Pray for Sudanese Referendum, January 2011

The Sudan Mission Network meeting was Dec. 6-8, 2010, in Louisville, Ky. This annual
meeting is particularly important this year because the South Sudan Referendum
will be voted on in January 2011. The referendum will determine whether South
Sudan will become independent or remain one with the rest of Sudan. There are eight voting locations in the U.S. for southern Sudanese, which includes most major cities and Omaha, Neb.

The Presbytery of Des Moines’ Sudanese Resource Person the Rev. Goanar J. Chol is requesting prayers for all Sudanese Presbyterians not only in our Des Moines Presbytery, but the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a whole. The Referendum is important because it may mean a lasting peace or continuing war in Sudan. Troops on both sides are already gathering in mass numbers. Sudan’s President Omar el Basheer, already indicted for war crimes in the Darfur genocide, has already declared war if the South chooses independence, but the people of South Sudan seem to be determined to vote anyway.

For up-to-date information, go to the Sudan Avocacy Action Forum Web site.

Please pray for peace in Sudan (written by Rev. Mark Koenig).

PW Churchwide Gathering Business Meeting

Emily Seeger (Atlantic, First United) and I (Linda O'Connell) are the voting delegates to the PW Churchwide Gathering this Triennium. We had our first business meeting on Sunday afternoon.

We heard and/or received reports from the Churchwide Coordinating team about their work for the 2007-2009 Triennium. Then we began to vote on the recommendation brought to us from the Coordinating Team. The vote today that will have the most impact on the future of Presbyterian Women was that we voted to incorporate PW and become our own 501C3 cooperation while still affirming our covenant agreement with the PC(USA). There were lots of questions about why and how of this process but in the end it was an almost unanimous decision to incorporate.

On some of our less controversial issues we tried out the consensus model to come to agreement on the motion. I must say that we all need a little more practice in this area before I would recommend using it in our Presbytery.

Two issues that we did come to consensus on were to add a person to the Coordinating Team representing new immigrant women and to become informed about the use of rape as a form of genocide and as a weapon of war in Sudan and other areas of conflict and take action to support women and others who are working toward peaceful solutions.

The plenary sessions have been outstanding. On Sunday, we heard two excellent sermons. This morning we heard about the mission projects of Presbyterian Women. We have celebrated through music, movement and dance. Best of all we have renewed old friendships and made some new ones. Want to know more about the gathering? Ask me to come and give a program at your PW or church group.

See you at Presbytery,
Linda O'Connell (Lucas, First & Chariton, First)

Opportunity to Reflect on Hunger in Sudan

The Des Moines Presbytery’s Hunger Action Enabler Nancy Lister-Settle wants to remind you about the designated fasting time this coming weekend. The theme of this month’s global food crisis fast is war, hunger and recovery in Sudan. Join fellow Presbyterians starting after a light evening meal Friday, February 27 through communion on Sunday morning, March 1 to discern the causes and solutions to the problem of war and famine in this part of Africa.

Use this month’s materials to guide you through the fast. Read reflections by a pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Sudan and an American mission worker serving in southern Sudan. Learn how hunger is an enemy not only to the people of Sudan, but to the human race as a whole. Read interviews from members of RECONCILE, a group created to help Sudanese people cope with the trauma that results from continuous war and famine. Get prayers and worship materials to share with your congregation. Sign on to participate today.