As adopted

Whereas, Devastating poverty, persecution, war and slavery afflict the people of Sudan; and

Whereas, the spirit of Sudanese Christians soars while a hostile government systematically seeks to destroy the Church; and

Whereas, the Rev. David Bako of the Diocese of Ezo, a leader in his diocese and the whole Sudanese Church, has been a student at Virginia Theological Seminary for the past two years, during which time he has developed a close relationship with the people of St. Francis Church, Great Falls; and

Whereas, the parish of St. Francis has enthusiastically covenanted together with the Diocese of Ezo (Covenant attached for information purposes); therefore be it

Resolved, that churches in the Diocese of Virginia are urged to study and pray about the plight of all Sudanese, and to consider joining in the Covenant with the Diocese of Ezo, or other similar arrangements, to assist the Sudanese Church in their life and witness.

1. In our public worship and private devotions, we will pray regularly for peace in the Sudan, for the alleviation of suffering which war and famine has brought to that country, and especially to Christians in Ezo Diocese. We will pray for the Church in persecution there; for the abolition of the abominable slavery which has been practiced on Christians and others in the Sudan; for an end to the abject poverty that cripples that country; and for the endurance of our people in such adversity. We will pray for the relief of individual Christians suffering in Sudan as well as a change of heart and action for those who cause this suffering.

2. We will study the conditions the Sudanese Christians face including poverty, persecution and slavery. We will regularly report to our congregation striving to keep them informed of conditions faced by our brethren in the Sudan as well as practical steps which we can undertake to assist them.

3. We will bring this Covenant before the 204th Council of the Diocese of Virginia in 1999, and ask that Council commend this covenant for the prayerful consideration of people and parishes in the Diocese of Virginia as a means to respond positively to Christians facing great persecution and poverty.

4. We will communicate regularly with the Rev. David Bako, who has worked closely with St. Francis over these past two years, and we will open further communications with parishes and people in his diocese as we come to know them.

5. We will work to send a mission team from St. Francis to visit Ezo Diocese in 2001 in order to learn first hand the obstacles faced by our brethren, to focus our material efforts to help them, and to provide them such encouragement as our physical presence with them may add to our prayers. We will work closely with the Vestry of St. Francis to help assure that this mission enhances rather than competes with ongoing mission at St. Francis.