Defrocked Jonglei cleric sues Episcopal Church Primate  

JUBA – The suspended Bishop of Jonglei Internal Province , Ruben Akurdit, has sued Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop and Primate of Episcopal Church of South Sudan, for dismissing him illegally.

In August 2020, Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop and Primate of Episcopal Church of South Sudan dismissed Ruben Akurdit, accusing him of violating the constitution of Episcopal Church and instigating division among Christians.

Philip Maluak, spokesperson in the office of the defrocked bishop of Jonglei internal province Archbishop, said that court hearing will take place on Tuesday.

“The  court hearing is going to take place today as it was schedule by the judiciary, the charges are wrong defogging procedures, Badi must go and explain why he defroged archbishop, Ruben Akurdit procedurally, why he denied approved dioceses of Makuach, Anyidi and Cuei Keer,”  Maluak said.

The spokesperson Maluak said the suspension was illegal and it is only applied for someone who has committed adultery.

“That suspension is meant for somebody who has committed adultery, somebody who have change doctrine of the church and somebody who is involved in money embezzlement, Akurdit did nothing wrong,” he said

“There is what we call tribunal court of church that comprises of 4 archbishops and one chancellor, they are the ones to go and try, if they tried him guilty, they will report to Badi who will then report to house of bishops that approved defogging, dismiss or warn,”  he added.

On his part, Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan said the court does not have the right to interfere in church issues.

“What we know, things to do with church discipline are usually done in the church. When we want to make a priest, it is always in the church and not the court telling us, you make this person a priest nor do this,” he said.

Badi accused Akurdit for  not adhering to the doctrine of the church.

“It is a long thing, in brief, it is a church disciplinary which was done, Akurdit did not cooperate, the church sat and finish its procedures in August, the main reason for the suspension was canonical disobedience, violation of church regulation and procedures and instigating division among Christians,” he said.

The case which is scheduled for January 5 will be presided over by the high court judge, Laurence Jaja in Juba.