Southern Africa’s Anglicans Pledge Partnership with Anglicans in Sudan and South Sudan
The Anglican Church in Southern Africa has committed itself to form a partnership with the Episcopal Church in Sudan, with which it shares membership of the Anglican Communion.
The commitment to pursue a ‘partners in mission’ relationship was made by the church’s Provincial Synod, meeting this week in Benoni, South Africa.
It came in response to the address given by the Archbishop of Sudan, the Most Revd Dr Daniel Deng Bul, who has been a guest of the Provincial Synod, and of the Synod of Bishops which preceded it.
The Synod responded warmly to Archbishop Deng’s hope of building a closer relationship of mutual support, in particular around issues of post-conflict reconciliation and nation-building.
After the motion was passed, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba informed Synod that a placewas being offered at its residential training college in Grahamstown, the College of the Transfiguration, for a student from the Episcopal Church of Sudan. He further announced that money had already been raised to cover two years’ costs.
Archbishop Deng has invited Archbishop Makgoba to make a return visit to the Episcopal Church in Sudan.
Note for Editors: an earlier press release on the visit of the Archbishop of Sudan, and his address to the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Provincial Synod, is available at http://archbishop.anglicanchurchsa.org/2013/10/welcome-to-archbishop-of-sudan.html
Issued by the Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Inquiries: Ms Wendy Kelderman, 021 763 1320 (office hours)
The Revd Canon Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, 082 856 2082 (during Synod)
The text of the motion follows below
This Synod,
1. Gives thanks for the presence of the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan as guest of honour at this Synod, and for his address and fraternal greetings from the church in The Sudan;
2. Commends the Archbishop for the important role he is playing in the healing of the Sudanese people, and assures him of our prayers.
3. Recognises the pain of the church in the Sudan after many years of conflict and war, and that the church continues to be confronted by the challenges of nation-building, peace, poverty and social and economic development;
4. Therefore, proposes that the ACSA pledges our commitment to a partnership in mission between our two Provinces to learn and grow from our shared history;
5. Now therefore respectfully urges the Metropolitan to engage with the Episcopal Church of the Sudan prayerfully to bring our two Provinces into a common bond of affection and mutual commitment for the sake of the gospel.
