Well, we seem to have wasted some time money and effort here…

Ouch, that’s gonna leave a mark.

Is this Bishop at Lambeth?

Wow. That is very direct and to the point, while maintaining a standard of Christian charity. (Compare to the Naughton and Chane commentary of recent days).  Prayers of Thanksgiving for this gift from our brothers and sisters in Sudan, and for their steadfast defense of the Communion and our Lord.

Who would have guessed that TEC $$$ didn’t match up with the IRD chicken dinner?

It should be obvious to everyone, that those who face real persecution and real obstacles to following Christ from Islamic governments and forces have no time for innovative Christianity that teaches there is no sin but there are many legitimate and right paths to God.

God bless these faithful warriors for God.  Increase their boldness and protect them as they walk into the fiery furnace.  They will not be alone.

This must be some of those demonic African bishops that Chane was going on about. I hope he takes a few moments out from visiting The Shops to read this.

I’d give my right arm for a clear, direct statement like this from ++Rowan.

Oooh, The Kate ain’t gonna be happy about this.

Wanna bet Darfur disappears as a TEC talking point when discussing “mission.”

Anglicans of the world, Unite! You have nothing to loose but your Chanes!

How wonderful to have such a strong and direct statement of belief.  Would that TEC would put forth such a statement—even if it were in total support of the other side…at least we could deal more easily with it.

Hurray!  At last!  Better late than never.  This is marvelous news.

I have met Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, Bp. of Renk, and he is a true man of God.  Since he has for years bravely faced the murderous and genocidal National Islamic Front that tyrannizes Sudan and is committed to Islamizing not only Sudan but all East Africa by force, it’s not surprising that he and his fellow bishops are finally taking a clear, forceful stand against the scandalous and inexcusable actions of TEC in promoting a false gospel and fostering blatant immorality.

TEC has spent a LOT of money trying to bribe the leaders of the ECOS (Episcopal Church of Sudan) into silence and sitting out this fight.  They could never buy their support, but many of us have longed for years that Sudan would join with the rest of the African provinces in forcefully condemning the outrageous and inexcusable actions of TEC.  And now they’ve finally done it.

Given the utterly desperate needs of this totally impoverished country, and the large amount of money that 815 and Trinity, Wall Street, have been doling out there, this is a very costly, very courageous stand they are taking.  “New Sudan,” the southern part of the country seeking independence from the Muslim north, probably has the dubious distinction of being the poorest nation on earth; things are worse there than in Haiti, worse than Bangldesh etc.

This is great news.  Thanks be to God.

For those unfamiliar with ECOS, it is now one of the largest provinces in the AC. It’s also one of the fastest growing ones too, despite severe, relentless persecution by fanatical Muslims.  Due to the massive influx of converts among the dominant Dinka tribe in southern Sudan (and ++Daniel Deng Bul is one of the Dinka bishops), where hundreds of whole villages have converted en masse to the Christian faith in the last three or four decades, ECOS now rivals Kenya as the third or fourth largest province in the AC, with over 5 million members.  That’s more than twice the size of TEC, and almost twice the actual size of the C of E (in terms of real, active members).  That is, after the giant provinces of Nigeria (with its almost 20 million members) and Uganda (with over 9 million), Sudan is now competing with Kenya for the bronze medal in terms of the number of active members (far exceeding England’s active membership).  And that certainly adds to the profound symbolic significance of this bold statement.

There is no province that TEC has tried so hard to buy.  This is a MAJOR setback for 815.  Hallelujah!

If any of you reading this are moved to show your gratitude for this costly, sacrificial stand our faithful brothers and sisters in Sudan have just taken, I hope you’ll consider contributing to the archbishop’s emergency fund, or to helping to underwrite the completion of the translation of the Bible into Dinka.  Wycliffe Bible Translators has been at work on that project for years, trying to complete the Old Testament in the language of that very large, nomadic tribe of cattle herders (similar in many ways to the more famous nomadic Masai tribe of Kenya).  But the needs in Sudan are endless and overwhelming.  In the area covered by the Diocese of Renk, there is just one high school that serves a population of about a million people.  There are virtually no paved roads anywhere in southern Sudan.  The brutal Islamic government in Khartoum refused to invest any money whatsoever in developing the infrastructure of southern Sudan (until oil was discovered there, and even since then, there’s been virtually no investment in the region).  I’m sure the ARD (Anglican Relief and Development Fund) might be an appropriate channel for such gifts.

David Handy+

Oops, I see that I should have said that ++Daniel Deng Bul is the Bishop of Juba, the capital of southern Sudan or New Sudan.  He was formerly the Bishop of Renk.

I hope that more people who are familiar with that most sorely persecuted of all churches in the AC will chime in and enhance this thread.  Especially someone like Prof. Grant LeMarquand of Trinity School of Ministry in Ambridge, who recently published a book containing the edited journal of that late, great Episcopal missionary to the Dinkas, Marc Nikkel, from SW Virginia, who died of cancer a few years ago. 

This is a province that needs to be much better known and appreciated.  Maybe this tremendous statement, doubtless made at great cost in terms of the loss of future funds from TEC, will spark new interest in this remarkable Church, that is so poor in things, but so rich in soul.

David Handy+

ODC asks, “Is this a bishop at Lambeth?” The short answer is yes. The long answer…

David Virtue wrote yesterday,

To that end it has been squiring around (and paying for) the Sudanese delegation in the hope of obtaining a bigger and better foothold in that country and on the African continent. Word has it that when they were sent to Wales, before the opening of Lambeth, the bishops were put up in the private homes of homosexuals. A number went with Mrs. Jefferets Schori to Salisbury.

The TEO had the Sudanese clergy on a tour in May. I think the following conversation at Thinking Anglicans is helpful to see the full court press, the lefties were launching at the clergy of Sudan (sorry about the length):

Here is a excerpt from Tobias Heller at Thinking Anglicans:

I had the opportunity recenlty to have a personal meeting with the new Archbishop of the Sudan and his Lady Wife, along with about a handful of other gay and lesbian clergy, and three or four other representatives of my diocese, including a Ugandan bishop in exile, our Suffragan Bishop, and the Africa Officer of the (International) Episcopal Church Center.

It was a frank discussion, and valuable, I think, both for us and for the Archbishop. We did not “solve” anything, but came away from the hour-long session with greater understanding of the situation. I don’t think the Archbishop will alter his personal opposition to homosexuality—though, as he said, it is not his issue—but at least he now knows that there are gay and lesbian people who take Scripture seriously, and are doing their best to serve the church. I think we came away from the meeting with a better understanding of the practical difficulties TEC and ACoC’s decisions (but, to be fair, most blame falls on TEC) created in an environment where Muslims and Pentecostals throw, “Why do you want to be associated with a church like that?” in the face of Sudanese bishops and clergy.

Readers then wrote in response to Tobias post:

Tobias, I think this meeting sounds wonderful. I am concerned though that a bishop of the Church should have to be told that there are gay people who actually DO have faith. It shows the pernicious effect of the misinformation coming out of the Right.

Thank you, Tobias. You planted, and ++KJS will water, and…? (Lord, hear my prayer)

(The image of KJS “watering” makes me nauseous.) Tobias replied:

Thanks Ford,

One of the things Abp Den Bul explained was that in his culture sexuality of any sort is simply not discussed. So it isn’t just misinformation (though there is plenty of that) but also lack of information, coupled with a cultural unwillingness, or at least resistance, to even talking about heterosexuality.

At one point the Abp said emphatically, “For me it is not about gay or not. We are all children of God.” This helps me to understand others in the Global South who keep saying, “This is not our issue.” It is partly that they don’t want it to be an issue, but also that it distracts them from their primary mission, which, in their situation, is about physical needs and spiritual warfare with animism and Islamism (not to confuse the two). It also informs me on the irritation some in the GS have about “Northerners” brining their issues into the South—on either side.

I think we all need to engage in the touted “Listening Process” and that it is at least as much about culture as it is about sexuality.

And then the infamous Lisa Fox wrote:

I’d just like to say that we in the Diocese of Missouri planted seeds even before Tobias and his friends in NY had a chance to do so. [Yeah, I know that we folks in fly-over country will never get any recognition.]

Archbishop Daniel of Sudan came to Missouri before moving on to New York. We had several events for him, including some social events in which people were introduced to him with “and this is my partner xxx.”

But my hat’s especially off to Tobias and the NY folks for hosting a gay/lesbian discussion. We were afraid to do that. It was suggested to me, but I was afraid.

We hosted the Archbishop for five days, and he met a whole lot of gay/lesbian Episcopalians. I wonder if he even knew those fervent and committed Christians were gay.

One of the parishes where he celebrated was one of our most gay and most Anglo-Catholic. The day before, an article appeared in the local newspaper, in which he articulated the anti-gay line. Several of us had trouble with that, but we still attended the service, accepted Eucharist from him, and talked with him in the social time afterwards.

I mean really. People in Sudan are dying. Many of the people in our diocese who are contributing money and making trips are gay. Do the bishops and primates in Africa really care whether the people visiting them are gay or straight??

Again, I hope that the commenatrix doesn’t get mad for all the liberal quotes. But as Greg points out, it is important to understand the enemy.

Some of you might have missed this in Dean Munday’s essay I really never thought it would come to this…:

I spoke just today with a candidate for bishop in a Global South diocese. I mentioned that it was odd that none of the bishops from dioceses in his province had attended GAFCON, when only a few years ago, his province was looked on as soundly orthodox. He said sadly that his was a poor province and its bishops were “easily bought.” In the months prior to GAFCON, each of the dioceses in his province “had been visited.” (It was clear he was referring to visits by representatives of the western churches eager to see that bishops there distanced themselves from GAFCON.)

The TEO is spreading its filthy lucre everywhere.

This from the most persecuted province in the communion.  Every bishop at lambeth knows of the suffering of this province.  This is where Martyrs are being made by the bushel.  This is powerful.

Hat Tip to ECS

Its statements like this that give me hope and joy

Lets hope it isnt the last

Amen, Amen, Amen! to this statement.  The Episcopal Cathedral in Cairo hosts the ministry of Refuge Egypt, where tens of thousands of refugees from Sudan have been given assistance and medical care.  It is a privilege and honor to worship with Sudanese and other sub-Saharan African refugees.  The sincerity and depth of their faith is humbling.

Thanks Robroy! I got my answer and then some. I don’t get something here though….
Adultery is a sin, sex of any kind outside of marriage is a sin. There are a bunch of committed hetrosexuals not married but living with each other who are devoted to Christianity & their faith just like the LGBT people are. So how is that just because they, the LGBT’s, are touting being devoted to their Christian faith is somehow better than a heterosexual couple committed outside of wedlock might be and that because they are devoted to their faith and Christianity then all should be good with it?
I find it appalling that they would put the Bishop and his wife up with homosexuals. That’s down right intentionally rude! We live in a twisted ol’ world and the Lord Jesus can’t get here fast enough IMHO!

He said sadly that his was a poor province and its bishops were “easily bought.” In the months prior to GAFCON, each of the dioceses in his province “had been visited.”

Apparently the Most Revd Dr Daniel Deng Bul is not as “easily bought” as the money changers who “visited” him expected him to be.

Jackie,
Don’t you think the title of your post should be, “The Primate of the Episcopal Church Rejects Homosexual Practice” ?

Betty See, Dean Munday did not specify which province, so it most definitely might not have been Sudan. I only included that to point out how they TEO is spreading around its lucre.

ODC, I certainly agree. I have said that the liberals, if they cared about doing right, would advocate first for “Christian homosexual marriage” then push for homosexual clergy who have been “married.”

I don’t know why this should be regarded as something new. The Archbishop’s view on sexuality is well known. But before rushing too quickly to claim him as ‘one of the fold’ in all regards, consider the following, taken from an interview with the Sudanese journalist Manasseh Zindo - http://www.madingaweil.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=37808&sid=8f4acef3fa1e16261b19e75721081a26
The Archbishop is a man of independent thinking who will not be easily ‘co-opted’ by either side.

On the lack of consultation with, and sidelining of, ECS by CAPA

...he does not think split is the way forward. I put it to the Archbishop that, by leading his troops to Lambeth, he was letting down his African brothers who have boycotted the gathering that will bring together an estimated 700 Bishops at the University of Kent in Canterbury. Archbishop Deng in response said the Episcopal Church of Sudan was not consulted under Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA), by the African colleagues who have boycotted the forum, and said the Church in Sudan, one of the fastest growing Church with large population in the Anglican Communion, was sidelined by CAPA and ECS will not be taken by waves but will make its own independent resolution on the future of the world-wide communion.
  I know that our former Archbishop was in poor health, but the Church Council was there. I was the secretary, CAPA did not meet to discuss Lambeth, or if it did, Sudan was not invited, Deng said on his African brothers who are boycotting Lambeth.

On the charge of accepting TEC ‘bribes’:

The Archbishop who has come into office when the world-wide Anglican Communion is going through turbulent times denied that ECS has been induced to remain in the Communion with hand-outs. He shot back at those making such allegations accusing them of hypocrisy. He said such talk was stereotype view of ECS but in a tone that seemed to explain that there are hand-exchanges behind scene, the primate said: Who has not been given money? We know what is happening. We are conservatives too but those claiming to be conservatives are not honest. We should stop being hypocrites and preach the truth.

On boycotting Lambeth, and GAFCON:

Deng said, boycotting Lambeth, a traditional meeting place of the Anglican Bishops for alternative gathering in Jerusalem was not the solution to problems of the Anglican Church and that is why he refused to attend Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) he said, but confirmed that he had sent two Bishops to attend the conference ending in Jerusalem…He said during the African-American Bishops meeting in Spain last year which he attended the Bishops in Africa were open to their American brothers on the issue of human sexuality and he believes the Church in America is aware of the stand of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

On ‘missionary bishops’ and ‘alternative oversight’:

The Archbishop criticized the idea of missionary bishops and said it was setting a dangerous prototype in the Anglican Communion. Why consecrate a white bishop in Africa and call him Bishop of this state in America? Deng questioned. For example, the tradition is that I cannot preach in Uganda leave alone ordinate a priest without the consent of the Archbishop of Uganda, he said.

You realize ++Deng Bul is “just” an African Bishop & not enlightened to the great cultural successes enjoyed by his counter parts over here. His pleas will fall on deaf ears. TEC isn’t a imperialistic body who would force its views on anyone else, they only “introduce” them to the right body ( direction, not political) through vast resources that enable the select downtrodden to have their way over the majority of natives so that all can enjoy the civil liberties of being a Christan.

Actually many thanks to the ++Sudanese brother for standing up in a midst of wolves to clarify our point. It will however fall on deaf ears as the imperialistic US contingency will keep VGR out front & center to keep the squeaky wheels quiet.

Fr. Handy @ 11.  On the choice of the ARD to help Sudan.  If that vehicle is chosen, might “conservatives” in the US be accused of attemting to bribe the Sudanese?  Uganda has resounding refused help from TEC.  My little TEC church does provide aid, but we give it through the Roman Catholics across the street so the Ugandan school children and their families won’t know it is from us.  You could send the aid through many international agencies CARE, Doctors without Borders etc.,

The only thing I would like to see in some of these statements, which are a welcome contrast to the direction Lambeth is headed, would be:
Those in the Church, who for various reasons, cannot live in the martial relationship as God established it, namely that of one and and one woman, should live single lives in celibacy and holiness before God.

EmilyH (#23),

I’m glad your church is still contributing to the desperate needs in an impoverished country like Uganda.  Our brothers and sisters there need all the help they can get.  But they won’t take “tainted” money that comes with strings attached.

You are, of course, free to perceive any funds contributed to Sudan or Uganda or similar places through ARD or other conservative groups as being no different in kind.  But that’s up to the recipients to decide, isn’t it?

Just so there is no misunderstanding here, I am NOT claiming that ALL monies contributed to Sudan from sources in TEC have been attempts at bribing the leaders of the ECOS into silence and neutrality with regard to the Anglican civil war over homosexuality and biblical authority.  For instance, here in Virginia, there is a very large, wealthy, and very liberal parish in Alexandria, Christ Church (a famous, colonial era parish) that for years has been contributing generously to various projects in Sudan and sponsoring medical mission trips and helping to underwrite the translation of the Old Testament into the Dinka language.  I know some of the people involved in that effort to help the Sudanese and their persistent commitment to helping the ECOS can’t be dismissed as merely driven by any desire to manipulate the Sudanese church. 

Anyone who begins to learn how utterly desperate and overwhelming are the needs in New Sudan can’t help but be moved with compassion, unless you have a heart of stone.  Thus Dr. Riohard Jones, professor of missions at VTS, has been a leader in helping organize a group to raise money to help that is intended to be bipartisan, the American Friends of the ECOS.  Many of us conservatives don’t trust this outfit, because the leadership of it is in liberal hands, but I would not want to be so rash as to deny that such valiant attempts to aid the Sudanese are driven only or even mainly by political motives.  I’m not that cynical.

So let me say it again, I’m glad your congregation is still contributing to meeting the massive needs of our fellow Christians in Uganda.  Would that more parishes were doing so, all across the theological spectrum!

David Handy+

Micky, news flash - I am happy to claim this bishop as “one of the fold”. I don’t care if he believes GAFCon is the way to go. I don’t care if he’s suspicious of American bishops (I would be, too.) He is an orthodox Christian serving God in one of the most difficult places in the world and he speaks out his faith strongly. May God bless him.

We support anyone that preaches the Gospel.  The real one, not the revisionist counterfeit.

Thank you, good bishop, for your stand.  It speaks the truth clearly, directly, and in the humble spirit of one who truly wants to be in right relationship with others in Christ’s Church visible on earth.

Is anyone listening at Lambeth?  One who represents other Anglicans in the Global South (and in every place), whose voice and narrative echo the real pain and reason of our division, has spoken - Will you respond?

I pray daily as God’s Spirit directs the voices of those whose hearts are committed to Him alone. May the pure hearts of those who love the LORD more than their plans be the unifying “force” at Lambeth; all other forces will fail.

Carrie

Given the utterly desperate needs of this totally impoverished country, and the large amount of money that 815 and Trinity, Wall Street, have been doling out there, this is a very costly, very courageous stand they are taking.

This act of faithfulness to the Gospel belongs in that long list in Hebrews 11 of the heroes of faith.  Thanks be to God for giving them the strength and courage to stand tall.

We ought to find every way we can to support the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, perhaps through the Anglicann Relief and Development Fund of the Network.

NRA (#11 & 12) mentioned Wycliffe doing Bible translation work in Sudan.
Here is an article from Wycliffe’s site about how the ECOS is taking a leading role in that work.

Our family has also supported Samaritan’s Purse as they’ve committed to help rebuild church buildings destroyed during fighting in Sudan.

Sudan is a deep tragedy - my family have been associated with the country for over 100 years. My great uncle Jack was the Atorney General and was honoured to write the country’s first constitution at independence. It has been heartbreaking to loose so many family friends in the interminable wars and famines.

The diocese of Salisbury and the Sudan have had the most meaningful and truly mutually enriching relationship since I can remember .......

But let us remember that they issued another statement on Dafur - it would be good to see that posted here too.

Micky
It seems that you define where one stands based on their political stance (GAFCON/Lambeth). I would consider him in the conservative fold based on where he stands theologically (Bible truth/individual truth).

It’s interesting that the financially poorer provinces seem to be more faithful to the Bible, although not surprising Matthew 19:24.

On the choice of the ARD to help Sudan.  If that vehicle is chosen, might “conservatives” in the US be accused of attemting to bribe the Sudanese?

They might, if the accusation came from Revisionists.  Why, just a few weeks ago, I read Jake’s speculation to his pace that GAFCON was funded by a Dominionist sugar-daddy. 
He:
- neglected to mention that the man distanced himself from Rushdooney;
- neglected to get proof that the guy was the main contributer;
- neglected to find the motives of the man;
- and neglected to explore the possibility that perhaps (at the end of the day) benefactors have the right to contribute their own money as they see fit. 

Basically, it was a fanciful twaddle of connect-the-dots, with most of the dots missing.  The only thing remarkable about it, was that people thought it was a superb piece of journalism. 

Might US conservatives be accused of being sugar-daddies for Sudanese Anglicans?  I’d bank on it.  But then, I know where such accusations come from, and weight them accordingly.

Another avenue of financial donation:  I have made a couple of contributions to specific Sudan clergy needs through +Bill Atwood’s Ekklesia ( http://www.ekk.org ).

God bless the Sudanese Bishops!  I agree with Jeffersonian (#8):

I’d give my right arm for a clear, direct statement like this from ++Rowan.

As for giving to the Church in Africa (I agree with Dr. Handy that ARDF is an excellent channel) we ought to give because Christ commands it; it is an act of love for our brothers and sisters in Christ; and it is a right, and good, and joyful thing to do it!  But there is a test that applies both to the donor and the recipient:  (1) Did the donor give with the motivition of influencing the actions of the recipient?  (2) Did the recipient Church change its policies or actions because of receiving the gift? 

In this politicized environment, it is inevitable that detractors on both the right and the left will criticize the other side’s patterns of giving.  But if the answer to both of these questions is “no” (and God knows our hearts), then we simply have to forge ahead with a clear conscience.

Dr. Munday of Nashotah House (#35), and Fr. Rob Eaton of San Joachin (#34),

Thanks for chiming in and providing helpful links.  I hope many readers will not only dig deep to give themselves, but speak to friends and encourage them to give as well, or suggest their local parish do something.  Faith McDonnell at IRD (the Institue for Religion & Democracy) is another great source of up-to-date information on the needs in New Sudan and specifically the ECoS.  Faith is a friend of mine, and the director of the Religious Freedom program at IRD.  She is also a devout, charismatic Anglican who attends Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, VA (with CANA).  She has extensive contacts in Sudan.  I’d suggest calling her, at (202) 682-4131.

David Handy+

ToalltheWorld,
I know you’re asking your question in general, but I’d like to answer specifically to my giving and choice.
I heard through reports a couple of years ago that the active clergy in the Sudan, mostly then in the south, were receiving a pittance of a stipend, I mean like $30 per month, or year or something mind-numbing, and yet attempting to minister full-time.  Asking around normal channels I found out that the only way to get funds into the Sudan at that time with being confiscated (like checks through the mail, etc) was to get it in by personal delivery, and not in US dollars.  Bill’s name came up in the research.  So I contacted Bill and he gave me a time-table of his travels over there to that region, and individuals who would be “going in”, if not he himself, who could make the delivery directly to a bishop, who would then distribute as needed to clergy.
My wife decided that whatever I might have otherwise spent on a birthday gift for her that year should be given to a local Episcopal Sudanese bishop for the purpose of augmenting clergy stipends there.  We prayed about which diocese/bishop to get it to, sent it to Bill and that was it.
We did not ask for nor expect a thank you note, or whatever. All in the Lord’s hands.