Rhino Camp Arua, Uganda
Nuer Congregation (ECSS),
The Episcopal South Sudan (ECSS)
Date: 04/04/2021
DEAR ………
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
SUB: A DETAILED REPORT FOR MY VISIT TO RHINO CAMP-ARUA UGANDA
Introduction and background
When Church missionaries entered into Africa, Sudan was one of the Countries
evangelised by the Church missionaries as such. This church missionaries partitioned
African nations based one their colonial masters. Hence, Christianity did not have deep
roots in Northern Sudan because the Islamic religions faith was dominant exception of
Southern Sudan where the only dominating Religion was the Africa Traditional (ATR) of
which Christianity did not have deep root in the area and a lot of resistances were on
ground.
The Episcopal (Anglican) church’s mission covered almost every part South Sudan
includes; Western and Central Equatoria, Jonglei (Bor), and some part of the then upper
Nile region the Leer in unity state-Bentiu and Juaybor in Fangak among the Nuer People.
This missionaries were targeting only majors cities of which they established the
Episcopal (Anglican) church Sudan in Bor. They also followed the river Nile to start
another misision in Leer of Unity state where they evangelised the Nuer and built the
church and the hospital that are existing until this day. The Episcopal (Anglican) mission
in Leer who built the church and the Hospital did not prepared some leaders for the
ministry. This was because thye were operating under CMS. The project of the Church
and Hospital buildings were brought into completion in 1932 known as the present day
Leer MSF hospital and the Presbyterian Church South Sudan when the untrained
members of ECSS decided to leave the ECSS Church for Presbyterian congregation
under American mission.
Therefore, those few individuals were untrained although they acquired some basic
knowledge of the Bible. These people did not have ability to follow the Episcopal tradition
because they did not know how to read and write in English language very well. The
people who got the opportunity to be trained to take care of the church and the resources
of the church were as follows; Late. Abraham Yar Jiech the father to Dr. Stephen Abraham
Yar and Late: Jeremiah Pan Madeng who later on became a member of Presbyterians.
However; after the mandate of the missionaries ended in Sudan and South Sudan. The
misison had to move ahead as proposed by the mission’s target. They thought they had
prepared people who would continue with work of the church. Unportunately they did not
meet standard to carried forward the mission. The two persons who were left to be
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incharged of the Church and hospital were unable to bring more people to the mission.
The activities reduced and the number of congregation reduced to a few. Hence many of
them backslided to ATR again. Then, the Church Mission Society (CMS) handed over the
mission to the American Mission Society (AMS). Than, the (AMS) was the same mission
as Presbyterian Church of Sudan. The few Episcopal (Anglican) members were obsorbed
into the presbyterian Church including the church building. Abraham Yar remained a full
member of Episcopal and those of Late. Jeremiah Gatpan Madeng later on became the
Presbyterian. At this jucture all the Anglican members were obsorded to Presbyterian as
such. The Episcopal (Anglican) deminshed and disappeared slowly from Nuer people.
The few members of ECSS who held the tradition of Anglican strongly were discouraged
at some point by a Nubian Christ named Philip Abus who stereotyped the Nuer on the
issues like confirmation by a Bishop. Philip Abus said that can Nuer be confirmed by a
bishop? This statement made the Nuer people who attended the meeting to decided to
join the Evangelical Presbterian Church of Sudan in Khartoum. The few terminated their
membership in the Episcopal (Anglican) anymore due to the discouragement which was
not condemned by the leadership of ECSS. This marked the end of the first phase.
The beginning of the second face to the present day Episcopal Church’s germination were
from 1994 and 1995. This was time when the current Bishop of Akobo Diocese Rt Rev.
John Jock broke out from Presbyterian Church of South Sudan due to misunderstanding
in the year 1994 after their ordination with Late Rev. John Jal Chop. Because of the
persecution both of them ran to Ethiopia and joined Anglican Church of Ethiopia under
the Diocese of Egypt. The birth of Akobo ECSS in the same year the history.
On the other hand Rev. Simon Thiran Pech who was a military man in the Sudan Army
Force happened to have received baptism in military barrack. He joined Shokai
Theological College as an Episcopalian. He was ordained as a priest in Malakal and in
Arabic congregation until he was transferred to his home town in Bentiu where he setled
there and the rebrith of ECSS at a place called Hayagas the headquarters of the Diocese
of Bentiu the present St. Peter’s Pro-Cathedral Bentiu.
Hence by June 2013 A.D, when the atmosphere of Juba Capital city becmae unfavourable
for some people, the Nuer and Dinka began to spread rumours of war as indicators of
violence ahead since January, 2013. And Rev. John Gatluak sense the violence in the
country and made a decision to relocated his family to the Rhino Camp.
The first person who started ECSS Nuer congregation in Rhino Camp was Rev. John
Gatluak. He had a very humble beigining where he mobilized his own family members
and the rest of the Christians to open a united church for Nuer. The narration concerning
the Church in the Rhino Camp was dated before the South Sudan conflict broke out on
15th December, 2013. Although there were not many people having been moved or
migrated to the Rhino camp. Yet there were few people who were left behind after the
repartiation of the South Sudanese from Uganda.
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On 27/07/2013, he and his family members started a church in Rhino camp. The number
of believers kept on increasing slowly and the rest of deminations came for fellowship
unitil the war started in the night of 15th December, 2013A.D. There was influx of Nuer
refugees from Yei and some bordering towns of South Sudan to Uganda. A Presbyterian
Priest by the name Rev. Pal Kang had plead from Yei to Rhino camp. He, therefore, made
an announcement in Church that those who were members of Presbyterian must follow
him as their leader. Hence, Presbyterian Church of South Sudan separated themselves
from others. As we also know that majority of Nuer Christians are Presbyterian, so many
Christians went with Rev. Pal Kang. Due to some other support for the Presbyterian, the
church expanded within shortest time.
The ECSS as the minority had to fellowship with Evangelical Covenant Church of South
Sudan. Then the situation in the refugees camp forced Rev John Gatluak to leave his
family in the camp. Soon after his returned to South Sudan and then Nuer ECSS was
greatly reduced to a very lowest level where their impact could not be felt by sisters
denominations in Rhino Camp. The ECSS in Katiku was taken by Evangelical Covenat
Church and some Episcopalians were assimilated into Evangelical Covenant Church of
South Sudan.
The Church had to continue as one united church with other denominations where the
weight of ECSS has not been felt in the Rhino Camp. It is evidenced that the trend
continue upto date in the Rhino camp where Ecss Nuer congregation has been taken
over by the presbyterian Church, Nazerene international Church, Evangelical Covenant
Church, seven days adventist Church whose mission started within the same
congregation of ECSS.
THE ECSS NUER CONGREGATION IN RHINO CAMP
There are about three (3) Episcopal (Anglican) Nuer congregations currently within the
Rhino camp Arua Uganda. We conducted a meeting that was attended by the heads of
each departments of the Church. These (3) congregations are led by lay persons.
1. Ocea ECSS Nuer Congregation- Represented by Ev. Yoanis Tap
2. Odobu ECSS Nuer Congregation- Represented by L/R Tabitha Nyakuoth
3. Katiku ECSS Nuer Congregation- Represented by Ev. Duol John Gatluak
THE CHALLENGE AND CONCERNS
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Migration of ECSS members to others denominations in the Rhino Camp
Lack of pastoral visit to Nuer Congregation
The presiding priest (Rev. Wani) of the Rhino Camp had asked the Nuer
congregation to reach him the Dinka Congregation.
Poor Conditions of their worship places (plastic sheets)
Lack of trained shepherd in the Rhion Camp
Lack of coordination with ECSS in Churches in the Rhino Camp
Lack of Sacraments (Baptism, confirmation & Lord’s Supper)
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Lack of drum (piano & Sound system) There is no church structure in place
Lack of uniforms for L/R, Mother’s union, Youth, Sunday School etc.
Membership of the ECSS Nuer Congare joining other denomiantions
Lack of trained leader of ECSS Nuer Congregation in the Rhino Camp
Lack of local drums they use (tins and jerryicans).
Low capacity and trainings to the local leaders on ground i.e Rhino Camp.
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Recommendations
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XII.
The bishop of Yei Diocese should consider the ECSS Churches in the Rhino
Camp as whole under his care based on the resolution made from the house of
bishop where the ECSS congregations were placed under three (3) bishops
namely: (Bishop of Yei supervises Rhino Camp, Bishop of Liwolo Area supervises
Bididi and Bishop of Panyana Area supervise for Emveepi Camp) to work hand
in hand with West Nile Madi Diocese.
The presiding priest who was officially appointed by the Bishop of Yei should
coordinate with the three Nuer congregations in the Rhino Camp.
Others alternative need to be putted in place to consider the ECSS Nuer
Congregations while in the Rhino Camp.
Some trainings need to be conducted in the Rhino Camp for ECSS congregations
as a form of Evangelism to those who joined other churches to come back.
There is need to engage Nuer trained pastors to conduct some activities in
preparing people while in the Refugees better service delivery once they return
back.
The image of God in man must be the priority of very Christian regardless of our
tribes.
The presiding priest should introduce the ECSS congregations to liason office as
part of ECSS network in the Rhino Camp.
A community need to be looked in social and spiritual perspective
The Nuer congregation need to be strengthened in the refugees camps in
Uganda.
It is possible for South Sudanese to remain united when there is one uniting factor
like a church.
Church leaders can help the congregation from time to time.
Leaders of Nuer congregations need to be inculded to Bishop Allison in Arua
town.
Thanks and God Blessed you
signature…………
Rev. Jacob Kunyuat Jany
ECSS Bentiu Diocese (A concern individual)
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