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More on the position of ECS clergy...
Newsletter No5 November 2011 Poole--Wau Partnership ‗Wine and Cheese and Information‘ evening, Monday 28th November Everyone --- clergy, our ‗parish link people‘ and all who are interested --- is invited to our first Partnership evening on Monday 28th November 7.30 to 9.00pm PUT IT IN YOUR DIARY NOW! --- and please encourage others to come too.....we would like a really good attendance... At
St Luke‘s Church Hall, Wellington Road Parkstone
As well as
Wine and Cheese
we will be sharing
Information
--- about projects, education, funding, a ReSource – ―Rooted in Jesus‖ discipleship mission planned for 12 months‘ time, communications and prayer; and we hope to be joined by Naomi Pendle who has been teaching in Wau; and a member of Poole Hospital‘s ―Poole—Africa Link‖. There is no charge for the evening
Ox ploughs for clergy—farmers
In our September Newsletter we featured our major project---renovation of a dilapidated Colonial house which will be used in many ways to help the church in Wau. Another key project aims to tackle the problem which the Episcopal Church has in helping its pastors to work effectively for their communities. None of the clergy in Wau are paid. With no financial income pastors must spend much of their time farming their small subsistence plots which means that they spend months sowing seeds and harvesting crops rather than working for church and community. Land is not a problem, but with very limited tools, productivity is low. Providing oxploughs offers a perfect way to reduce the labour people need to grow enough food for themselves and their families to survive. An ox-plough can allow cultivation of an area up to ten times bigger. Ploughs must be imported---like so many other things. Good quality ploughs are either from India or custom made in Kenya. Costs estimates vary between £70 and £200 per plough. This is a project that a single group in one of our churches (for example, a Mothers‘ Union Group, a house group) might want to undertake for 2012.
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More on the position of ECS clergy... “.....lack of clergy pay has become a threat to the Episcopal Church’s ministry today after independence. The few clergy that have good qualifications are taken away to work for the government or NGOs. Those who work as part time ministers often appear on Sunday unable to deliver properly planned sermons. Too many ministers are rarely to be found doing church work during the week. This is because, during the week, they have to be busy with their own business in order to make a living. Some leave the churches --- as they are not being paid they must search for opportunities to take care of their families and themselves as well. Sooner or later the ECS is going to face rough times because real leaders are going to be in short supply. Therefore, before things fall apart, church supporters should take the initiative to think about the welfare of the pastors, to support them financially and in whatever way will sustain their life”. taken from Andrew Apiny’s article in “Renewal (see below) Wau Diocese is arguably the poorest diocese in South Sudan. We believe that one of the best ways we can faithfully support our Christian friends in Wau is by enabling clergy to generate sustainable income. This in turn will enable them to better serve God and their communities, and build up leadership capacity.
A new Newsletter from Wau Wau Diocese is producing a new e-mail newsletter called “Renewal” It is available electronically from Rev Andrew Apiny at communications@wau.anglican.org
News in brief ■
We are hoping that the accordions gifted by Poole will soon be transported to Nairobi for Bishop Moses to collect. They will be taken by Ed Walker who is driving from Sherborne to Cape Town.
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St Aldhelm‘s Primary School is in the process of being linked to Piantok School, which is on the outskirts of Wau Town.
■ If you want to receive the Over Christmas let us continue to remember Wau and its people quarterly Sudan Link Bulletin from Salisbury it can be e-mailed from Rev Tim Biles at tim@tjbiles.freeserve.co.uk or tel.01935 816247. It can also be sent by post.
Financial donations We are in the process of setting up the Poole—Wau Partnership as a Charity. At present please forward any financial donations (stating they are for Wau) to St Luke‘s Church Office, Wellington Rd, Parkstone BH14 9LF (717268) or St Dunstan‘s, Upton, Church Office churchoffice.1@btconnect.com (624622 {a.m.})
This Newsletter is produced quarterly (normally in January, April, July and October) by the Poole—Wau Partnership to keep you informed of Partnership activities and developments in Wau. Contact Richard Tazewell at lamorna25@googlemail.com or tel 01202--632967