Wernyol Synod ends with calls for peace
The three-day Wernyol Diocese Synod in Juba has concluded with calls to preach the word of God, peace and development in the country.
The Wernyol Juba Synod started on January 13 and ended on January 15. Seven archdeacons from across the flooded areas of Wernyol, Toc, and about 45 parishioners from Jonglei State attended the function.
Speaking to the media during the closing session of the three-day church council at St. Andrew Parish in Sherikat, Rejaf and Juba, Gabriel Kuol Garang Atem, the Bishop of Wernyol Diocese, Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Twic, East Jonglei State, said the Synod focused on three pillars for the recommendations. Atem said these include the continuous preaching of the gospel and peace in the country.
“We are here purposely to mark the end of the third day of Synod for the Diocese of Wernyol. It was conducted under the team “Faith and Work” and it was geared around three pillars, ” he revealed.
“One of the pillars is the spreading of good news, preaching the word of peace as well as things about the development of our country.
“As the diocese of Wernyol, we are committed to taking the gospel to reach and enrich people across the globe, and achieving our dream of people having peace in the country,” Atem said.
According to the bishop, the synod ended with a call for the church to mobilise resources to make the diocese stable and stronger.
“Thirdly, we are also committed to the development, so we are trying our best to mobilise resources. The reason is that if you are stable in terms of resources, you will prosper, ” he added.
The bishop promised to take the Wernyol Diocese forward as well as preach the words of peace in the country.
Deng Dau Deng, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation commended Wernyol Diocese for taking up such an important initiative, saying it was a straightforward way towards permanent peace and development in the country.
Preaching peace
“On behalf of my government, I would like to reaffirm President Kiir’s end of year speech by saying that South Sudan will never and ever return to war, South Sudan will remain in peace and enjoy development, prosperity, and liberty, ” he said.
Dau said the leadership of the Wernyol Diocese has discussed many things that will take the diocese forward in terms of development, peace, and returning people to their homes.
He said people have been displaced in different locations of the state, and they could not go back home if the government and other partners had not done much to prepare them to go back to their homes.
However, Dau stressed that the plans laid by the Wernyol Diocese would pave the way for the beginning of everything discussed in the synod.
He reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting the ideas discussed in the synod by the church leaders.
“We will stand by the resolutions of this ecumenical council resolution, which discussed health, education, and food security, which is agriculture.”
Dau encouraged all the dioceses in the country to follow in the footsteps of Wernyol in discussing and planning for the development of the church as well as embarking on peace in the country.
