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Anglican

Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Episcopal

‘Episcopal’ refers to the role or ministry of a bishop. So an episcopal church is one in which oversight is entrusted to a bishop. Like many others, the Church in Wales is an episcopal church.

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Home News Society focuses on Church’s peace work in South Sudan

Society focuses on Church’s peace work in South Sudan

Diocesan news Posted: 2 October 2020

The work of churches in South Sudan to bring peace and reconciliation to the war-torn country will be the focus of a conference this month.

Since becoming an independent country, South Sudan has spiralled into a devastating conflict. The Episcopal Church is working in partnership with Christian Aid to seek healing and reconciliation among the various communities affected by conflict. That partnership is being supported by the Church in Wales’ Centenary Appeal.

A former South Sudan bishop will be the key speaker at this year’s Church Mission Society’s (CMS) Wales and Borders annual conference. Anthony Poggo served as Bishop of Kajo-Keji for nine years before being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser on Anglican Communion Affairs in 2016.

The online conference, on October 16-18, is organised by CMS members Gill Knight, Anna Bessant and the Revd Rana Khan, the chair of CMS Asia Forum and the diocese's Bishop Officer for World Mission.

Mrs Knight says, “CMS has been working in South Sudan since 1905 - starting with Llewellyn Gwynne (eventually Bishop Gwynne) from Swansea, so we have a strong Welsh connection. But it was to learn more about the peace and reconciliation work going on there now, that it was suggested as this year’s focus. As well as Bishop Poggo, we’ll hear from Lynn Treneary, a CMS Mission Partner working in Maridi diocese, and also present will be Ann Marie Wilson whose work with FGM started in South Sudan with CMS support.

“It promises to be a fascinating conference with speakers with first-hand knowledge and experience of the country.”

Revd Rana Khan adds, “Our conference brings together former missionaries and supporters of CMS overseas engagements. This year we are not able to meet like previous years, but the pandemic offers us an opportunity to experiment with a meaningful digital gathering to talk about what God is at work in South Sudan. I hope the conference would attract rather a bigger audience to discuss mission in, to and from Wales.”

Canon Carol Wardman, the Church in Wales’ advisor for Church and Society, says, “We are delighted that this year’s CMS Conference will give people in Wales the chance to learn more about the peace and reconciliation work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and we hope it will inspire them to support our Centenary Appeal.”

The conference is entirely online. For more information or to register, email cms.walesconference@gmail.com It will use Zoom with the exception of the Sunday service which will be recorded from Crickhowell, where Revd Rana Khan is the Rector.

To find out more about the Centenary Appeal and how to donate, please see

https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/about-us/our-campaigns/centenary/centenary-appeal/