The Sudan Link

Every Diocese in the Church of England has a link with another Diocese in the Anglican Communion, but the Diocese of Salisbury is unusual in having a link with the Episcopal Church of the whole province of Sudan, which spans both Sudans – the North and the new country of South Sudan.

Its also one of the oldest diocesan links, set up in 1972 by the then bishop of Salisbury, Bishop Reindorp, and his colleagues in Sudan.

Unlike an aid agency, a church link like ours is based on mutuality – it is not so much about what can we do for the Sudanese, but rather how two churches separated by distance and culture can care for one another in sharing resources, experience and practical help where we can.  Central to the Link is prayer for one another, and relationships between peoples of in the two countries.

Within this ethos of mutual concern and prayer, there are practical ways in which the Salisbury part of the link has been supporting the Episcopal Church. Prime among these are

• Educational - by supporting the theological colleges, education in ECS schools and youth work. ( See below for more detail)
• Medical - by providing basic health care through medicines and equipment to ECS clinics, and helping to fund the training of nurses.
• Advocacy -  by working with Governments, NGOs, the Churches and International Partners to lobby for sustained peace and security for effective support for Sudan (North) and South Sudan; to end conflict and rapidly respond to security and humanitarian crises and encourage the provision of better education and health for all.
• Communications – by informing any one interested on matters about Sudan and the Link, through prayer vigils at Salisbury Cathedral, the annual Sudan Study day, through the website, facebook and twitter, through a quarterly bulletin, and by providing speakers and display material, and facilitating visits from our Sudanese church brothers and sisters.  For news to inform your prayers click here.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Holtham, Bishop of Salisbury, takes a very close and strongly supportive interest in the Partnership and soon after his ienthronement attended the ECS Provincial Synod in Juba with  the Dean (Very Rev June Osborne) and Canon Ian Woodward

The work of the committee is overseen by the Diocese of Salisbury Salisbury – Sudan Link Committee and is chaired by the Rt Rev Graham Kings, Bishop of Sherborne. It is serviced by a steering committee made up of the sub-committees for education, the medical link, and communications.

The Steering Committee are a good first point of contact:

• Canon Ian Woodward is Vice–chair of the Sudan Committee, and also leads on Advocacy) (revianw@btinternet.com)
• John Foster chairs the Education Committee (john@johnfoster08.plus.com)
• Mike Maclachlan chairs the medical link committee (madmaclachlan@onetel.com)
• The Rev Ron Hart arranges the Study day, prayer vigils and temporarily coordinates the Communications group shown below (Ronhart1@yahoo.co.uk)
• Jeff Neagle is secretary and holds a list of speakers (jefferyneagle@btinternet.com)

Other key contacts (on the Communications group)

• Bridget Trump liaises between the Deanery links  (and other local links) and the diocesan committee, and should be contacted if you are thinking of setting up a new link. (bridget.trump@vigin.net)
• Kate Brankin manages our web, facebook and twitter links, and should be contacted if you have information to share or wish to join in (salisbury.sudanlink@hotmail.co.uk)
• Simon Brignall looks after the displays and leaflets. (brignall97as@btinternet.com)
• Tim Biles edits the quarterly bulletin, and will send copies on request- whether electronically or hard copy (tim@tjbiles.freeserve.co.uk)

Our website will endeavour to keep you up to date with the issues that challenge and encourage us in our Partnership as we travel together in trust, prayer and fellowship.

Ron Hart 22.1.12

For any other issues relating to the Sudan Link please contact the Sudan Link Secretary:

c/o The Diocesan Office, Church House, Salisbury
Email: sudan.secretary@salisbury.anglican.org
Tel: 01722 411922
Fax: 01722 411990