The Episcopal Church of Sudan

Archiepiscopal visit by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul to the dioceses of Jonglei State

 

The Archbishop in Jonglei

Official report of the visit

 Wednesday 8th – Friday 17th April 2009

 

CONTENTS

Download here a .pdf copy of the whole report

Read the Archbishop's observations and recommendations

Overview

From Wednesday 8th – Friday 17th April 2009 His Grace Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul conducted an Easter visit to the dioceses of Jonglei State – the Diocese of Bor and the new Diocese of Twic East.  The key aims of the visit were:

  1. To celebrate the Triduum and Easter in the Archbishop’s home village of Wangulei
  2. To combine a mission of evangelism – preaching the message of Christ’s death and resurrection – with one of peace and reconciliation in communities recently wracked by tribal violence and other disputes, which have left hundreds dead.  As a politically neutral indigenous civil society leader, the Archbishop’s message was heard by thousands and stressed the importance of being one in Christ, reconciled with each other as we are reconciled to God through the resurrection.
  3. To inaugurate the new Diocese of Twic East, and to solve local disputes on the ground surrounding the establishment of the new diocese – particularly disagreements over the diocese’s name and the location of the diocesan headquarters.  The inauguration was done in Aliet, Wangulei Payam, Twic East County, and was attended by a quorum of the Diocesan Synod, the Diocesan Secretary and the County Commissioner.  The temporary headquarters of the Diocese of Twic East will be in Wangulei, despite a new Cathedral having been built in Panyagor, Kongor Payam, Twic County HQ.
  4. To visit Nuer areas of Jonglei and show solidarity with all tribes at a time of inter-tribal conflict.  Linked to the peace and reconciliation message, His Grace planned to help bring warring communities together through the Church, teaching them about the importance of unity as Southerners in the approach to the upcoming elections, referendum and in general as part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) process.

His Grace travelled from Juba on Wednesday 8th April, spending two nights in Bor, capital of Jonglei State, and celebrating Maundy Thursday with local Anglicans.  He met with senior state government officials and county commissioners, and prayed at the hospital, prison and State Secretariat-General before conducting a rally in Freedom Square.

On Good Friday, 10th April, the delegation moved north to Wangulei in Twic County, stopping at over ten small parishes en route to pray with the people and address them on peace, reconciliation and political issues.  Holy Saturday, 11th April, was spent in he environs of Wangulei, His Grace holding a meeting with the County Commissioner, H.E. Diing Akol Diing and his Security Committee about the situation in the county.  This was followed by mass meetings in Paliau and Wangulei, at both of which His Grace addressed the people on peace and unity issues.

Easter Sunday, 12th April, was spent in Wangulei, with a large outdoor service in the morning and the inaugural Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Twic East in the afternoon in Aliet – a small village to the west of Wangulei.  The following day His Grace departed north for Duk County, again stopping at parishes en route to address the people.