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Excerpts from interviews on the role of the ECS for peace
Bishop Justin of Maridi (17/01/05)
- Do you think peace will last and why now after 21 years when it has not happened before?
- I think it will last because this generation has understood all the tricks that have been happening and they cannot again go back and give in to that.
- What has the ECS done to help bring about peace in Sudan?
- The ECS has struggled with the other partners and the other denominations to come together to write a joint statement to the government and the SPLA leadership, and by seeking the help of friends, at least to uplift voices so peace might come to end the suffering of Sudan.
- John Gerang said at the peace signing that the hard work has just begun, what problems do you foresee, what ‘hard work’ is to be done now that peace has been signed?
- Actually as we rejoice we are seeing many challenges ahead which needs our commitment and struggles to put things right, because the whole infrastructure has been destroyed and it is now time to work hard and to put things right, that may make the life of the people better, especially the roads and the schools, and the hospitals and many other things. So it will be a moment of hard work.
- Are there people in your diocese who will oppose peace or who will make peace difficult?
- As I see it from the expression of people everybody seems to welcome peace. Our only fear is those who will be confused by the enemy- the Islamic Government, they will be the ones who will come and confuse our people, with the money or in any other way to confuse others.
- How can the ECS help people to develop? What advice, what stewardship can it give to people?
- There are many roles that the church can take to help the people develop. One is to teach them so that they may understand what peace is, if they know the real meaning of peace they will be able to develop themselves, because for a long time they have been living in a culture of war. The second thing is also to help them so they may release the pressure and bitterness and hurt so they can concentrate on developing themselves. Also the church can seek for ways for empowering the people so that they may have the facilities and the finances which may push them.
- So the leadership of the church is key in the peace for Sudan. We know you have been doing some things towards leadership in your diocese, could you just tell us a bit about the conference you have had this week? What were its aims and what do you feel it has achieved?
- The aim of the conference was to bring the people together for fellowship after a long period of separation and also to help them release some of their bitterness and accept each other and give them the skills for reconciliation and trauma counselling so they may be able to help others who are coming.
- What role for your global partners in this? What role for CMS in helping you to do this?
- We are looking for CMS to help us in these areas. One is to empower the church leaders so they may be able to help the people effectively, because one of the problems the church has been facing is the shortage of skilled personnel. That is one way the CMS could do and also they could help us to receive the people back I term of empowering the church to have medical facilities and good schools for the returnees.
- In the next six years before the vote on independence what three things do you think are most important for your area to have in terms of development?
- First I would like to see there are primary schools whereby children
could get their education because quite a generation have gone without
education.
The second thing I would like to see is the health facility in the area should be improved so people get the right treatment.
And the third thing is that the people are able to get some ways of helping themselves instead of being dependent all the time.
Bishop of Rumbec (15/01/05)
- How did you feel when you heard peace had been signed?
- …the first thing that came to my mind was our people have been release from the war torn, and I was really very happy and I felt that we will be shifting from the culture of war to the culture of peace.
- Do you think the peace will last and why do you think it will last?
- I think peace will last if the two parties will really agreed to what they have signed. I think peace will last if all the people from the north and the south can sit and really put what has been signed into implementation. But it will not last unless …we say no for war and yes for peace.
- What role for the church in maintaining peace in Southern Sudan?
- You see, the Church are the eyes of the community, the church is the ears of the community, church is the voice for the voiceless. If we as the church leaders, if we sit and we say ‘let us educate our people, for how they can maintian the peace’, as Jesus is the prince of peace, peace will be maintianed. Church is the place where we can really play the big role. The church has been with its suffering people and we have been encouraging them, for this last twenty one years. Now is the time also, we have to tell them ‘War is not good, let us come for peace’. Jesus is the prince of peace.
Three things for next 5 years
- Peace maintained
- Cathedral- as Bishop and all pastors have been consecrated under a mango tree
- The training of pastors, maintain our pastors
Moses(17/01/05)
- How did you feel when you heard peace had been signed?
- …yes I was very happy because my children, who are studying
in Uganda, they will come back to school in Sudan, that is I am very happy
about it.
Yes I think it will because even the church people and the government, they are together at last. That is the thing I know. - What can the Church do to help keep the peace in Sudan?
- For the Church people, as I see it, for five years, they are getting people for developing the church. They are getting people, they never know us here on the ground, and the church people go outside and bring the partners to help us here, that is the thing I know.
- What two things would you like to see happen I the next five years?
- We need a school. We have a road, a very bad road. We need support for the road. These are very important things. For if the road is bad, and there is no school, we are no improving.
Bishop Harold –Down and Dromore –Northen Ireland(17/01/05)
- As a Bishop from another part of the world – how do you view the strengths of the ECS?
- …It has a structure and a framework which has allowed communities to continue through very difficult times. Now sometimes it is a structure that may have its downsides; the Bishop has tremendous power, and the bishop is almost like a tribal chief, or maybe even more important, but he also is the father figure to his diocese, they gather around him and in many places the Bishop has been the only aid agency they have had, but the church has provided that framework and structure to rebuild communities. Here in Maridi for example 90% of this community is Anglican, so that the church and the community are almost the same thing.
- And what role do you see for the ECS in the future for sustaining peace?
- …there are four or five NGO I the area, each one of them has a particular thing they do, one keeps the wells going, one looks after those who have a particular illness etc. but it seems to me the church provides the frame for the jigsaw, in which all the other pieces fit. ….as community structures and political structures are re-built it may be the church has less of a role, but in the interim the church has a very real opportunity of being the key agent in the rebuilding of a community here, and indeed in southern Sudan the re-building of a new nation.
- What specific advice would you give to the church with regards to peace and reconciliation? In light of your experience in Northern Ireland troubles.
- (in reference to a session on bitterness and forgiveness)
…people had pinned their bitternesses on to a cross&hellippeople spelled out specifically what they had done and asked for forgiveness…I have heard of this happening in Northern Ireland, I don’t think I have heard it with reference to specific sins being committed.
… I think when you have a church which is prepared to repent, a church which is prepared to look at its weaknesses and allow others to speak and ask for forgiveness form each other, you’re at a very good starting point.
…the church never has any authority in bringing about truth, justice and reconciliation, unless it can do that within itself…if it can do this it will be a model to the community and give a very big lead to the community.
Rev Samuel - Maridi(17/01/05)
- How did you feel when you heard peace had been signed? What was the reaction of the people around you?
- We were very excited, we were all excited. We felt the joy and we danced and we danced and especially that day we were very happy and joyous and that changed our sermon, even for that day. We were really happy about it.
- Why will the peace last this time?
- It was rushed and not properly recorded down….this time they have taken time to absorb what is real.. it has been signed at the right time.
- How can the church help sustain peace?
- …because the church has played a very big role (previously) the church needs to interact with the politicians with all these people who are making the decisions, because if they are able to influence them and bring gospel to the people, to bring a holistic gospel, it will change every decision for the country and this will bring good development in this land.
- Do you believe the people and the government will listen to the church?
- I do because the majority are Christians and even the politicians are Christians. Because these questions, the church will enlighten the people on what is happening form the past experience this can help the people to make the right decision rather than rushing into things, and also the people need to be guided and also the politicians need to be guided, not just running for their own ambitions, but for the benefit and desire of the people themselves.
- What three things do you think are the most important for this diocese in the next five years to develop well?
- …the first is education. If we have people
who are educated and that kind of education should be the education in, ….
A kind of education which helps the people to know the bible well, to know
the things that are happening, to help .
the second thing I think of is evangelism. When we talk of evangelism, evangelism helps in bringing the church to the people, in their hearts, preaching the gospel, to the hearts of the people. When their reaction changes, their actions their behaviour, they change to do what is good. This contributes to the positive things that society needs, and this also will counteract so many bad things, which the refugees, those who have gone into other countries bring…If evangelism is not taken as a second priority, [this] will not help the situation; society may be confused.
And the third thing that I hold, advise, need to happen, here in this country, in this parish, it needs co-operatives or development centres where people work together, people work as a community, because through their work, whether in churches, whether in community centres, this one brings people together. And when all people work in the same direction this will help them to make big decisions even at the higher level…it will begin from the grassroots upwards.
Mode – Mothers Union- Ezo (17/01/05)
- Where were you when you heard peace had been signed and how did you feel?
- …when I heard about the peace signed I was in Ezo diocese. I was sitting in my house, by that time I was taking one cup of coffee, and I got up and shouted ‘praise God, praise God’ three times. Then other people come out and saying why, why did you say that? I say peace has already been signed- they say don’t tell me…women were crying lalalalalalalal, many people were crying, and really were shouting and others were saying praise God, I was feeling as I was there…we have been praying in different languages, crying even with tears. Because we have been seeing many many bad things happen in this 21 years. So we praise god and we thank god, though we have been praying to him, he knows when and where he will give us that answer.
- Do you think will last?
- …yes it will last when those people, who started struggling with peace, they know the important things which made people run to the bush, and when they come together they discuss everything – good ones and bad ones- they know what they can do and continue to do to live in peace in Sudan, if they agree on the very important things- unity, sharing things together, loving each other, no differences, no hatred- so that is what god wants, that peace will last.
- And how can the church help to keep the peace, what role does the church have in the new Sudan?
- …Because church ….since when the war has started they have been praying in all these places, asking, encouraging Christians not to loose their faith. And up to now church is still strong, still encouraging people. They are encouraging people to wait for those who will be coming from different countries; our brothers and sisters who ran away. So we are waiting for them to receive them, that is why the church is encouraging people about love unity and other things. So when these people come, so all of us as Christians, as children of God, let us welcome them highly…also in other places churches mobilising people to build some small ‘tucles’ in their parishes and dioceses, cause maybe others will come when they have no relatives so they have to run to the church. If those people come you know the church will welcome them…some of our dioceses are have struggling to have bore wells and other things cause many people are coming. So if you don’t have enough water it will be also another problem.
- What are the three most important things that your diocese Ezo needs in the next five years?
- …our diocese is really very far from Yambio diocese, which
is 100 miles…we are bordering Congo, central Africa…so
the road going to Ezo is very very very rough.
Two you want enough water in the diocese, because we have many people. So up to now we have no bore well in our place we are finding it very difficult to go and fetch water.
Three we are looking for our diocese to be built in a concrete building, because in the war the concrete building got destroyed…so that is why now we are praying and asking our Christians, even other friends who will come during this time, maybe they will continue to help us to build concrete church.
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