For three decades, the Diocese of Virginia has sustained friendships with the dioceses of Ezo, Renk, and Ayod in South Sudan. Continuing a relationship with the Diocese of Ezo, Rector Weston Matthews together with Jack Mathias and Leslie Siegmund of St. Francis, Great Falls, plan to meet in February in the Diocese of Salisbury, England with Bishop Isaac and Mama Nora of the Diocese of Ezo. Through the Rev. Joy Warburton, the Mothers’ Union Branch of Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington, contributes resources for internally displaced persons in Ezo. St. Mary’s, Arlington lay leaders Russell Randle and Diane and Ed Wright have sent funds to Renk Diocese to support refugees arriving from Sudan and train new evangelists. After the November visit of Bishop Thomas Tut Gany, Anne and Jon Spear of St. Thomas, McLean, have provided resources for a school in Diocese of Ayod, exploring a new relationship. St. Paul’s, Alexandria, has supported a primary school in Renk for 30 years with “Pennies from Heaven,” contributed by their pre-school students. Other Virginia parishes support Hope and Resurrection Secondary School near Rumbek.
Diocese of Virginia Connects to South Sudan
