Companion Diocese, Renk Episcopal Church of Sudan
The Episcopal Church of Sudan is the second largest church in southern Sudan. Renk Diocese, formed in 1995, is on the border between the mostly Islamic north and the mostly Christian and African traditionalist south, and is commonly called he "gateway" between north and south Sudan. Bishop Daniel Deng Bul and the clergy minister to thousands of internally displaced southern Sudanese women, men and children whowere forced to flee to the north in order to escape slavery, starvation and death due to a 21-year civil war. The fundamentalist Islamic government of Sudan imposed Islam on the south through force, denying religious freedom by any means.
By resolution presented by the Commission on Global Ministry to the Diocesan Convention in 2001, the Diocese of Chicago unanimously voted to engage in two companion diocese relationships with the Dioceses of Southeast Mexico, Benito Juarez, bishop, and Renk, Episcopal Church of Sudan, Daniel Deng Bul, bishop.
The Companion Diocese Relationships are intentional and are formed to help strengthen the Anglican Communion through the direct experience of interdependence across cultural and geographical boundaries within the Body of Christ, and to strengthen one another for mission by building a relationship in which each partner is both giver and receiver.
In early 2005, Bishop Daniel Deng Bul welcomed visitors from Chicago. All Saints' was represented by Connie Wilson and by the plentiful contributions of the parishioners.