New Archbishop for Sudanese Episcopal Church installs in Juba

By Isaac Vuni

April 19, 2008 (JUBA) — The arrangement for Installation of the Archbishop-Elect are completed as twenty Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) Bishops and their wives have already arrived in Juba, the chairman of enthronement committee, Right Reverend Peter Amidi of Lanya Diocese has said.

Amidi said the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini of Anglican Province of Rwanda will represent the Chairman Council of Anglican Primars of Africa (CAPA) on enthronement occasion along with eleven foreign Bishops and thirty one laities who are expected to arrive Juba today to participate in this grand historic enthronement to be held tomorrow at10 .00am at All Saints Cathedral in Juba.

Right Reverend Peter Amidi stressed that there are great expectation from the Provinces of the Episcopal church of the Sudan and the entire world Anglican Communion family towards Enthronement of the newly elected Primate Daniel Deng Bul Yak as the forth Archbishop of ECS whom he described as a visionary new leader of ECS of the CPA era.

The chairman of enthronement committee, Bishop Amidi, disclosed that the practices by Anglican Communion worldwide, is that the Dean of the Province installs the Archbishop elect. However, occasionally, the Head of Anglican Church based in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury graces the Provinces during time of enthronement of Archbishop throughout the world Anglican Communion.

In case of the Sudan, Bishop Amidi said the first Sudan ECS Archbishop Elinana Ngalamu was installed by the Archbishop of the Canterbury; similarly the third Archbishop Joseph Marona was installed by him.

This time round, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini of Anglican province of Rwanda, representing Chairman of Council of Anglican Primars of Africa (CAPA) will grace the enthronement occasion of forth Archbishop elect Daniel Deng Bul Yak at All Saints Cathedral in Juba the capital of the Government of Southern Sudan.

Bishop Amidi revealed that the first Anglican Church of Sudan priest came from Dinka ethnic tribe and now the fourth Archbishop also from the same tribe is a clear sign of expansion of the ECS in the whole country.

The Archbishop-Elect stated that the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan is part of the world Anglican Communion family that based its work on the framework of teachings of the Bible about Jesus Christ and the resulting Christian duty to provide practical care to people in spiritual and material needs irrespective of ethnicity, religion, nationality or political opinion.

Adding that ECS vision Sudanese people, who love and fear God to become self reliant, free from poverty and live in peace with each other and that ECS has the mission to spread the Good News for mankind to believe in God, with trust and honesty and to assist efforts to eradicate poverty and help people live in peace.

Primate Daniel Deng emphasized that tribalism, corruption in the church and government of southern Sudan needed more attention and consorted efforts by all peace loving Sudanese.

He further directed ECS to shift its emergency assistance operation during the war time to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the war torn southern Sudan now experiencing peace and stability.

In his ten years plan avail today starting from 2008,top priority will be training of clergy, youth and women in various fields, enhancing peace and reconciliation, building of unity for all Sudanese people, promotion of self-reliant ECS church including collection of ten percent tithes from its four million members in the Sudan, reviewed theological training programme in the country, establishment of Sudan theological Universities with three faculties, acquisition of land in Central and Western Equatoria, Yei, Upper Nile, Bhar el Ghazal, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and other places of Sudan that are good for agricultural cultivation by the church, building of Hospitals each in Lui, Juba, Malakal, Rumbek, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile respectively. In addition the church would also endeavour to build more primary and secondary schools in Dioceses, purchase buses and large Lorries including steamers for transportation of goods besides construction of guesthouses for rent and pharmacies centers in Dioceses.

PROFILE OF PRIMATE DANIEL DENG BUL YAK

He was born on 2nd January 1950, married and blessed with six children, ordained deacon in 197, priest in 1978, and consecrated bishop in 1988 and appointed bishop of Renk Diocese in 1992 till his election as Archbishop of the Episcopal church of the Sudan by synod on 14th February 2008.

Prior to his election, most reverend Daniel Deng Bul Yak had been the caretaker Bishop Diocese of Malakal from 2000 to 2003, caretaker Bishop Diocese of Yei from 2007 to 2008, chairman Justice and Peace Committee of ECS, chairman committee on the assessment and creation of ECS new Diocese to present, Secretary to Episcopal Council from 1997 to the present, Chairman, Executive Committee of Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) from 1994 to 1995, Chairman of Sudan Relief Association (SUDRA) from 2000 to 2003.

The primate holds diploma in theology from Virginia theological Seminary in United States of America from 1996 to 1997 and the same university has awarded him a honorary doctored because of his active participation in promoting peace and reconciliation and thorough research on oil crisis in Bentiue which the primate is going to receive in May this year, certificate from Corat Africa Leadership Training and Church management training in 1990, Bishop Leadership training certificate in 1990, certificate of Bishop Gwynne College in Juba from 1975 to1977, Sudan Intermediate certificate in Khartoum from 1971 to 1974 and Sudan primary leaving certificate of Adong primary school from 1961 to 1964.

(ST)