the "other statement" of the Episcopal Church of Sudan
Mike Kinman
There's been a lot of talk about one statement made by Sudanese
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul yesterday at Lambeth. What has been
completely lost in that hubbub is the other statement made by the
Archbishop on behalf of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. It is a critical
statement and EGR commends it for your prayer and study.
I encourage you to go to the EGR blog -- www.e4gr.blogspot.com -- and
read the whole statement, which we've fitted with links so you can more
easily learn more about the various provisions. We've also provided a
link to a document developed by the Diocese of Missouri's Companion
Diocese Committee in consultation with the Episcopal Office of
Government Relations ... a "Sudan Advocacy Action Guide" that addresses
the points in this statement and has talking points and a letter
template. You can download it and substitute your own senators' and
representative's contact information (as well as tweak the language to
suit your situation).
The statement's key "asks" are:
*International pressure for peace in Darfur as part of a "whole Sudan
approach" to conflict in Sudan, realizing that the conflicts in Darfur
and in the South are inextricably linked.
*Continued education and political pressure around the Referendum of
2011, which would provide the opportunity for independence for Southern
Sudan.
*Continued political pressure to abide by the Abyei protocol of the CPA.
*Support for the Church in the North in the face of religious
persecution from the government.
*Continued pressure on peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army and
Ambororo.
*Support in terms of relief and development, to help communities provide
clean water, security, health and education for returning refugees and
internally displaced persons.
*Support from the Lambeth Conference and Anglican Communion to "stand in
solidarity with the Sudanese Church and people."
*Prayers and fellowship to encourage and support the Church in its mission.
Please read and disseminate this statement widely. It is no surprise
that the statement dealing with issues of sexuality has gotten
high-volume play and the statement dealing with people being murdered
has gotten almost no play (I spent much of the morning searching the
internet for any text of it at all, and fortunately a wonderful deacon,
the Rev. Timothy Spannus of Royal Oak, MI, sent me an email when ACNS
finally posted it.).
Don't let the cries of the Sudanese people get drowned out. Please take
the time to read this statement and respond with your prayers and advocacy.
Christ's peace,
Mike+
--
The Rev. Mike Kinman
Executive Director, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
MKi...@gmail.com + 314.348.6453
http://www.e4gr.org + http://www.e4gr.blogspot.com