If you visit the Cafe often, you will have noticed that the Episcopal Church is deeply involved in working toward a peaceful conclusion to the referendum now underway in Sudan. The most recent manifestation of this relationship comes from the Diocese of Chicago, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.
But there have been a raft of stories and social media activity from across the country, including this past weekend’s story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the excellent short film and prayer service coverage from the Episcopal Church’s Office of Communications, the good work of Trinity, Wall Street and the Diocese of Virginia, not to mention the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, and others.
The success of the referendum is not yet certain. There are scattered reports of violence. And even if what is now southern Sudan becomes a new nation, it will face significant challenges. So it is too early to begin congratulating those who have worked for peace in that troubled region. But perhaps it is not too early to suggest that this is the kind of work that the church should be doing, and this is how a Communion is knit together.