 79th General Convention gratefully acknowledge and commend the continued heroic efforts of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan to bring about a cessation of the civil war which erupted in December 2013 and which has killed tens of thousands, and displaced several million people; and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention commend the continued efforts of Episcopal Relief & Development and the many dioceses, parishes, and individuals who are working in partnership with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and its dioceses to provide RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO DIOCESES FROM THE 79TH GENERAL CONVENTION Page | 41 humanitarian relief, sustainable development, training of lay and clergy leaders in South Sudan, and Scriptural translation into tribal languages; and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention urge congregations and dioceses to seek new opportunities to support the work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, the Episcopal Church of Sudan, and their Primates to form partnerships that strengthen their efforts to bring a sustainable peace to their respective nations; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention urge all dioceses and congregations of The Episcopal Church observe with special prayers, awareness, and support of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the Episcopal Church of Sudan the Sunday closest to the Feast Day of the Martyrs of Sudan (May 16th); and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention urge that dioceses and congregations in The Episcopal Church make it a specific mission priority to reach out to people from the South Sudanese and Sudanese diaspora who have emigrated to the United States and elsewhere, inviting them into our congregational lives and exploring appropriate efforts to assist their efforts to foster peace in South Sudan and Sudan and among its disparate tribes; and be it further
Resolved, That General Convention authorize the Office of Governmental Relations to continue its advocacy with the United States Government for a cessation of the civil war in South Sudan and armed conflict by the Government of Sudan with marginalized communities in the Nuba Mountains and Darfur.
Let us continue to be aware, support and pray for the The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the people who live in the region.
From the Book of Common Prayer | Episcopal Church
Let us pray –
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Respectfully submitted,
Luke Thompson, Resolution Review Committee, Diocesan Council
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