South Sudan double displacement: first from conflict and now from floods; WCC seeking workshop events for its 2013 assembly; Southern Africa: Anglican Church “Walks the walk”
South Sudan double displacement: first from conflict and now from floods
ACNS – First hand information on the emergency in Unity State, South Sudan has come from Bishop Gattek from the Benitu Area Diocese, of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.
Several weeks ago, the Alliance posted an appeal on behalf of Bishop Gattek to help returnees from North Sudan and other nations, internally displaced people and the host community who are still in great needs of humanitarian aid. On top of this already difficult situation the rainy season has affected near 50,000 thousand people who have been forced to flee again. Waterborne diseases and snake bites are an immediate concern for the church, as well as the continuous movement of returnees and refugees from Sudan.
Episcopal Relief and Development has given a generous donation of US15.000 to help communities in Unity State. The Northern American agency has a long-standing partnership with the Sudanese Development and Relief Agency (SUDRA) of the Church of Sudan and is working toward implementing risk reduction activities in different Dioceses.
According to United Nations Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Humanitarian bulletin 24 – 30 Sep 2012) the number of people affected in South Sudan by the seasonal flooding between June and September has tripled since last year up from 79.000 in 2011 to 258.000 so far this year.
Eight out of nine counties in Unity State have been flooded according to the UN agency although it does not give the exact number of the people affected. Bishop Gattek provided the Anglican Alliance with more details regarding the villages affected by county .
Bishop Gattek asks Anglicans around the Communion for prayers and support for communities that have suffered so much and are trying to find ways forward in the new state of South Sudan.
Maps at:
http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/10/11/ACNS5204
WCC seeking workshop events for its 2013 assembly
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting applications for workshops, exhibitions and side events for its upcoming 10th Assembly to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea. The deadline to submit proposals is 31 October 2012.
The WCC assembly will take place from 30 October to 8 November 2013, addressing the theme “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”. The event brings together the fellowship of member churches, with ecumenical partners, to reaffirm their unity in Christ, strengthen their witness in the world and to plan their future together.
Southern Africa: Anglican Church “Walks the walk”
This was a wonderful meeting for giving legs to our discussions’ said Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba . ‘We’ve talked the talk about vision, mission, and priorities; we’ve talked about theology and serving God’s world. Now we’re getting on with walking the walk.’
Dr Makgoba was speaking at the end of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Provincial Standing Committee (PSC). Nearly ninety bishops, clergy and lay people, representing ACSA’s 28 Dioceses, gathered to implement and take forward decisions of the church’s triennial Provincial Synod. They met, with invited guests, at the St George Hotel and Conference Centre near Pretoria, from 26 to 28 September.
‘Our focus was making our vision and mission statement concrete’ said the Archbishop of Cape Town. ‘To help us, we sought theological input and practical wisdom about the state of our world. We were delighted to hear Bishop Graham Cray, Archbishops’ Missioner in the Church of England talk about “Fresh Expressions”, imaginative initiatives for developing authentically Anglican congregations for those who do not connect with traditional ways of worshipping. South African Minister in the Presidency, Trevor Manuel, presenting the National Development Plan 2030, provided a stimulating framework for understanding the economic and socio-political challenges of our region.’ Dr Makgoba said that the church shared many of the Plan’s ethical assumptions, as well as its objectives to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality.
The meeting also evaluated many existing activities. Dr Makgoba stressed ‘Education is one of our top priorities, both within the church, and for transforming our nations,’ which include Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and St Helena alongside South Africa. A panel of church leaders discussed developments in theological education, promoting the ‘People of the Way’ bible studies, and strengthening initiatives with schools. ‘I am delighted we affirmed support for developing the Vuleka school network in northern Johannesburg’ said Dr Makgoba. He recalled that the church has declared 2013 the ‘Year of Theological Education’ with special focus on redeveloping its theological training at the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown.
http://www.aco.org/acns/digest/index.cfm/2012/10/2/Southern-Africa-Anglican-Church-Walks-the-walk