Focus on Sudan

Spirit-filled Evensong a Success

2011-11-03T16:47:00.003-04:00

A thank-you to the 100 attendees who braved the uninviting weather and joined us for this spirit-filled afternoon. About $2000 was raised for our Scholarship fund, and through God's grace, we accomplished our goal for the event, providing rich funding for our scholarship fund and providing a voice of the Diocese and wider church for Sudan! We were overjoyed by the generosity of the attendees.

The service was VERY successful and inspiring ...with marvelous and uplifting music (thanks to Deborah Ford), great preaching (thanks to Canon Sabune), great support from Bishop Councell, the Diocese, volunteer choristers, Dean John and the people of Trinity Cathedral and Clara Gregory from the Cathedral who coordinated the reception the awesome team-work from the Sudan Committee, and all of the people of the Diocese!

October 30th, African Evensong

2011-08-31T13:29:00.003-04:00

Leaders: The Right Reverend George E. Councell, Eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, The Very Rev. Rene Rory John. Preacher: The Reverend Canon Petero A.N. Sabune,The Episcopal Church, Global Partnership Officer, Africa & The Middle East

Please join the people of the Diocese of New Jersey and the Sudan/Darfur Committee of our Diocese for an African Evensong featuring traditional African worship, music, dance, drums and other instruments, attire — and the fervent joy and praise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The service will be followed by a reception featuring African dishes and a visual presentation on theological education in Africa. In addition to offering a powerful witness for the people of Sudan and Darfur in this continued time of crisis and war, we will be requesting a free will offering for the new Scholarship Fund of the Sudan/Darfur Committee, to provide theological education/seminary education for a leader for the Anglican Church of Sudan, and the power and presence of the Christian church in the work of justice, peace and reconciliation. Don't miss this remarkable and inspiring evening of worship, education and fellowship as we provide a powerful voice of advocacy for the people of Sudan and Darfur! Sponsored by the Sudan/Darfur Committee.

When: Sunday, October 30th at 3 pm. Reception follows.

Where Trinity Cathedral
801 West State Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08618

609 392-3805
Contact: The Reverend Dr. Hugh Brown, 609 921-2420 or at Rector@allsaint.org

Petero A. N. Sabune is the Global Partnership Officer for Africa and the Middle East for The Episcopal Church responsible for serving as a liaison between the church and its partners in Africa and the Middle East. Before joining the Episcopal Church Center, he was the pastor and protestant chaplain at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. Born in Uganda and the son of a priest, he came to the United States through the American Field Service (AFS) exchange program in 1969. He returned to Uganda 1970 and, fleeing the ruthless dictator Idi Amin. He earned a BA from Vassar and graduated from Union Theological Seminary with an M.Div. Ordained in 1981, Sabune has served churches in the Dioceses of New York and Newark.

He has visited 28 African countries and 10 of the 12 Anglican Provinces on the African continent. Internationally, he is a trustee of the Episcopal Seminary in Haiti, a founding board member of the Business and Technology Institute of Haiti, and was chair of the Forgiveness and Reconciliation Project. He has been a board member of Forward Movement Publications. Among his awards and honors, he received the Minorities in Criminal Justice Leadership Award, the NAACP Community Service Award, and the Caribbean American Families Incorporated Community Service Award.

George Edward Councell graduated from the University of California, Riverside and from the Episcopal Divinity School. For two years he served as Vicar of Grace, Colton and St. Luke’s, Fontana, California. In 1977, he became the first rector at St. George’s, Riverside, California.

In 1986 he was called to the Diocese of Western Massachusetts to serve as Canon to the Ordinary and then in 1995, to be the ninth Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, Illinois. In 2003, he was elected the Eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. He is a trustee of the General Theological Seminary in New York and in 2010 was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from the seminary.

Africa’s newest nation emerges as South Sudan overcomes

2011-07-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

Special to USAfricaonline.com

July 8, 2011, Juba: South Sudan became the world’s newest country early Saturday, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that cost the lives of at least two million people.

Residents of the new Republic of South Sudan danced in the streets, banged on jerry cans and chanted the name of the world’s newest president, Salva Kiir.

South Sudan earned independence at 12:01 a.m. Saturday (5:01 p.m. EDT Friday), the culmination of a January independence vote guaranteed in a 2005 peace deal that ended the most recent north-south war.

The 193rd country recognized by the United Nations and the 54th UN member state in Africa, South Sudan is one of the poorest and least-developed places on earth. Unresolved problems between the south and its former foe to the north could mean new conflict along the new international border, advocates and diplomats warn.

The young government faces the huge challenge of reforming its bloated and often predatory army, diversifying its oil-based economy, and deciding how political power will be distributed among the dozens of ethnic and military factions. It must also begin delivering basic needs such as education, health services, water and electricity to its more than 8 million citizens.

A draft constitution passed this week lays the groundwork for President Kiir and the legislature, who were elected last year, to serve out their five-year terms. The legislature’s few opposition lawmakers are unhappy with the draft, but it now serves as an interim constitution until multiparty elections are held.

Guests for the country’s inauguration include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice and General Carter Ham, commander of the U.S. Africa Command. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, a deeply unpopular man in Juba, also is expected.

A $1 billion yearly UN peacekeeping mission with a 10,000-member peacekeeping force has monitored implementation of the 2005 peace deal. The mission has drawn criticism for its failure to protect Sudanese civilians caught in violence along the north-south border and in the south, where conflict has killed nearly 2,400 people this year alone.

The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a new peacekeeping force for South Sudan, authorizing the deployment of up to 7,000 military personnel and 900 international police, plus an unspecified number of U.N. civilian staff including human rights experts. ref: AP

A Call To Prayer and Fasting to End the Nuba Genocide, and for the Peace of all Sudan

2011-06-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

From: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/6/21/ACNS4883

To all my brothers and sisters in Christ,

On behalf of my people in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan we are asking all Sudanese Christians wherever they are, and the Church throughout the world to join with us in a day of prayer and fasting on June 26, 2011.

Once again we are facing the nightmare of genocide of our people in a final attempt to erase our culture and society from the face of the earth. It is not a war between armies that is being fought in our land, but the utter destruction of our way of life and our history, as demonstrated by the genocide of our neighbors and relatives
in Darfur. This is a war of domination and eradication, at it?s core it is a war of terror by the government of Sudan against their people.

As we approach the July 9 day of independence for the New South Sudan, President Bashir has declared for all the world to hear that Sharia will be the law of the land for the North, refusing to recognize the legitimate presence of the Christian minority. It is a declaration of their determination to also end the remembrance of our Christian heritage that dates back two thousand years to the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (who was from modern day Sudan).

At this moment, there is a meeting in Ethiopia with the different parties of Sudan, the African Union and other international parties seeking to find a true path of peace that recognizes our right to survive and thrive as a people, both Muslim and Christian alike, with equality and justice for all. Please pray and fast with us as you are able for a solution to this crisis.

Please forward to everyone.

Rt. Revd Andudu Adam Elnail
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan

Archbishop of Canterbury's statement on South Kordofan, Sudan

2011-06-15T12:06:00.000-04:00

Posted On : June 14, 2011 11:56 AM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: ACNS4878
Related Categories: Lambeth Sudan

From Lambeth Palace

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has released the following statement regarding recent violence in South Kordofan, Sudan:

"Along with the Christian leaders represented in the Sudan Ecumenical Forum and Council of Churches and many more throughout the world, we deplore the mounting level of aggression and bloodshed in South Kordofan State and the indiscriminate violence on the part of government troops against civilians. Numerous villages have been bombed. More than 53,000 people have been driven from their homes. The new Anglican cathedral in Kadugli has been burned down. UN personnel in the capital, Kadugli, are confined to their compound and are unable to protect civilians; the city has been overrun by the army, and heavy force is being used by government troops to subdue militias in the area, with dire results for local people. Many brutal killings are being reported.

This violence is a major threat to the stability of Sudan just as the new state of South Sudan is coming into being. The humanitarian challenge is already great, and the risk of another Darfur situation, with civilian populations at the mercy of government-supported terror, is a real one.

International awareness of this situation is essential. The UN Security Council, the EU, the Arab League and the African Union need to co-operate in guaranteeing humanitarian access and safety for citizens, and we hope that our own government, which has declared its commitment to a peaceful future for Sudan, will play an important part in this."

ENDS

Church leader and Anglican Alliance call for immediate support for civilians in Sudan

2011-05-25T10:57:00.001-04:00

From:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/5/25/ACNS4870

Posted On : May 25, 2011 12:45 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: ACNS4870
Related Categories: ACO - Anglican Alliance Sudan

By Laura Payne, Anglican Alliance

The Anglican Alliance has received reports of civilians fleeing from the contested Abyei area in Sudan after Northern troops swept through the town over the weekend. Civilians, many of whom fled on foot, headed further south, towards towns which are also being deserted amidst fears of an imminent attack.

A local church leader sent the following report from the region:

“Sudanese forces attacked Abyei town on Saturday at around 8pm. The whole town was completely set on fire and approximately 20,000 people fled towards the bush and towns in Warrap State. The situation on the ground is worsening. Displaced people and children are seriously affected living under trees in Agok. Civilians are down on streets and in bushes, no food, no shelter, no water and no medical assistance.

A local school has accommodated 2,800 displaced people despite the fact that there is very limited space for such a huge number of people. There is no other option, the deteriorating conditions force us to accept them in. The majority are still under trees with children, sick people and elderly people. People with communicable diseases are forced to sleep together with healthy people.

We are now calling for urgent support for civilians, who are lying on the ground without medical attention, shelter, food and water. We are left no choice but to raise the voice of the voiceless for relief assistance”.

The humanitarian situation, already critical, was compounded last night by heavy rainfall and the cancellation of a planned food distribution due to lack of security.

A fertile area claimed by both the North and the South, Abyei was due to vote on its future during a referendum on independence in the South earlier this year. The vote was postponed because of disagreements over eligibility and fears over increasing tension. Continuing ambiguity over the town’s final status has contributed to ongoing friction and conflict.

The Anglican Alliance, which brings together the Anglican family of churches and agencies for development, relief and advocacy, has received requests for advice on how Anglicans can respond to the humanitarian need. Sally Keeble, director, recommends Anglicans contact the government departments in their country with responsibility for foreign affairs and international aid. Ask them, preferably by email, to press for an end to the violence and to support appeals for emergency relief for the victims of this conflict. Then contact your own elected representative where you live and ask them to raise the issue publically and with government.

Anglicans who would like to donate money to the relief efforts in this emergency are encouraged to do so through the Anglican aid agency where they live.

Anglican are also asked to provide prayers of support and sympathy to those who need assistance.

Over the coming days, the Alliance will liaise with partner agencies over the crisis.

Laura Payne
Anglican Alliance
Office: +44 020 73133928
Email: laura.payne@aco.org

Renewed Unrest in Abyei Threatens Sudanese Peace

2011-05-23T15:47:00.000-04:00

From: http://www.er-d.org/SudanUnrestMay2011

Unrest in the town of Abyei, situated on the border between Sudan and the soon-to-be independent state of Southern Sudan, is raising concerns locally and internationally about a possible reprise of the civil war that ravaged the country for decades between 1955 and 2005.

Northern troops invaded Abyei on May 21, taking over the city and causing an estimated 20,000 Southern Sudanese residing there to flee. Burning and looting are reported to be ongoing, in spite of calls from the United Nations Mission in Sudan and members of the UN Security Council for Khartoum to rein in its troops and establish control over armed elements operating in the area. Southern Sudanese officials are calling the invasion and occupation of Abyei illegal, and protesters are rallying in the Southern capital of Juba.

Juba is also the seat of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS), headed by the Most Rev. Daniel Deng Bul. The ECS has been very active in responding to the needs of internally displaced people (IDPs) and returning refugees during all stages of the peace negotiations and the 2011 referendum on independence. Episcopal Relief & Development has reached out to Archbishop Deng Bul to offer assistance in this time of renewed turmoil.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 put an official end to the North-South conflict and mandated the referendum on the secession of Southern Sudan that was held in January 2011. Although the referendum passed by a wide margin – Southern Sudan’s independence will take effect on July 9, 2011 – conflict in Abyei prevented voting from taking place there, and the status of Abyei was left to be decided at a later date.

Episcopal Relief & Development stands with the ECS during this difficult time, and encourages prayers for those living in the midst of this unrest.

Sudan’s churches prepare for two states by affirming "unity in Jesus Christ"

2011-05-18T15:26:00.000-04:00

Sudan’s churches prepare for two states by affirming "unity in Jesus Christ"

Posted On : May 18, 2011 2:15 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: ACNS4862
Related Categories: Sudan

By ACNS staff

As Sudan waits for the birth of two nation states following its referendum, Sudan’s Christians have issued a strong statement of solidarity and unity.

Leaders of ten Christian traditions in the country have signed their name to the communiqué recently issued following the General Assembly of the Sudan Council of Churches.

In an effort to reinforce that the creating of two countries will not divide the Christian community there the communiqué issued by the SCC states:

“With the prospects of two nations emerging from the old Sudan, we affirm our unity as the Church of Jesus Christ, both in the North and in the South. Being one body of Christ, we are one people and we are indivisible. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Our divine mandate exceeds geographical and political boundaries.”

The statement also calls for freedom of worship, movement, expression and residence in the two states and requests that the government of South Sudan ensure the security and the protection of the civil population caught in the crossfire between the militias and the government forces.

The full communiqué is below:

THE COMMUNIQUE OF THE SUDAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
18TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MAY 9TH TO 11TH, 2011
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

COME, LET US REBUILD… AND WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE IN DISGRACE (NEHEMIAH 2:17B)

An Urgent Call to Rebuild

We, the delegates of the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) General Assembly together with our partners and other participants, met in Juba from 9th to 11th of May, 2011 to pray and to reflect on the prevailing situation in our country. In our reflection, we were encouraged that although the way ahead of us maybe hard and difficult, God will see us through. We were exhorted to trust God for the future and to fix our eyes on him. He has been faithful to us as a people and we deeply thank him for what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do in us and through us. We are grateful for the attendance and input of the Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs and on the interim constitution of South Sudan. We were also honoured by the presence of the Presidential Advisor for Religious Affairs. We give God all the praise, all the honour and all the worship!

As we reflect on the time to rebuild we note the following:

We look back with sincere gratitude to God for the overwhelming success of the South Sudan referendum in January this year and for the peaceful conduct of Popular Consultation in Blue Nile and gubernatorial elections in Southern Kordofan, whose results are yet to be announced. We call for peace in South Kordofan no matter what the results of the election will be.
We look forward with faith for the birth of two states on July 9th. Our prophetic statement in March 2010 that Sudan shall never be the same again after the referendum has been fulfilled. The referendum event has passed, but the process of nation building has yet to start. It is now time to rebuild, so that we no longer live in disgrace.
With the prospects of two nations emerging from the old Sudan, we affirm our unity as the Church of Jesus Christ, both in the North and in the South. Being one body of Christ, we are one people and we are indivisible. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Our divine mandate exceeds geographical and political boundaries.
We call for inclusive and open constitutional processes both in the North and in the South. While acknowledging the electoral mandates that the ruling parties in the North and in the South have, we still call for these inclusive and open constitutional processes because the interests of the nations are at stake and these interests are bigger than any one political body or group.
We call for freedom of movement, freedom of worship, freedom of expression, freedom of work and freedom of residence in the two states after July 9th. We also call upon the two states to respect, protect and guarantee minority rights including religious rights as enshrined in the interim constitutions and will be enshrined in the permanent constitutions.
We are concerned with the increasing waves of military activities, defections and counter-defections in the south as we approach the declaration of independence. It is our belief that the presidential amnesty offered to all armed groups in October 2010 is still holding and all those concerned should accordingly take advantage of this. Consequently, we call upon all armed groups to lay down their arms and come to the negotiating table. The way of peace is always the best.
We call upon the government of South Sudan to ensure the security and the protection of the civil population caught in the crossfire between the militias and the government forces. We expect the government forces, now transiting from Guerilla army to modern and conventional army, not to engage in criminal activities such as looting, rape and extra-judicial killing and killing of the innocent civilians in the process of dealing with armed groups’ leaders and their forces. The end never justifies the means.
We call for peaceful settlement of the Abyei question within the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The people of Abyei must be given the freedom and the opportunity to decide their destiny. In this process, we urge the UN, the USA, the EU, the AU and the IGAD to arbitrate between the NCP and SPLM on the Abyei question. As the political tension continues to rise in Abyei, we urge the partners to the CPA to avoid warlike inflammatory language and instead resolve the question timely and peacefully. We see no need to incite violence in Abyei. We know that violence in all its forms always breeds violence, and violence will never be the way to settle grievances.
We call for the peaceful resolution of the Darfur problem.
We call upon the International Community, the Government of Sudan, the Government of South Sudan and all people of good will to assist in settling the Internally Displaced Persons/returnees. The suffering of these children of God as they try to find shelter, food and basic daily needs is our concern and should be for all people of conscience.

Conclusion

We recommit ourselves to the ministry of justice, peace and reconciliation in our country. In this regard, we resolve to roll out once again the people to people peace process in our communities to the effect that peace will prevail truly at all levels. As we engage in this noble task, we call upon our political leaders in the North and in the South to refrain from making provocative statements and instead preach peace, harmony and good neighbourliness among all our people. We all need peace even if we become two states.

We believe in the destiny of our people and we encourage all our people to live in peace as they endeavour to reach it. We have no doubt God will bless us. He began a good work in our country and he will bring it to completion. This is our faith!

Signed on 11th May 2011

Fr. Joshua Michael Bp.
Catholic Church

Ismail Abudigin
Episcopal Church of Sudan

Rev. Peter Makuac
Presbyterian Church of Sudan

Bp. Michael Taban
Sudan Pentecostal Church

Rev. Abraham Nul
Sudan Interior Church

Rev. Moses Gatkouth
Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church

Fr. Bishay Alantony
Coptic Orthodox Church

Pastor Barnabas Mattias
Sudan Church of Christ

Elder John Daniel
Greek Catholic Church

Bp. James Lagos
Africa Inland Church

Bp. Ezekiel Kondo
Chair, Sudan Council of Churches

Rev. Ramadan Chan Liol
General Secretary, SCC

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop on Sudanese referendum

2011-02-08T14:13:00.001-05:00

"We rejoice with our brothers and sisters in both Southern and Northern Sudan"

Southern Sudanese celebrate the birth of a new nation
Presiding bishop welcomes independence vote

By Matthew Davies, February 08, 2011

[Episcopal News Service] Celebrations for a new nation rippled throughout Southern Sudan as election officials confirmed that nearly 99 percent of voters in the referendum had chosen independence.

"There is great joy in Juba today at the official announcement of the results," Robin Denney, an Episcopal Church missionary based in Juba, told Episcopal News Service via email Feb. 8. "People huddled around radios and televisions at 7 p.m. last night to listen to the official ceremony."

The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission announced in Khartoum on Feb. 7 that 98.83 percent of voters had chosen to secede from the north. The turnout of registered voters was 98 percent.

"But even as people congratulate each other today, conversations turn to the future," said Denney, an agricultural consultant to the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

Sudan now enters a transitional period with the official start of a new nation scheduled for July 9. But many issues are still to be resolved, such as the sharing of oil revenues and border demarcation between the north and the south.

Denney acknowledged that the long-term focus had been on Jan. 9, 2011, the date that the week-long referendum commenced. "Now the focus has shifted to the long future ahead, nationhood, how to address the problems of insecurity and under-development that have plagued Southern Sudan in the past," she said. "The people of Southern Sudan recognize the many challenges ahead but have great hope and great vision for what their nation will become."

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said Feb. 8 that the U.S.-based Episcopal Church "is deeply grateful for the peaceful outcome of the referendum in Sudan. We rejoice with our brothers and sisters in both Southern and Northern Sudan as they work for peaceful co-existence. Our partnerships with the Episcopal Church of Sudan, which will remain united as one church body, will continue. We pray for peace, and for communities where all may enjoy the abundant life for which all God's children have been created."

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, whose is wanted by the international criminal court for crimes against humanity, has reiterated his acceptance of the results. "We accept and welcome these results because they represent the will of the southern people," al-Bashir said Feb. 7 on national television, adding that he is committed to good relations with a new Southern Sudan.

"It is exciting to see that the referendum results have clearly shown the will of the people of Southern Sudan," Bishop Anthony Pogo of the Sudanese Diocese of Kajo Keji told ENS on Feb. 8. "President Bashir's announcement that he respects the results is encouraging as it will remove some of the fears that people had that the north would not welcome the results."

Pogo, who is chair of the communications commission for the Episcopal Church of Sudan, said: "There is a lot of happiness here with people saying that at long last we have got our freedom after over 50 years of waiting. The people in Kajo Keji are relieved that at long last real peace has been confirmed."

Pogo said he now prays that the two governing political parties -- the National Congress Party in the north and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in the south -- "will agree amicably on the remaining pending issues in Abyei, citizenship, oil, the boundary and external debts."

A separate referendum that was to be held in the disputed border and oil-producing region of Abyei has been delayed indefinitely due to military tensions and differences between the north and south concerning voter eligibility.

President Barack Obama said on Feb. 7 that the referendum was "an inspiration to the world and another step forward in Africa's long journey toward justice and democracy. Now, all parties have a responsibility to ensure that this historic moment of promise becomes a moment of lasting progress."

Obama said that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement – which brought an end to decades of civil war and listed the referendum as a main provision – "must be fully implemented and outstanding disputes must be resolved peacefully." He also called for an end to the atrocities in Darfur, where a separate conflict has claimed as many as 300,000 lives.

Obama pledged to work with the governments of Sudan and Southern Sudan "to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition to independence. For those who meet all of their obligations, there is a path to greater prosperity and normal relations with the United States, including examining Sudan's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. And while the road ahead will be difficult, those who seek a future of dignity and peace can be assured that they will have a steady partner and friend in the United States."

The Episcopal Church of Sudan -- with its four million members, the vast majority of whom are based in the south -- is considered one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Southern Sudan and is strategically placed to serves its people as the country looks towards the future.

The U.S.-based Episcopal Church has observed a Season of Prayer for Sudan since mid-September at Jefferts Schori's request. Vigils and personal prayer have since been a priority for many who have stood in solidarity which the Episcopal Church of Sudan, a long-standing partner of the U.S.-based Episcopal Church.

-- Matthew Davies is editor and international correspondent of the Episcopal News Service.

Lenten Retreat: The Experience of God in African Spirituality

2010-12-07T17:48:00.013-05:00

Come for a day centered in the Daily Office and for Holy Communion with African music. There will be four sessions focused upon worship, meditation, community life, and healing.

The retreat will provide witness, advocacy, and prayer for justice for the people of Sudan and Darfur in this continued time of crisis and war. You will learn from teachers of African Spirituality and prayer.

The retreat supports the new campaign by The Episcopal Church, "A Season of Prayer for Sudan", which is committed to the welfare of Sudan, its Episcopal Church, and the country's future.

Leaders (more information about all of the leaders found below): The Rev. Canon Martin Oguike, The Rev. John Thompson-Quartey, The Rev. Dr. Augustine Unuigbe

When: Saturday March 12, from 10AM to 3pm

Cost: $15, lunch provided

Where: All Saint's Church, Princeton, NJ

Register: by Friday, March 4th. Check payable to the Diocese of New Jersey must be received by this date.

Registration: Register online here or email spaige@newjersey.anglican.org, fax registration form to 6093949546, or mail for to the diocese.

Contact: the Rev. Dr. Hugh Brown, ascprin@aol.com

Leaders biographies:

The Reverend Canon Martin Oguike is the vicar of St. John's Church, Woodbridge. Canon Oguike was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. He completed his undergraduate work in Birmingham University, UK. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Theology from the Birmingham University, UK and a Ph.D. in Church History from the University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Canon Oguike lived through a genocidal civil war in Nigeria similar to the situation in Sudan/Darfur from 1967-1970 on which his dissertation on "The Roll of the Church in Nigerian Civil War" is based.

The Reverend C. John Thompson-Quartey is a native of Ghana, West Africa. He received his Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University, Newark NJ in 1993, and earned his Masters of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary, New York City, NY in 1997. He was ordained to the diaconate in May 1997, and to the Sacred Order of Priests in December of 1997. He served as Associate Rector for Youth and Family Ministries at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood, NJ from 1997 until 1999. Then as Chaplain for Pastoral Care and Director of Community Outreach Programs at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire from 1999 until July 2005. He is presently the Rector of St. Mary's-by-the-Sea in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, where he has served since 2005.

The Reverend Dr. Augustine Unuigbe is the Priest-in Charge of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Atlantic City. He is both a priest and a medical doctor, and has recent passed his medical boards in the United States.

Praying with and for the people of Sudan

2010-12-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

From: Anglican Communion News Service
The thoughts and prayers of many in the Anglican Communion are focused on Sudan at this time, as the people of Southern Sudan prepare for a referendum to decide their future. The referendum will take place on 9 January next, and all are invited to pray and to focus their concerns on that war-torn country at this time.

Here are some prayers and background material which may help you to identify with Christians in Sudan at this time. If your Church has further material which you wish to share and to have included, do please send it to: clare.amos@aco.org

In land area Sudan is Africa's largest country and it is the tenth-largest country in the world. Bordered by nine other countries, it is central to the African and Arab worlds. Under the British administration the the north and south were governed separately. In 1954, at the end of British rule, Arab north and African south were unified as one country. Civil wars lasting about 40 years ended in 2005 with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The CPA gave the south political autonomy for 6 years, to be followed in 2011 by a referendum to decide whether or not it should become an independent country. It is this referendum which is taking place on 9 January. A further referendum is also due then on the future of the border area Abyei which has been contested between the North and South, as well as popular consultations for the people of the Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile on their future. Read the rest here

Over $3000 raised!

2010-12-07T17:03:00.002-05:00

A word of thanks to everyone who attended and donated money at the African Evensong on October 17th. Over 200 people attended this festive service and over $3000 were raised for the new Scholarship Fund for a Sudanese Priest.

Church partners meet in Sudan to discuss post-referendum scenarios, long-term development

2010-11-12T12:22:00.001-05:00

By Matthew Davies, November 12, 2010
[Episcopal News Service] International partners committed to the welfare of Sudan and its Episcopal Church gathered in Juba Nov. 5-7 to reaffirm their unwavering support for the country's future and to discuss possible scenarios following the upcoming referendum on independence.
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul addressed the partners, who were joined by bishops and other Episcopal Church of Sudan leaders, about his vision for the future of Sudan and his desire for long-term commitment to development as the church anticipates the Jan. 9 vote when southerners are expected to choose secession from the Islamic north and become a separate country.

Read the rest here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_125676_ENG_HTM.htm

Sudanese Leadership Conference

2010-11-09T18:40:00.002-05:00

The Episcopal Church
Office of Public Affairs
Episcopal Church sponsors Sudanese Leadership Summit one month prior to Sudan's historic referendum: "Considering the Past; Contemplating the Present; Collaborating for the Future"

[November 4, 2010] Members of the Sudanese community along with representatives of Episcopal dioceses will gather in Phoenix AZ for the Sudanese Leadership Summit Friday, December 10 to Tuesday, December 14. Focusing on the theme "Considering the Past; Contemplating the Present; Collaborating for the Future," the five day conference is sponsored by the Episcopal Church Office of Black Ministries, Episcopal Church Africa Officer, and Virginia Theological Seminary.

With the goal of developing a national network and strategic plan for ongoing Sudanese Ministries in the Episcopal Church, discussion topics include lifelong Christian faith formation; building leadership capacity for strengthening congregations; future theological training; and Asset Based Community Development.

Registration fees are $125 for a shared room and $225 for a single room.
Fees cover all lodging and meals.
For more information and registration:
http://events.signup4.com/sudaneseleadershipsummit
For more information contact the Rev. Angela Ifill, Officer for Black Ministries, aifill@episcopalchurch.org

Sudan delegation meets with UN secretary general, 'raises alarm'

2010-10-13T17:22:00.001-04:00

From: Anglican Communion News Service (http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/10/13/ACNS4738)

An ecumenical delegation of Sudanese religious leaders met with U.N. officials and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Oct. 11 to express its fear of what might happen if the Jan. 9 referendum in which south Sudan is expected to vote for independence from the north is not carried out as planned.

"We told him we came to raise an alarm to the United Nations," said Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan during a press conference held at the Church Center for the United Nations, following a day of U.N. meetings.

"We are the church, we are in the ground. We are with the people. And we are knowing every thing that is happening in the ground there. So because of that we are here," Deng said.

The ecumenical delegation is in the United States on an awareness and advocacy campaign in advance of the referendum. The archbishop was joined at the press conference by Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Marko Kur of Khartoum; Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban of Torit; and the Rev. Ramadan Chan, general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches.

The referendum is the final provision of Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in 2005 by the warring Sudan People's Liberation Movement in the south and the north's Khartoum-based Government of Sudan. The CPA ended a 21-year civil war -- fought by the Arab and Muslim north and rebels in the Christian-animist south -- that killed more than 2 million people and displaced an estimated 7 million more.

"Our fear is going to come if the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is not implemented accordingly, and that is going to be disaster in the country," Deng said. "And the people that are going to die are going to be innocent. And for us at the church we are always careful and mindful for those who cannot speak for themselves."

Deng explained that there is little time left between now and Jan. 9, and the delegation's visit is a signal to the United Nations, those who signed the CPA and the countries that supported the CPA, that many "things" have been left undone, he said.

The northern government has been criticized for not living into the terms of the CPA, and some believe it is deliberately trying to stall the vote, or that it may try to manipulate the outcome.

"There are some fears that the referendum will not take place because the north is not happy," said Chan, the general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches. "The southerners, you know, are ready to go forward with the referendum because they feel it is a democratic chance and a constitutional chance for them to exercise their rights in determining their political destiny … so any delay is not in favor of anybody, especially the south."

"We feel that if these things are not done properly, it may take the country back to violence and war, which as churches we are not for," he added.

The CPA also calls for equal oil revenue sharing between north and south (oil revenues account for 95 percent of Sudanese export revenues and 65 percent of government revenues, according to the International Monetary Fund); fair demarcation of north-south boundaries; and resolution of citizenship issues.

Tension already is building in the north and south, but mostly in the north, said Adwok, the Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Khartoum.

"The north doesn't want the south to secede," he said, adding the north also doesn't want to stop its oppression of the south.

Adwok stressed that the south's freedom to vote for self-determination is a human rights issue.

"At this juncture, in the third millennium, I don't think anybody can really be expected to remain in slavery when people all over the world are fighting for independence, self expression and democracy," he said.

The delegation has two other major areas of concern: that the will of the people be carried out in the transitional areas of Abyei, Nuba Mountains (Southern Kordofan) and Blue Nile; and that the safety and human rights of the internally displaced southerners living in the north be protected.

U.N. officials and Ban assured the delegation that they would have representatives in every county of south Sudan to monitor the referendum and that they are mobilizing U.N. protective forces, said Deng.

Deng also made reference to a recent visit by a U.N. Security Council team to Sudan.

"That is an assurance to our people that the U.N. is here this time," he said.

In addition to meetings with U.N. officials in New York and a panel discussion hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations later this week, the delegation's 12-day awareness and advocacy campaign includes a visit to Washington, D.C., where they will meet with government officials and take part in an interfaith prayer service.

"We are sitting here as the body of Christ, people of faith. We are looking for divine support. Not only political but divine support … we are also appealing to our brothers and sisters in the Lord that they accompany us with their prayers," said Taban, Roman Catholic bishop emeritus of Torit.

In mid-September, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori called on Episcopalians to observe "A Season of Prayer for Sudan."

At the close of the press conference, Jefferts Schori addressed the delegation.

"I am very grateful for your presence here and I want you to know that the people of the Episcopal Church and many, many other churches in this country and the other countries where the Episcopal Church is are praying for you, are working to mobilize their governments to join in ensuring peace in Sudan," she said. "We understand that it is an enormously difficult situation and we are in awe of your faithfulness."

The Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Roman Catholic Church in Sudan represent two of the largest non-government organization in southern Sudan. The Episcopal Church has 31 dioceses, 26 of them in the south. The Roman Catholic Church operates two archdioceses -- one in the north, including one diocese, and one in the south, including eight dioceses.

Deng and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met Oct.7 with officials in the U.K. Government's foreign office to provide updates on the situation on the ground in Sudan and to ensure that the U.K. government plays a crucial role in supporting peace and stability in Sudan.

On Oct. 10, Deng preached at a late morning Eucharist at Trinity Church, Wall Street.

The Episcopal Church's long-standing support for Sudan is manifested through its partnerships and companion diocese relationships, programs supported by Episcopal Relief & Development, and advocacy work of the Office of Government Relations.

Article from ENS by Lynette Wilson ENS staff writer.

An African Evensong

2010-08-12T17:11:00.000-04:00

Leader: The Right Reverend G.P. Mellick Belshaw, Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey Preacher: The Reverend Canon Martin Oguike, Vicar of St. John's Church, Woodbridge, New Jersey

When: Sunday, October 17 at 3 pm. Reception follows.

Where Trinity Cathedral
801 West State Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08618

609 392-3805
Contact: The Reverend Dr. Hugh Brown, 609 921-2420 or at Rector@allsaint.org

The Reverend Canon Martin Oguike is the vicar of St. John's Church, Woodbridge. Canon Oguike was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Theology from Birmingham and a Ph.D. in Church History from the University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
Canon Oguike lived through a genocidal civil war in Nigeria from 1967-1970, similar to the situation in Sudan/Darfur on which his dissertation, The Role of the Church in the Nigerian Civil War, is based.

The Right Reverend George Phelps Mellick Belshaw is retired ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey and was chairman of the board of trustees of the General Theological Seminary from 1992 to 2000, as well as acting dean and president from 1997-98.
He is currently a trustee of The General Theological Seminary and chairman of the Coalition for Peace Action in Princeton. He is also on the boards of The Anglican Theological Review and The American Teilhard Association.
He is former president of the Episcopal Urban Caucus a member of the Commission on Peace, Episcopal Church, and president of the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey. Belshaw served as editor of Lent with Evelyn Underhill and Lent with William Temple, and is the author of articles in The Anglican Theological Review, Teilhard Perspective and St. Luke's Journal.

NJ Scholarship Fund for Sudanese Seminarians

2010-04-21T16:11:00.003-04:00

In Sudan, like many other parts of the developing world, the Church provides much of the infrastructure and social services needed for survival and development in war torn areas.

One priest often has responsibility for four congregations, which can touch the lives of thousands of people.

Help us put one Sudanese student theological college:
Costs:

Tuition: $1300
Travel $1500
Accommodation: $400
Books: $300
Food: $1440
Personal Allowance: $900
Misc: $250

Total ≈ $6,090 USD/ year for 4 years

We have already begun to work towards this goal, but we need YOUR help!

Can You or Your Congregation or Youth Group help with one aspect of this project?

Any gifts should be sent directly to the diocese and marked "Darfur/Sudan Scholarship Fund"

Report to Diocesan Convention 2010

2010-02-15T13:40:00.005-05:00

The Diocese of New Jersey and Bishop Councell convened the Darfur Committee to implement resolution 2008‐1 of the 2008 Diocesan Convention which charged “The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey to join with the government of the United States, the United Nations, and a host of other countries, organizations
and individuals around the world to call and work for an end to the violence in Darfur,” and which called the Diocese of New Jersey to establish a committee 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 for Darfur refugees and other displaced persons.”

The Committee has been meeting for approximately one year, beginning on February 2, 2009, and consists of the following persons appointed by Bishop Councell: The Rev. Dr. Hugh E. Brown, III, Chair: the Rev. Canon Martin U.N. Oguike: the Rev. Greg Bezilla: the Rev. Sharon Sutton: the Rev. Jane Brady: Mr. Glendon Bell,
Mr. Matt Bollinger: and Ms. Alicia Graham.

The Committee has achieved the following in our first year of meeting for 2009, which focused on developing and creating an intentional program and series of actions on Darfur Advocacy with the Diocese of New Jersey and among its congregations.
*Prayerful study and research on the history of the human rights violations within Darfur, previous advocacy by the Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion and other faith‐based organizations, action by NGOs, and interventions by the United States government. But we also desire that the committee address the larger issues of the spiritual foundations for human rights advocacy and how the church effectively addresses issues of social justice and peace‐ making.
*The completion of a Darfur Committee brochure, outlining specific ways Diocesan congregations can take action on behalf of the people of Darfur.
*The completion of a new Darfur Committee Web Site and blog entitled: http://focusondarfur.blogspot.com.
Please check it out!

*A ongoing witness on the Web Site of the Diocese of New Jersey: www.newjersey.anglican.com.
*A significant presentation at Diocesan Convention in February of 2009, complete with a visual presentation from the web site of Amnesty International, focusing on the human rights crisis in Sudan.
*A Darfur Committee sponsored workshop at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, as part of the Equipping the Servants day on Saturday, October 24th workshop, featuring a marvelous power‐point presentation on the crisis in Darfur and the wider human rights crisis in Sudan by the Rev. Canon Martin Oguike, member of the Darfur committee, with extensive contacts and experience within the circle of ministry to the Sudan.
*Congregational workshops on Darfur/Sudan in a number of different contexts including All Saints’ Church, Princeton, Trinity Cathedral, the Theology on Tap young adult ministry of Princeton, St. John’s Church, Fords and St. John’s Church, Sewaren.

2.
*Completion of a resource guide for action on Darfur for congregations, including work done by the Office of Government relations, the Episcopal Public Policy Network and Diocese of the Episcopal Church, USA, doing advocacy on behalf of Darfur. Darfur, which means “land of the fur,” is an arid and impoverished region of Western Sudan that has faced decades of graphic violence over land and grazing rights between mostly nomadic Arabs and farmers from native Darfur communities. Early in 2003, rebel groups began attacking government targets charging that the region had long been neglected by the Sudanese government based in Khartoum, and that the government was
using local Arab groups to oppress and destroying black African framers in favor of Arab nomads.
The Sudanese government responded by mobilizing “self‐defense militias” and refugees from Darfur described government links to brutal militia movement called the “Janjaweed,” accused of trying to “cleanse” black Africans from large swathes of territory. Refugees from Darfur say that following air raids by government aircrafts, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women, and stealing whatever they can find.
The United States government has termed the government response to the Darfur rebellion as genocide; even though that term can provoke debate, there is no doubt that crimes against humanity have become a staple of life in Darfur and continue as we meet in Convention. Millions of civilians have fled their destroyed villages, the refugee problem is immense along Western Sudan’s borders, and United Nations estimates of the dead from the Darfur War total 300,000.
Although evidence within the past few months suggests that, in the words of the New York Times article on Darfur in January of 2010, “after years of mass killings, a fragile calm is beginning to take hold in Darfur,” there is still much, intense violence with five Rwandan peacekeepers brutally murdered in December of 2009, and aid workers routinely kidnapped and executed. Heavily armed bandits have become ubiquitous. However, perhaps the ultimate myth about Darfur is that the violence and massive abuse of human rights are over. Scott Gration, President Obama’s special envoy to Sudan, still refers to ongoing violence as “remnants of genocide.”
Such systemic violations of human rights continue to be the context of the Darfur Committee’s work.
We also note that violence continues in Southern Sudan as well, and the Presiding Bishop has issued a statement calling attention to the atrocities committed by “The Lord’s Resistance Army,” a Ugandan rebel group, which continues to terrorize people in the region, particularly Christians.
The Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church, in the United States, contains an often neglected promise which is a bedrock commitment of our Christian lives: “We will strive for Justice and Peace among All People and respect the dignity of every human being, doing so with God’s help.”
The Darfur Committee, above all, seeks to call Christians in the Diocese of New Jersey to account for living out this Baptismal promise on a concrete and profound issue of international human rights. We ask for your work and prayerful engagement.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Hugh E. Brown, III, D. Min., Chair, Darfur Committee and Rector, All Saints’ Parish, Princeton

Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan

2009-11-30T08:32:00.006-05:00

Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan

Posted On : November 30, 2009 1:10 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/11/30/ACNS4672
Related Categories: Sudan

"Blessed are the peacemakers"
Luke 2:14
Mark 2:1-11

We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS), met in Rumbek, Lakes State between 23rd and 27th November 2009, at the generous hospitality of the Diocese of Rumbek and the Government of Lakes State. We wish to give our heartfelt thanks to the Rt. Rev. Alapayo Manyang Kuctiel, Bishop of Rumbek, and H.E. Lt. Gen. Daniel Awet Akot, Governor of Lakes State, for their hosting of this great meeting and their exemplary hospitality for the entire week of the meeting. It has been an excellent opportunity for discussing issues of Church governance, management and structure; the expansion of Christianity in the Sudan, and the state of our great nation today, which we now bring to your attention.

The peace process in Sudan has reached a critical point. With less than five months before National Elections and just over one year to the referendum on southern self-determination, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse due to contentions over the referendum law, the demarcation of the 1st January 1956 borders, and violence recently perpetrated by other armed groups. We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the ECS affirm our role to act urgently to support the implementation of the CPA: through our internal Church networks, our ecumenical and inter-faith partners within Sudan and our international partner support.

We express our sadness at the missed opportunity for making the unity of the Sudan attractive since the signing of the CPA: the lack a reconciliation process, the lack of transparency over the National Census and oil revenues, the failure to repeal or alter laws which are contrary to the spirit of the CPA which guarantees equality and freedom for all, the stalling implementation of the July 2009 Abyei ruling, and the current deadlock over the legislation governing the referendum in Southern Sudan and the popular consultations in Abyei, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. Unity has not been made attractive.

We strongly condemn all inter-ethnic violence currently witnessed across much of Southern Sudan, the ongoing violence against civilians in Darfur, and the violent attacks on civilians being perpetrated by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the south-west of the country. We re-affirm our commitment to doubling the efforts of the Church in bringing peace and reconciliation to our people, working together with the government as a force for unity and love amongst our people who have suffered for so long.

We strongly condemn the damage being done to the environment by oil companies in Unity and Upper Nile states. Our waterways are being polluted and our people displaced by the profit making of others. We bring this before our government and the international community, and ask and pray that the resources of our land be fairly utilized in future for the good of all our people.

We call the attention of Sudanese government and the international community to the sever threat of famine in Southern Sudan at this time, due to the failure of rains in various parts of the country this year. We appeal to our partners to assist us the Church in providing for the physical as well as the spiritual needs of our people, and pledge to use all such support, as well as support from the Sudanese Christians, for
the well-being of those facing hunger this Advent and Christmas season.

Tribal differences must be put aside at this crucial time in history and the government must fulfil their duty to provide security for their citizens. God will sit in judgement on those who are working against the rights of their own people. It is the escalation of non-traditional de-stabilising violence, specifically targeting civilians and the government that will make registration and voting in the elections and referendum very difficult. The conclusion that is drawn is that this violence is intended to negatively effect the elections and referendum. The Church must act now to counter these effects for the sake of the rights of the people of Sudan.

The Church affirms its support of the National Elections Commission (NEC) in its vital work to make free and fair elections a reality across Sudan. We urge all citizens to register and to encourage others to do so, participating fully in the political process in 2010. The ECS offers its entire network, personnel and contacts as potential support to the NEC and the elections process.

In post referendum planning, we call on those involved to put the safety, security, livelihoods and rights of the poorest and most vulnerable first. In the case of unity, issues of national identity, power- and wealth-sharing need to be addressed. If separation, issues such as the position of southerners and churches in the north, the
arrangements for resources such as oil and water, and the status of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, need to be addressed to ensure peaceful relations between the two new neighbours and to guarantee the basic rights of all people in both north and south Sudan.

There is no alternative to the CPA. It must be fully implemented by both signatories and must be fully supported by those guarantor governments who promised to do so in 2005. Those international guarantors and stakeholders must take full heed of the crises affecting the country, and be active according to their promises made to the Sudanese people.

We as the Church proclaim "Let my people choose", and urge renewed national and international focus on the political processes of the elections and referendum, the latter of which must be considered inviolable. As the Church we support the right of every individual Sudanese citizen to have a free and fair say in the future of the Sudan We welcome support for this work from any and all governmental, non-governmental and international institutions and pledge to work with efficiency and integrity for the Sudanese people.

We urge our international partners to take the message of the inviolability of the CPA to their respective governments who promised to guarantee peace in Sudan. Unless international support for the CPA is urgently stepped up the Sudan is in very real danger of descending back into a war which will not harm those people who create it, but which will again destroy the lives of those voiceless masses for which the Church now cries.

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the Government of National Unity (GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the international guarantor nations of the CPA to uphold their promises of equality and freedom to the people of Sudan.

Together in the uniting love of Christ,

For the House of Bishops:
His Grace the Most Rev. Canon Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak Archbishop and
Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan.

For the House of Clergy:
The Very Reverend Sylvester Thomas Dean of Khartoum and Chairman of the
House of Clergy.

For the House of Laity:
Engr. Barnaba Dumo Chairman of the House of Laity.

General Convention Passes Legislation Calling for Peace in Southern Sudan

2009-08-09T15:27:00.001-04:00

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?

2009-08-09T15:23:00.001-04:00

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?

2009-08-09T15:22:00.003-04:00

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.