The Episcopal Church of Sudan elects Bishop Daniel Deng Bul as Primate
Posted On : February 14, 2008 4:41 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO Related Categories: Sudan
ACNS: 4371
The Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) has elected the Rt Revd Daniel Deng Bul of the Diocese of Renk to serve as its next Primate.
Bishop Deng will succeed Archbishop Joseph Marona, who retired on December 31st 2007 after serving eight years as Sudan's Primate.
Bishop Deng was elected February 14 on the first ballot out of a field of three nominees during an emergency General Synod at All Saints Cathedral in Juba, Sudan.
The 75 voting delegates included bishops, clergy and laity, and a two-thirds majority of 50 votes was required to elect the new archbishop. The other candidates were Bishop Ezekiel Kondo of Khartoum and Bishop Francis Loyo of Rokoni.
Bishop Deng recieved 39 votes, Bishop Loyo 21 and Bishop Kondo 15. Kondo was eliminated and before the Synod could proceed to the second ballot, Loyo withdrew and asked all delegates to support Deng.
Addressing the Synod following his election, Rt Revd Daniel Bul pledged to work together with the whole people of God to build up the country and unite people. "We have a challenge ahead of us," declared the Archbishop-elect. "We need to teach our people for unity and love. We will do that together."
He also warned that the task ahead required commitment and perseverance. "We should not be divided along tribal lines. We are Christians. We should lead our people in peace. We must give a strong message to the people of Sudan that the Church of God is united."
Bishop Daniel Deng gave special thanks to the partners of ECS who had stood alongside ECS through difficult times, in particular the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd David Stancliffe, who had led the pre-election retreat. The Archbishop-elect declared his readiness to work with the Church's partners for the building up of the nation. He also thanked his wife, Mama Deborah Deng, for her strong support since the beginning of his ministry.
The new Archbishop is due to be enthroned on 20th April 2008 in Juba.
For further details please contact the Provincial Secretary, Revd Canon Enock Tombe, on +249 1120 9844.
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