In Darfur, Absence Of Fighting Doesn’t Equal Peace

From Rev. Michael Ridgway, St. Stephens-in-the-Field via National Public Radio:

U.S. and international officials say the situation in Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur is improving, but that is little comfort to Darfuris, who have a very different perspective. The situation in Darfur now may not qualify as war, but many say it doesn't look like peace, either.

The outgoing commander of the international peacekeeping force in Darfur, Nigerian Gen. Martin Agwai, said in late August that the war there is essentially over. The new U.S. envoy to the region, Scott Gration, says he has noticed encouraging changes as well.

Gration says the fighting has lessened significantly between militias loyal to the Sudanese government and rebel groups. The war that has reportedly killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions is now dormant.

Read or listen to it all.

Appeal for Political Action – Sudan

From Rev. Jerry Drino, Hope with Sudan:

Attached are ten files all containing information as to how we can support political action on behalf of Sudan.  Readers are encouraged to review these resources and meet with members of congress and raise awareness; take action.

9/1/09 Appeal from the Archbishop of Sudan

1. US Policy in Sudan – What is at Stake
2. Talking Points for Meeting
3. Sudan Peace – Episcopal News Service 9/09
4. Some Pointers on Meeting with Members of Congress
5. Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
6. Letter to Members of Congress
7. General Convention Resolution (Adobe Reader required )
8. Avoiding Total War in Sudan
9. Appeal for Political Action for Sudan 9-09
10. Advocacy Position August 4th

Trio of Bishops Seek to Strengthen Communion Ties

Article from The Living Church:

The initial meeting between Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves of the Diocese of El Camino Real and Bishop Michael Perham of Gloucester, England, at the 2008 Lambeth Conference was an auspicious one. When a protester jumped up and called Bishop Gray-Reeves “a whore of the church,” Bishop Perham stepped in to help his new American acquaintance around the protesters and on to safety.

This frightening encounter brought together two parts of what has become a trio of bishops — the third is Bishop Gerard Mpango of the Western Tanganyika Diocese in Tanzania — who have linked up as companion dioceses. The combination of American, British and African dioceses is intentional. The three locations encompass three regions of discontent in the Anglican Communion. By meeting, talking and working together, the three bishops hope to show that people of different cultures, and these three cultures in particular, can maintain civil relations and look for answers to divisive issues.

Read it all.

Discussing Mission with Three Bishops

From Katy Dickinson, St. Andrews:

John and I spent this afternoon at a workshop at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in San Jose, California with our own Bishop Mary plus the two Bishops of our Companion Diocese who are visiting this week:

• The Right Reverend Mary Gray-Reeves, Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, The Episcopal Church
• The Right Reverend Gerard Mpango, Diocese of Western Tanganyika, Anglican Church of Tanzania
• The Right Reverend Michael Perham, Anglican Diocese of Gloucester, Church of England

The workshop covered several topics. There were presentations about new programs to benefit the people of Bishop Gerard's diocese, including distributing solar ovens and setting up scholarships in this very poor area. John and I were in the "mission" discussion group with Bishops Michael and Gerard plus Reverend Canon Daniel Nyugwa (on Bishop Gerard's staff), Reverend Canon Brian Nordwick (El Camino Real's Diocesan Administrator), and Rev. Amy Denny-Zuniga (Priest-in-charge of St. Luke's, Hollister, and recently a missionary serving in El Salvador).

To see photographs and Read it all.

Companion Diocese Visitation Updates

Daily summaries of our companion dioceses activities and visitations are available on the diocesan website!  Click here or copy and paste the following URL: http://www.edecr.org/companion/companionupdates.htm

The diocesan visitation schedule is available here or by clicking the following URL: http://www.edecr.org/companion/companiondocs/Companion-VisitSchedule-200909.pdf 

Attacks in Sudan and new martyrs

From Rev. Jerry Drino,
More martyrs are being added daily in the Sudan. (Please see the these attached files: Sudan Tribune Account of Attack 8-30-09 & Archbishop of Sudan - Appeal 9-1-09) Jerry is asking the diocese for prayers and to be prepared to act by contacting their local member of Congress regarding this situation. He has asked the Office of Government Relations in DC to prepare a briefing statement which can be taken by members of our diocese to their local Member of Congress. We are gathering a national response to the Congress over this situation and should have an action plan in place in a few days. He has been in touch with Robin (Denney) who is safe in Juba but is deeply concerned with what is happening in the new Diocese of Twic East, where his friend Mark Atem Thuc is bishop-elect, and in the Diocese of Ezo.

The icon surely depicts the moment last Friday when Archdeacon Joseph Garang was gunned down at the altar with ten others as he was leading morning prayer.

Tribal attacks continue in Bor, Southern Sudan

From Carol Pecora, Hope With Sudan:
Lost Boys of Sudan, living in San Jose continue to lose family members in tribal massacres taking place today. Gabriel Makuei Tor lost his older brother last week in the raid mentioned below. Two weeks ago, James Majork Deng and Simon Kuri Deng lost their uncle in a similar raid. Peter Nyok's aunt who raised him was killed on Palm Sunday.
8/29/09
It is reported that a militia of over 500 had been deployed by the Khartoum Government to destabilize Jonglei State because of the leadership they represent in opposing the Government and moving forward with plans of the election in 2011 which will divide Sudan. He said that the militia attached the church compound where Archdeacon Joseph Garang and other church leaders were sleeping. The archdeacon, who is the administrator for Mark, was killed. Those who were wounded were transported to Juba but many of them died on the way.
Go to the Sudan Tribune web site and read the article by Philip Thon Alue, who was a recipient of scholarship assistance from Hope With Sudan.
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article32287
Regarding these recent killings in Bor, a meeting is being organized with Zoe Lofgren, member of our House of Representatives, to urge her to take action in the US Congress.
How can your help? Support Hope With Sudan & visit our website:
http://hopewithsudan.org/get-involved/