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.