Salva Kiir urges new Archbishop to unite Sudan’s Anglican Church
By Isaac Vuni
April 20, 2008 (JUBA) — The First Vice president of the republic and president of the government of southern Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has today, called upon the newly enthroned Archbishop of the Episcopal church of the Sudan, Most Revered Daniel Deng Bul to unite the Anglican Church of the Sudan that got divided during the 21 years of liberation struggle.
Speaking at the enthronement ceremony of Archbishop elect Daniel Deng at All Saints Cathedral in Juba, President Kiir noted that the Episcopal Church of the Sudan was so much divided during the war time and called upon the new Arch bishop Daniel Deng Bul to unite the Anglican Church under his administration for effective delivery of services and development of the war-torn southern Sudan.
He appealed to churches in the Sudan particularly southern Sudan to support government in promoting southern Sudanese cultures particularly for the youth who are so possessed of embracing foreign cultures they might have been assimilated to during the liberation struggle period.
President Kiir hailed the positive role Sudanese churches together with their counter parts in the neighboring countries played during SPLM/A liberation struggle that led to signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005.
He called upon all people of southern Sudan to fully participate in the fifth Sudan national population and housing census that kicks off from Tuesday 22nd April 2008.
Kiir said the presidency of Sudan have agreed on the issues of ethnicity and religion that was omitted from the questionnaires to be addressed separately soon after the census is concluded.
Meanwhile the most Reverend Daniel Deng also appealed to the Sudanese the presidency to implement the Abyei protocol and bring the prevailing uncertainty to an end. “Why keep the Abyei community hostage to fate?” He posed.
The primate stated that the church and religious institutions are the main instruments of unity and coexistence and should therefore be accorded the necessary respect and position. He regretted to note that church lands are taken over by the government, for instance in Khartoum government has taken former Catholic Club near the airport in Khartoum, the CES church in El Obeid and another attempts made to take over the ECS head office in Omdurman.
“The government of national unity has also ventured to confiscate the Christians cemetery and distribute it for commercial purpose. What kind of human being could do such a thing,” he asked
Archbishop Daniel Deng further called upon the government of national unity for the sake of the unity and peace of Sudanese people to rid itself of those who carry those evil acts now causing quarrels, otherwise the very unity and existence of Sudan as a country would be threatened, the primate cautioned.
He appealed to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to heed to the cry of the innocent Darfur people and to bring peace in Sudan
The most reverend Deng thanked Christians of ECS for entrusting him the challenging responsibility of being their fourth Archbishop at the time when masses of southern Sudan are resettling after 21 years of destructive war that claimed so many lives and displaced over four million people internally and in refugee’s camps in exile.
He explained that when building a new nation, not everyone will be happy for the rebuilding, some tried to cause insecurity and discouragement to those championing such a noble cause by the gallant SPLM/A of southern Sudan today. Nevertheless, he emphasized that through prayers, God directs and guides our preparations, teamwork and diligent efforts.
The primate called for more support prayers and cooperation to enable him accomplish the task they have asked him to do for them. “Let us restore hope, peace and justice to our people and bring about reconciliation.”
Earlier the Dean of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Right Reverend Nataniel Garang, declared that Bishop Daniel Deng has today been enthroned as the fourth Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, replacing former Archbishop Joseph Marona who retired on health ground on 31st December last 2007.
While giving sermon, the representative of the chairman of the Council of Anglican Primars of Africa (CAPA), the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kolini of Anglican Province of Rwanda said God love the people of Sudan and has delivered yet another leader that will stir the Anglican Church to prosperity especially during the era of the CPA.
In accordance to ECS constitution, the provincial Chancellor, Justice Majok Mading Majok read the mandate for the relinquishment of the provincial authority to the new Archbishop elect Daniel Deng.
Then the new Archbishop took the oath administered by the same Provincial Chancellor, Justice Majok Mading Majok before ten of thousands congregation by declaring, “I Daniel Deng Bul, elected to the office of Archbishop and primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and Bishop of Juba do humbly pledged to guard, defend and uphold the rights and privileges of the provincial constitution and Canons, the contents of the Holy Scriptures of God, do promised to devote and dedicate myself in the furthering of the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to observe the book of common prayer; so help me God for the good success of your Church”. Then the dean of the province, Rt. Revd. Nataniel Garang presented to His Grace Daniel Deng Bul the Primatial cross to the primate.
On reviving primatial cross by His Grace Deng, the 22 provincial Diocesan Bishops, three Assistance Bishops, clergy and the laity of Anglican Communion in attendance declared their canonical obedience to His Grace Daniel Deng.
According to the Episcopal church of the Sudan constitution, retirement age for Archbishop is seventy years but they are also limited to serve in office for only ten years.
The first Archbishop of the province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan was Most Revd. Elinana Ngalamu who was succeeded by Most Revd. Benjamin Ygusuk Wani and Most Revd. Joseph Marona was the third and step-down before completing his ten years term of office due to health reason.
Revd. Enock Tombe informed the congregation that the ECS guesthouse in Khartoum that was sold on 20th May 2004 by former Bishop of Rumbek, Gabriel Roric was recovered through the legal process in Khartoum court on 10th March 2008.
Bishop Gabriel Roric was dismissed by the house of Anglican Bishops of the Sudan for being double dealer, working for the Church and at the same time serving the central government in Khartoum as cabinet minister without permission from the church.
Most Rev Gabriel Roric is now the self proclaimed Archbishop of the Reformed Anglican Church of the Sudan based in Khartoum. The new archbishop promised to increase the ECS diocese from twenty four to thirty one.
(ST)