January 2008

The Role of the Church in Diaspora, Australia

By Barchoch Tut Jing

28th January 2008

Sources: (Gurtong)

The Sudanese Christian Church in Australia provides a conducive environment for Sudanese children where they learn their local Sudanese languages and culture. The church is working hard in passing on the Sudanese identity to the younger generation, many of whom were born here or came when children. The church is trying relentlessly to make these children grow up with powerful identity that would enable them overcome the distortion of western liberalism.

However, Pastor Hilmi of Sudanese Fellowship of Sydney, Australia acknowledged how difficult this could be without help from the parents and caretakers. The major concern for the Sudanese Christian Church leaders in Australia is children growing up in a culture different from the Sudanese one and the liberal behaviour that pushes children away from Godly life. The Nuer Christian Church leaders in Queensland teach their children Thoknath, hymns in Nuer and educate them about Nuer way of life.

The church leaders handle this by visiting and preaching the word of God to parents and other adults to lure them to Godly lfe. “We the church leaders encourage the parents and caretakers to act as examples to the children because children are like a blank paper which depends on what you write on it.” This implies that children imitate what the adults do, thus if the guardians and caretakers do well in life the children can follow suit. Pastor Jacob Deng of Uniting Church from Melbourne said advising adults from the Sudanese Community who are his church members to care for children is a task he always shoulder.

The church is also working hard for the unity of purpose among the Sudanese Diaspora in Australia. In Queensland, the seven Sudanese Christian Churches are under one leadership, a move that looks similar as that of New Sudan Council of Churches which was formed in 1989 in Torit, New Sudan. The Sudanese Christian Churches in Sydney is in the process to follow suit. It should be recalled that NSCC brought the Wunlit and people to people peace. Similarly, the church in Australia is trying to bring the Sudanese of all walks together by uniting the leadership of the church as done in Queensland, Australia to encourage the faithful to realize the important of unity here and back home.

“The Sudanese Christian Church in Queensland encourages the union of purpose among the people living here in this state, which they do through visiting each other as well celebrating special days together.” Thus, in 2005 the church leaders in Queensland sat down and discussed how Sudanese people from all walks could unite as people with one purpose and dreams. “We agreed that let us forget all that divided us in the past, now we are in Australia, we must unite and march on as people with the same cause”, said Moses Mayian Wan, the current Sudanese Christian Church in Queensland, Australia.

In the words of Pastor Hilmi, the Christian Nuba Church in Australia is supporting the faithful back in Sudan’s Nuba Mountain spiritually and financially. Recently, they dispatched a delegation to Nuba Mountain for support and encouragement to withstand the strains on the ground. Also the issue of Darfur is a matter of concern among many Christian Sudanese here and the SPLM Chapter in this country.


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	The Role of the Church in Diaspora, Australia By Barchoch Tut Jing 28th January 2008 Sources: (Gurtong) The Sudanese Christian Church in Australia provides a conducive environment for Sudanese children where they learn their local Sudanese languages and culture. The church is working hard in passing on the Sudanese identity to the younger generation, many of whom were born here or came when children. The church is trying relentlessly to make these children grow up with powerful identity that would enable them overcome the distortion of western liberalism. However, Pastor Hilmi of Sudanese Fellowship of Sydney, Australia acknowledged how difficult this could be without help from the parents and caretakers. The major concern for the Sudanese Christian Church leaders in Australia is children growing up in a culture different from the Sudanese one and the liberal behaviour that pushes children away from Godly life. The Nuer Christian Church leaders in Queensland teach their children Thoknath, hymns in Nuer and educate them about Nuer way of life. The church leaders handle this by visiting and preaching the word of God to parents and other adults to lure them to Godly lfe. “We the church leaders encourage the parents and caretakers to act as examples to the children because children are like a blank paper which depends on what you write on it.” This implies that children imitate what the adults do, thus if the guardians and caretakers do well in life the children can follow suit. Pastor Jacob Deng of Uniting Church from Melbourne said advising adults from the Sudanese Community who are his church members to care for children is a task he always shoulder. The church is also working hard for the unity of purpose among the Sudanese Diaspora in Australia. In Queensland, the seven Sudanese Christian Churches are under one leadership, a move that looks similar as that of New Sudan Council of Churches which was formed in 1989 in Torit, New Sudan. The Sudanese Christian Churches in Sydney is in the process to follow suit. It should be recalled that NSCC brought the Wunlit and people to people peace. Similarly, the church in Australia is trying to bring the Sudanese of all walks together by uniting the leadership of the church as done in Queensland, Australia to encourage the faithful to realize the important of unity here and back home. “The Sudanese Christian Church in Queensland encourages the union of purpose among the people living here in this state, which they do through visiting each other as well celebrating special days together.” Thus, in 2005 the church leaders in Queensland sat down and discussed how Sudanese people from all walks could unite as people with one purpose and dreams. “We agreed that let us forget all that divided us in the past, now we are in Australia, we must unite and march on as people with the same cause”, said Moses Mayian Wan, the current Sudanese Christian Church in Queensland, Australia. In the words of Pastor Hilmi, the Christian Nuba Church in Australia is supporting the faithful back in Sudan’s Nuba Mountain spiritually and financially. Recently, they dispatched a delegation to Nuba Mountain for support and encouragement to withstand the strains on the ground. Also the issue of Darfur is a matter of concern among many Christian Sudanese here and the SPLM Chapter in this country.
	Philip Thon Aleu Source: ST January 25, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) Jonlgei governor has appealed upon Upper Nile Church leaders who met here today to work for peaceful coexistence among different tribes and promote the spirit of peace. The long awaited Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) Upper Nile Conference has began on Friday January 25 in Bor town, Southern Sudan. High on the agenda is the ‘Name of the new diocese’ created out of Bor diocese earlier registered as Kongor.
			Kuol Manyang Juk (ST)
	The governor of Jonglei state, Lt. Gen. Kuol Manyang witnessed the opening ceremony in Laudier church, Bor town, today. Delivering his opening speech, the governor called for the effort of church leaders to work for peace and non segregating co-existence among the people. “When you read the Ten Commandments, you will realize that they are all about peace. And as children of God, we must work for peace,” said Mr. Manyang shortly before declaring the conference open. The conference brought all the high ranking church leaders of the region (Upper Nile) to Bor town. Rt. Rev. canon Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, the acting ECS bishop of the Sudan and the bishop of Bor diocese is chairing the conference. Bishops Daniel Deng Bul, Hillary Garang Deng and Ezakiel Diing Ajang, the assistance bishop of Bor diocese, are attending the conference. The conference is expected to last three or four days. Nearly all units of church in Upper Nile region are represented; including what appears to be minor because the first agenda is very sensitive. Getting an accepted name for the diocese created out of Bor had remained a setback for long in the regional church system. Some church leaders, from Twic area, want their diocese be called Kongor while others prefer being called Twic East and Duk diocese. Kongor is an area within Twic East County while Duk is an independent County, all in Jonglei state. Those refusing the naming of the diocese being Kongor say it is squeezing ‘a horse through the eye of the needle.’ This may as well pave a way to seek an independent Duk diocese leaving alone the fierce debate within Twic East community, some observers added so. Those preferring Kongor claims it is the continuation of the existing area name. Prior to the meeting, the bishop of Reng, Rt. Rev. Daniel Deng told a youth conference earlier January in Bor town that politics shouldn’t interfere with faith. “As Christians, we shouldn’t allow politicians to drive us. What is it to politicians talking about Kongor diocese or whatsoever?” He was referring to this conference. Other agendas are the possible creation of Malek, Duk dioceses and other plans in the regional church. (ST) South Sudan’s Bor-Mudari communities end peace conference Philip Thon Aleu 25/01/2008 15:54:36 Source: (Sudan Tribune) January 24, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) – Representatives from Bor and Mudari communities ended a conference on peaceful coexistence and sharing of grazing land. The parties agreed to form a committee to resolve litigious issues. But, the outcome of the meeting is considered by one side as half full and the other as half empty. The commissioner of Terekeka county, Juma Ali Malou described the peace conference held in his county as successful. Giving his closing speech on Tuesday, the last day of the two day long conference at Gameiza, a town in the north of South Sudan capital Juba (100 miles), Mr. Ali said the event is a remarkable one. "Today is a remarkable day in Mudari and Bor hishory. It is a day of peace," said Mr. Ali adding that all the necessary steps should be followed to realise peace coexistence. The conference, attended by Bor county commissioner, Abraham Jok Aring also attracted many religious leaders, Members of the respective states Assemblies, Payam leaders, among others, started on Monday 21 and end Tuesday 22. Both side resoluted that a sixteen members committee be formed to work on the burning issues. The committee should be comprised of either sides members. Movement of people will not be restricted but any agenda concerning cattle movement is a later case, read the resolution from Mudari community. Bor had wanted their cattle be allowed to graze in Toch (land between rivers). A request Mudari refused. Tension between Bor Dinka and Mudari communities remained high after a group of unknown gunmen looted proprieties and killed more than ten people in September 2007 in Mudari village. Forth to that incident, a man was killed in Bor territory. The Mudari responded by carrying out attacks on Bor-Juba road killing tens of people, most of whom Bor citizens. Other accusations both sides made include what they called ’threatening theft’, killing of weak and innocent people stealing of cattle and child abduction. Bor commissioner, Abraham Jok Aring told reporters that the conference can’t be called a success or failure. "We have agreed on principles. It is a long way to see total peace but as far now, I am hopeful that peace is returning," said Mr. Aring adding that his counter part Mr. Ali is a man of peace. However, the likely failures includes the refusal of Mudari community to allow Bor cattle to the grazing land in their territory, demarcation of border that extends to Pariak in Bor territory, quitting of their land by Bor citizens now, and the interfering of Bor cattle with Mudari’s gardens in summer. Wau Bishop heads new leadership of Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference 13/01/2008 Source: ST January 11, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference has a new leadership headed by Bishop Rudolph Deng of Wau Diocese, the Catholic Information Service for Africa announced today. Bishop Deng takes over as SCBC president from Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba. The new SCBC leadership has a mandate of three years, until January 2011. In the new administration, Archbishop Lukudu will head the Commission for the Seminaries. The other members of the commission are Bishops Erkolano Lodu Yombe of Yei and Joseph Gasi Abangite of Tombora-Yambio. Bishop Yombe will lead the Commission for Priests and the Council for Religious, assisted by bishops Vincent Moywok Nyiker of Malakal and Paride Taban, bishop emeritus of Torit. Bishop Antonio Menegazzo of El Obeid is the new head of the Commission for Palica, in charge of liturgy, ecumenism, laity, family and women’s issues. The members of this commission are Bishops Akio Muttek Johnson of Torit and Daniel Adwok Kur, auxiliary of Khartoum. The administrative board, made up of Bishops Deng, Nyiker and Menegazzo will take charge of finance, aid and development departments. The head of the Communications Department is Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek, while Bishop Kur of Khartoum will be in charge of Justice and Peace. (ST)

The Role of the Church in Diaspora, Australia

South Sudan’s Bor-Mudari communities end peace conference

Wau Bishop heads new leadership of Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference