Request by the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Canon Kenneth Kearon
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.
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.
The Episcopal Church of Sudan is a member Church of the Anglican Communion. Its headquarters are in Juba, the most important city in the South. It is a significant voice in the life of Sudan. The Episcopal Church is neither pro- nor anti-secession, but rather pro peace and pro the right of self-determination, and is therefore seeking to ensure that the referendum of 9 January is carried out with due process, fairness and integrity. The Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Most Revd Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, is working very hard to achieve this. In registering for the referendum along with his Roman Catholic counterpart, Archbishop Deng spoke of the importance of all people participating in the referendum process.
Archbishop Deng met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, on October 7. A report of their meeting and the subsequent press conference, also including an audio stream, can be found here
On the same day, in a BBC interview, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his anxieties about the situation relating to Sudan
On October 11 Archbishop Deng was part of an ecumenical delegation which met with the UN Secretary General in New York.
Archbishop Deng has issued a ‘Call to Prayer’ for Sudan and the process of the coming weeks and months. The following prayers may be helpful for Anglican Christians around the world who want to respond to this ‘Call’.
See other reports this site.
See Worship resources – this site