The House of Bishops said they were encouraged by the 18 TEC Bishops who issued a minority report dissenting to the TEC resolutions. "We encourage these Bishops to stand firm on their position as well as those parishes within the TEC who disagree with TEC resolutions but abide with the Biblical understanding that marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman.

"Because of the position taken by TEC over marriage, the Sudanese House of Bishops recommend to their Provincial Synod to sever relationships with TEC and any other Provinces or Dioceses that approves liturgy for blessing same sex relationship. We will make exception to the dioceses of the 18 TEC Bishops who issued the minority letter of objections to TEC Convention resolutions," they wrote.

"The House of Bishops agreed to formally recognize the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA) and recommended that Archbishop and Primate Daniel Deng Bul forge relationships with the ACNA.

"The House of Bishops also affirmed its commitment to be part of Global South and the GAFCON fellowship.

"We realize that there are South Sudanese diaspora congregations that are originally from ECSS&S and are currently under TEC dioceses and Provinces which support same sex relations. We encourage such congregations that are in the US to join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) parishes where they exist.

"The House of Bishops meeting in the Diocese of Juba, Central Equatoria (November 25-28, 2015) reflected on the life of the church and the general situation in their countries and called on leaders in South Sudan and the Sudan to bring about a constructive peace in the two nations. "We call for all citizens of South Sudan and the Sudan to speak with one voice for a lasting peace and stop hate speech that incites hatred and war.

"In South Sudan and the Sudan, our people are denied peace by their own government who are supposed to protect and care for them. We find people traumatized by the fighting. We ask the Almighty God to reign His glory upon us.

"As faith leaders from the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and the Sudan, we share the pain and the suffering of our people who are victims of the political power struggle that has put our nations at the edge of the sword. We challenge the culture of violence and impunity, revenge and tribalism. In particular we urge the South Sudan government, opposition and former political detainees to give peace a chance - to listen to the voices of the innocent, to stop the drums of war and destruction. Enough people have killed and destroyed!

"As the House of Bishops, we are aware that the people of South Sudan and the Sudan are suffering from the poverty not only of material but even in the mind. We pray God to give us grace to bring change and transformation of these phenomena. What a paradox.

"In the Western and Asian worlds today people are planning to send their children to space, including Mars; in South Sudan and the Sudan, we send our children to the bush, refugee camps and graveyards. Instead of giving bread, pen and pencil to go to school, study, think and write, we give them guns and bullets, knives, pangas and spears to kill and destroy. We are denying our children access to education, good health and right for life."

The ECSS&S bishops said they fully supported the present South Sudan peace agreement signed in August 2015 by the warring parties. "We encourage them to respect the ceasefire, lay down arms and work with IGAD, AU and Troika to form the Transitional Government of National Unity. We thank the above international and regional bodies in their role and support of peace in our beloved two nations. We call upon the government of South Sudan and the opposition to expedite all processes of August 2015 Peace Agreement to end the suffering of our people.

"We condemn the continuation of war and violence in all our states. We call on all faith leaders of these countries to join us in speaking out and condemning the spirit of violence. Let us remove the rocks on the way that block the processes of peace and work together to end all types of war in our countries.

"We are appalled by the beheading of a South Sudanese refugee in Libya by the Islamic State terror group. We condemn the killing and beheading of innocent people all over the world by the terrorist group and urge the government of South Sudan to protect every South Sudanese living abroad.

"We affirm our commitment to work together with our Muslim brothers and sisters in the two countries to promote harmonious relations: tolerance, co-existence, dialogue, harmony and peace.

"We call upon South Sudan and Sudan governments, the military, community and civil society leaders to work together in spirit of unity to help end the wars in our two nations."

The Sudanese bishops said they supported their Primate's acceptance to the invitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Primates meeting in January 2016 in Canterbury.

You can view the documents from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan here:

http://www.virtueonline.org/dropbox/images/2015/12-December/ECSSSHoB.pdf

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Anglican Province of South Sudan and the Sudan Recognizes the Anglican Church in North America

ACNA Press Release
December 2, 2015

Following their November 25-28, 2015, meeting, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Province of South Sudan and the Sudan, announced that they have formally recognized the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

They also recommended that the Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul, Archbishop of the Church of South Sudan and the Sudan, forge a closer relationship with the Anglican Church in North America.

The decision to recognize the Anglican Church in North America was made in conjunction with a decision to end formal ties with The Episcopal Church (TEC). In a letter published following their meeting, the Sudanese House of Bishops pointed in particular to two resolutions passed by The Episcopal Church this past summer that redefine marriage. "In our view such innovations are not in conformity with the Scriptures," the bishops wrote.

The Sudanese House of Bishops recommended that their Provincial Synod sever their relationship with The Episcopal Church and any other province or diocese that approves liturgies for the blessing of same sex relationships.

In addition, the bishops noted that there are Sudanese "diaspora congregations" that are originally from the Church of South Sudan and the Sudan, but are currently under TEC dioceses and parishes that support same-sex blessings and marriages. The Sudanese House of Bishops encouraged these congregations to join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) wherever possible.

Archbishop Foley Beach commended the Sudanese House of Bishops, "Despite the ravages of war and the suffering of their people, they are courageously committed to standing on the historic teachings of the Bible and Anglican Church. I look forward to deepening our partnership for the cause of Jesus Christ."

END