OUR COMPANION DIOCESE OF RENK
Diocese of Renk, Episcopal Church of Sudan, is the youngest of the 24 Dioceses, officially formed in August, 1995, to spread the Gospel in the Northern Upper Nile region of Sudan. It occupies an area of 32,000 sq. km., has an estimated population over 120,000, and includes Renk Town, Maban and Melut Provinces. Gum Arabic is an important economic forest product, in addition to wood and charcoal. The Nile and its tributaries serve as good fishing ground for the population. Agriculture is also an important means of support. Bishop Daniel Deng Bul and Diocesan staff
Renk Town
Renk Diocese is on the border between the mostly Islamic north and the mostly Christian and African Traditionalist south. Bishop Daniel Deng Bul was appointed to establish this new diocese where thousands of internally displaced southern Sudanese men, women, and children have been forced to flee to safety as a result of the 20-year civil war caused by the northern Islamic Fundamentalist Government. Discovery of oil in the south also led to internal displacement as government troops forced people from villages in those areas. A Peace Agreement ended the war in July 2005, and these refugees are returning by the thousands to their devastated homeland.
Bishop Daniel received a Theology Certificate from Virginia Theological
Seminary in 1997, and returned to guide the Diocese of Renk in a direction of self-sufficiency by starting schools at all levels, training programs for women, agriculture, fishing, and poultry projects. Renk Bible College was established in partnership with St. Michael’s, Barrington, for the training of church leaders, men and women. The Diocese operates the only clinic in the area.
Clinic in Renk Town
MUTUALITY OF COMPANIONSHIP
Mother's Union
The Diocese of Chicago has companion diocese relationships with the Diocese of Southwest Mexico and the Diocese of Renk of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. All three dioceses and their bishops are pledged to mutual support, encouragement, and prayer. All three dioceses have agreed to share the resources that they have in abundance with each other: to pray for each other, to visit each other, to encourage each other, to share spiritual journeys, to extend friendships, and, where money is abundant, to share financial resources. Bishop Daniel Deng Bul of Renk, Bishop Benito Juárez Martinez of Southeast Mexico, and Bishops William Persell and Victor Scantlebury of Chicago are actively involved in this sharing.
It is so easy to think that we have so much to offer the people of the Diocese of Southeast Mexico. In relative terms, we are financially wealthy. How can our companionship be equal or balanced? Won’t our relationship be one-sided?
What you will discover is that you will learn so much from these incredible people and will receive far more than you will give. You will see living examples of people who place a priority on their relationship with God, of relying on God and trusting in God under sometimes harsh conditions. A partnering relationship is an unparalleled opportunity to truly experience the meaning of a mission.
From the Newsletter of Renk Diocese, A Good Shepherd, December 2003, a list given by Bishop Daniel for support and agreement of the Companion Diocese Relationship with Chicago and Southeast Mexico:
* Cycle of Prayer Calendar to remember clergy, seminarians, and laity of the sister parishes in each Diocese
* Involvement of Bishops, clergy, youth, ECW/Mothers Union, and laity in exchange visits among Dioceses
* Development of spiritual and physical activities across Dioceses
* Combination of strengths and mutual understanding towards attaining
a worldwide Anglican Communion
* Communication links for exchange of information and feedback in
each Diocese
* Adoption of partnerships with Chicago, Renk and Southeast Mexico for
an initial period of five years, as a base of strategic planning to achieve
common objectives
COMPANIONS YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW
Sudanese friends celebrate with newly ordained women deacons, graduates of RenkSudanese children in front of a church along the White Nile River
Since Diocesan Convention 2001, when Companion Diocese Relationships were officially formed with Renk and Southeast Mexico, many objectives have been met:
* Development of the Cycle of Prayer
* Visits from Renk Diocese by Bishop Daniel and Fr. Joseph Garang
* MTS desgrees conferred upon Frs. Ruben Chol, Joseph Garang Atem, and Abraham Noon Jiel by U.S. seminaries
* Partnerships formed between eight Chicago churches and Renk parishes: Grace, Galena; St. Barnabas, Glen Ellyn; Church of Our Saviour, Elmhurst; All Saints, Chicago; St. Charles, St. Charles; Emmanuel, LaGrange; Church of the Holy Nativity, Clafendon Hills; St. Mark's Evanston with others currently in prayerful discernment and dialogue.
* Continuing Covenant of Relationship, formed in 1998 between St. Michael’s Barrington, and Renk
* Team of four from Chicago traveled to Renk Diocese and visited partner parishes in February, 2005
* Team of eight, including three from St. Michael's Barrington traveled to Renk Diocese in February, 2006, to help dedicate St. Matthew's Cathedral, continue oversight of the Bible College and for the consecration of Jackie Kraus and Fr. Al Johnson as Canons to Bishop Daniel.
BUT GOD IS NOT DEFEATED
Burlap and cardboard tukul in displacement camp “Peace” Camp near Khartoum, capital of Sudan. Displaced people construct homes out of salvaged materials with little help coming from Non Govermental Organizations.
In 2004, the Diocese of Renk experienced persecution of another kind “a cold war”, which has caused the displacement from office facilities in Khartoum, necessary to communication with partners and development work for Renk; and the demolition of Renk Bible College and high school buildings by the Government of Sudan to build “peace” highway in Renk Town.
PRAYER FOR RENK BIBLE COLLEGE
May Renk Bible College be Your example by doing Your ministry, teaching priesthood and compassion. Bless us and give us wisdom to follow Your ways without end. AMEN.
Composed by students of Renk Bible College
Fr. Joseph Garang Atem,center, Principal of Renk Bible College while it was being rebuilt.
DIOCESAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Diocesan elementary schools are constantly threatened with closure due to lack or resources for the teachers. Bishop Daniel asks the question, “How can the schools close now that peace has come, and the south must be developed?”