Breakaway Presbyterian church group in South Sudan elects new moderator

By Ruot George

A breakaway group from the Presbyterian church in South Sudan has elected a new moderator.

Rev. James Kuong Ninrew was elected as the moderator, deputised by Rev. John Yor Nyikeer and Joseph Maker Gordon Manyiel as the Secretary General.

The election was done during a general assembly of the church which brought together 17 representatives from each of the 8 Presbyterian churches in the country.

The election was undertaken as a result of dispute of an earlier one in December 2020 in which Rev. James Makuei was elected.

Many church members said it was rigged leading to negotiations to reunite the church under the leadership of Bishop Enock Tombe. That still did not work out.

South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar initiated another negotiation in 2021 but still failed to unite the leaders.

After being declared as a winner, Rev. Ninrew promised to work towards reunification of the church.