General Convention Passes Legislation Calling for Peace in Southern Sudan

The General Convention of the Episcopal Church, at its triennial meeting in Anaheim, California in July 2009 passed the following resolution calling for Peace in Southern Sudan:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention commends to Episcopalians the following recommendations of a joint delegation of bishops of The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that traveled to the Sudan in April 2008; and urges continued advocacy and prayer from all Episcopalians for peace with justice in the Sudan, specifically:

(1) Renewed international commitment to the successful political implementation of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement;

(2) Increased and better-coordinated economic-development and investment efforts, both public and private, in Southern Sudan;

(3) Internationally coordinated efforts to care for and resettle the several million refugees and persons who have been displaced internally as a consequence of the Sudan's long-running conflicts

(4) Condemnation of all violence perpetrated against refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), specifically including the rape of women and girls in Darfur and elsewhere;and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church acknowledge the pleas of the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan that urgent action be taken by all concerned parties to ensure the faithful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to prevent the deteriorating situation in Sudan from escalating into full scale war, and be it further;

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention urge the United States Government to urgently request that nations who serve as guarantors of the CPA establish measures to hold parties to the CPA accountable for its fair and transparent implementation, including the fair resolution of border disputes, the equitable sharing of resources, and the carrying out of safe and fair elections, and to assure that non-compliance have consequences, and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention urge the United States and its international partners request that the United Nations Mission in Sudan continue peacekeeping duties that include monitoring the peace process and intervening in conflicts to prevent loss of life, violence, and widespread displacement.

Why Darfur?

HISTORY
A long and complicated history has characterized the region, often tinged with overtones of ethnic cleansing. Specifically, Darfur has faced decades of graphic violence over land and grazing rights between mostly nomadic Arabs and native Darfuri farmers. The Darfuri farmers have always been subject to attacks by nomadic Arabs.

The current conflict resurged in 2003 when rebel groups (e.g., The Darfur Liberation Front), angered over the lack of response from the Sudanese government, attacked government targets. A brutal pattern of violence, repression and gross human rights abuses by the Sudanese government and its allied militia, the Jangawid, has been inflicted on the people of Darfur.

IMPACT
• 300,000 men, women, and children have died
• 2.6 million have been displaced from their homes and live in camps for refugees or Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) or wherever they can
• An unknown number of women and girls have been abducted, raped, and abused
• A generation of children has reached school-age not knowing a home or having been educated
• A growing number of child-soldiers are participating in the abuse

Why this committee, why this task?

Paul Ambos, Esq., Chair of the Committee on Resolutions, presented the Resolutions Committee Report, Document 28 and moved Resolution 2008-1 on the subject of Darfur for the Committee on behalf of its proposer, Mr. Glendon Bell of St. Thomas Church, Glassboro:

Be It Resolved, That The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey join with the government of the United States, the United Nations, and a host of other countries, organizations, and individuals from around the world to call and work for an end to the genocide in Darfur; and be it

Further Resolved, That the Diocese immediately establish a committee, the members to be appointed by the Bishop, to study the situation in Darfur and provide information to member parishes and others about the crimes against humanity taking place there along with recommendations of actions that can be taken by parishes and individuals to bring these violations and actions to an end at the earliest possible opportunity and to provide support to Darfur refugees; and be it

Further Resolved, That this committee recommend such steps as are necessary to encourage and seek the support of the national church, this diocese, other dioceses, other denominations, and individuals in this endeavor.

He noted that the Committee had made no recommendation as to this proposal. The Rev. Dr. Deborah Meister proposed an amendment to the end of the second paragraph to insert "and other displaced persons" after "to Darfur refugees". The amendment was seconded. Dr. Meister explained that one of her parishioners, currently serving in a U.N. position in The Sudan, had noted that the number of "displaced persons" exceeded the number of "refugees" there. The amendment was passed.

Dr. Meister proposed a further amendment to the first paragraph to replace the word "genocide" with "violence". It was seconded. The amendment was passed.

The resolution as so amended was then passed.

Bishop Councell then appointed the committee with the Rev. Hugh Brown III as chair. The committee has been meeting monthly since.