Author: AFRECS

Western Equatoria Builds Peace between Zande and Balanda

by Jack Mathias and Leslie Siegmund

Two local groups, Zande and Balanda, had recently experienced devastating mutual violence in Tambura, including the killing of over 200 people, hundreds of injuries, and large loss of property. In response, hundreds gathered during the last week of September 2023 to witness a soccer tournament among six teams and participate in a peace conference facilitated by Bishops Moses Zungo (Maridi), Richard Aquila (Nzara), and the host, Isaac Ephraim Bangisa (Ezo), with co-operation from Ezo County authorities.

Organizers report greater trust and forgiveness among the people, as well as awareness of the dangers of violence, alcohol, drug abuse, witchcraft.

The gathering saw 12 marriages, 30 confirmations, and the ordination of several deacons and priests; training for Bible study and Mothers’ Union; and reaching out to those lost and traumatized. The conference was supported by the Internal Province of Western Equatoria as well as St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, Virginia.

The new Bishop Ruati Guesthouse in Ezo was put to good use by participants in the conference. 

Who’s Who on the AFRECS Board

A lay preacher in the United Methodist Church, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, and 2011-12 in served as as Senior Advisor on Darfur for the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan:  Executive Director Dane Smith

A retired lawyer in the homebuilding industry and attends Church of the Ascension in Denver, Colorado: Phil Darrow

Our President, Anita Sanborn’s early career focused on community organizing, maternal and child health, and long-term care. As a lay leader in the Episcopal Church in Colorado, she became engaged with the Sudanese refugees arriving in the early 2000s.  Many trips to the Sudans followed and she has been a Board member of AFRECS for several terms, beginning in 2004.  She now resides in Indiana.

Our Treasurer Larry Duffee spent three years as a missionary of The Episcopal Church to the Episcopal Church of Sudan — initially intending to devote only four months helping the Provincial Secretary’s office in Juba develop improved methods of financial management.

A retired Senior Counsel at the international law firm Baker Botts LLP in Washington, DC , and non-resident Fellow at the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies, Rice University, focusing on international and energy matters.  In 1992-94 he opened a law office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and served as outside counsel for the National U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce for a decade: Steven Miles

Susan E. Bentley retired after serving 23 years as rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Virginia including 14 years as pastor to a “nesting” congregation of South Sudanese who share space with the English-speaking congregation. 

Ellen Davis teaches Bible and practical theology at Duke Divinity School and consults as a theologian in the Anglican Communion, especially East Africa.

Frederick Gilbert has consulted onAfrica, especially economic development planning, program management, and evaluation, since he retired from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1994.

Frederick L. Houghton, a retired priest of Eastern Michigan, taught at St. Mary’s Theological School, Odibo, Namibia, and in 2000 spent six weeks at Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenya teaching in the Malek Bible School and briefly visiting with Bishop Nathaniel Garang in the Diocese of Bor.

James A. Hubbard is a priest living in Amherst, Virginia who has served Episcopal parishes in Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and New York. He has completed an East-West and a North-South bicycle trek across the U.S. and served as a host during summer sessions at Chatauqua, New York.

The author of How to Talk with your Muslim Neighbor (Forward Movement Publications, 2004), living in Alexandria, Virginia: Rev. Richard J. Jones

Thomas Staal retired in 2019 as Counselor/Senior Advisor after a career with USAID, starting as an Emergency Program Officer in Khartoum in the aftermath of the famine of the mid 80s, then as a Food for Peace officer covering Ethiopia, southern Sudan, Uganda, and Somalia.

The newest member of the AFRECS Board, The Rev. Shirley Smith-Graham, has served in ordained ministry for almost 20 years. After attending the Virginia Theological Seminary, Shirley worked with both The Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC, as a pastoral presence to homeless persons, and with Historic Christ Church in Alexandria. She has served parishes in both the Diocese of Virginia and Southwest Virginia and joined the Diocese of Virginia staff in 2022 as Interim Minister for Transition. 

Two Messages from the Sudans

Christmas messages of Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo in Port Sudan and Anglican Communion Secretary-General Anthony Poggo in London: Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan appeals for peace in Christmas message

January 14 from Bishop Michael Deng Bol of Abyei: “Many refugees and returnees from Sudan are coming into Abyei town on daily basis. Children and elderly people are lacking for food and shelters. Please kindly pray for them. Organizations are doing nothing to help them.” Contact through the Rev. Anderia Lual Arok in Phoenix, Arizona anderialual@yahoo.com.

The Biden Administration has been struggling to move the devastating conflict in Sudan toward a cease-fire between the Sudan Armed Forces and the RSF and toward a civilian-led political transition.  Efforts are being made to dissuade the UAE from its armed support for the RSF, channeled through a secret base in Chad.  Both Vice President Harris and NSC Advisor Sullivan have made that point at the most senior levels.  Former Congressman Tom Pierrello (pictured), who served earlier under President Obama as Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes, has been designated Special Envoy for Sudan, but the scope of his responsibilities is still being worked out.  While there is deep concern at State and the White House about the direction in Sudan, Secretary of State Blinken already has his hands full with Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, Taiwan, and North Korea. As I write, he is making his fourth visit to the continent, but not to its northeast quadrant.

Meanwhile in 2024 AFRECS will be seeking to reinforce financial support for Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo, Primate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, as he seeks to consolidate church leadership from Port Sudan, rather than a ravaged Khartoum, and to generate support for its few far-flung parishes in different parts of the country.

Dane Smith, Executive Director