The Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) has celebrated 50 years as a province of the Anglican Communion. The theme of the week-long jubilee programme was ‘Rooted in Faith and Growing in Mission’, reflecting on Colossians 2:6-7.
Between 5 and 11 October, celebrations marked the growth and history of the church and looked with hope to the future of its ministry.
Mothers’ Union held an all-day event on 6 October at Rejaf Pro-Cathedral, honouring the ministry of mothers throughout the church's history. The youth of Juba and Rejaf dioceses also held a celebration on 7 October in St James Parish to mark the occasion. On 10 October, a 7.5-kilometre procession was held in Juba city to celebrate the journey of the church so far. Approximately 3,500 people joined the procession.
The jubilee celebrations concluded with a service hosted jointly by the Dioceses of Juba and Rejaf at All Saints’ Cathedral, Juba, on 11 October, the 50th anniversary of the church. The service was also a rededication of the Cathedral to bless the significant extension, a symbol of the church’s growth in the nation.
The Most Revd Dr Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Bishop of Juba, presided at the service. Before Communion, Archbishop Justin invited the congregation to ‘remember our heroes of faith, the founders and those who laid the foundation of faith in South Sudan and Sudan.’ He honoured the leaders of the church who have served before him, as well as the contribution of women in Mothers’ Union, lay ministers and young people to the growth of the church.
The primate appointed the Revd Pauline Walker as an honorary canon for over four decades of work in the Church Mission Society (CMS) in Sudan and South Sudan and for working together with others in establishing youth and students’ ministry through Scripture Union there.
Canon Andy Wheeler preached during the service. He spoke about some of the many people who contributed to God’s ministry in South Sudan and reflected on his own connection to Sudan and South Sudan over nearly five decades.
Canon Andy Wheeler has worked at Bishop Gwynne College and was involved in training many of the priests who went on to serve the church in South Sudan; he also worked with the Sudanese diaspora in Cairo as well as within the South Sudan Council of Churches and the Church Mission Society.
During his sermon, Canon Andy commended the ‘perseverance, the courage and the faith of ordinary people’ in the church’s origin. He invited the congregation to celebrate the ordinary people who first shared the gospel, despite opposition, danger and suffering and especially those who did not live to see the fruition of their labour.
Several bishops and esteemed guests were also welcomed from dioceses across South Sudan and Sudan to share messages of hope and support. Also present was the former primate of ECSS, the Most Revd Dr Daniel Deng Bul Yak, who spoke of the ongoing mission of the church to continue ‘rooting’ the church in the gospel over the next 50 years.
The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo (former Bishop of Kajo Keji in South Sudan), was also invited to attend the celebration and address the congregation during the service. Bishop Anthony shared that he was ‘glad’ to be ‘back home’ to celebrate this important occasion and ‘also to represent other parts of the Communion’.
Speaking about his invitation to attend and speak at the jubilee celebration, Bishop Anthony later said, ‘South Sudan as a nation faces many challenges both today and in its history. These celebrations attest to the fact that despite those trials, the Church is still here, alive, thriving and serving its people. It was gratifying to see such a spirit of joy and thanksgiving throughout the celebration. I pray that the church in South Sudan will continue to grow, faithfully rooted in Christ.’
After the celebration service, festivities continued outside the cathedral in the form of music sung in some of the languages of South Sudan (Bari, Dinka, Moru, Zande and Arabic) and talks from the current and former primates of the church about the history and future vision of ECSS.
About the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
The Church Mission Society first shared the Gospel in South Sudan in 1899. ECSS became an independent province in the Anglican Communion on 11 October 1976, with four dioceses. Prior to this, it was part of the Jerusalem archbishopric. Today, the province contains 61 dioceses.
More information
See recordings of the jubilee celebration on the All Saints’ Cathedral Facebook page.
See a recent video from the Episcopal Church of South Sudan about the golden jubilee.
See an article about the Secretary General’s recent solidarity visit to Kajo-Keji and Liwolo dioceses.
Learn more about the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.