To the Bishops, Clergy & People of the Episcopal Church of Sudan
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today Anglicans will be gathering from every part of your region of Sudan to celebrate 100 years of faithful witness to the Gospel of Christ. As we look back across a turbulent century, not only in Sudan, but also in many other parts of the world, I thank God for the extraordinary courage and faithfulness of those early missionaries who carried the message of Jesus Christ across the world, in some cases to preach the Christian faith for the first time, and in others to resurrect a Church which had lived and died in earlier times.
Such was the case in Sudan. The late 19th Century saw the arrival of missionaries from a number of different Christian traditions in Sudan, and as we celebrate particularly at this time the establishment of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, we should not forget that the Roman Catholic Church and the Presbyterians also mark 100 years of mission at much the same time. So, together, without regard for the differences which still divide us, let us praise God for the wonderful growth and development of his people in this land. The witness of those first missionaries, many of whom gave their lives for the faith, remain an inspiration to us all today.
How, I wonder, would those figures of the past see the Church of today in Sudan? I believe they would rejoice. They would rejoice because it is so clear that the Gospel has taken root in this land; that it is preached and lived faithfully by millions of people. They would rejoice because they would see the people of God living and working together to relieve the suffering and to bring peace and justice to the people. They would rejoice because God is glorified by the witness of the Sudanese people.
But I believe they would weep also. They would weep at poverty and the suffering of the people. They would weep that for 30 years and more Sudanese people have been at war with one another. They would weep because Christians and Muslims seem unable to live together in mutual love and respect. They would weep to see the oppression of God's people by the men of war.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, in just two weeks' time we will be celebrating Christmas on the eve of the 2,000th anniversary of the coming of the Prince of Peace. Jesus Christ reveals for us, as he did 2,000 years ago, the way, the truth, and the life. The way is peace and love for all God's people. The truth is that in him, God's people are assured of salvation. The life is Christ himself, crucified, risen and with his people always, even to the end of time. That is our hope. That is our inspiration. That is the faith which has sustained you through all your trials and tribulations, and will continue to uplift you.
I believe that the rest of the world is now focusing on the continuing problems in Sudan with much greater seriousness. I assure you that your fellow Christians continue to stand with you in prayer and action. We long that you may live in peace and justice. We continue to hope and pray that your leaders will respond to the demands for an end to war, and I know of the very significant initiatives which have been led by the Churches in Sudan, to bring the desires of ordinary people to the notice of the Government and the leaders of the opposition movements . I want to encourage you in that process and assure you of my continuing active support and that of Anglican leaders all over the world; and in this, I know that we are united with Pope John Paul II and other leaders in the Roman Catholic Church and leaders of the Protestant Churches as well.
On this, the centenary of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, and on the eve of the third Millennium, I pray that God will richly bless this land and all its people. May we all hear and respond to the message of the angels. 'Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on Earth.'