Thursday, November 17 at 9:15 a.m. in the Nave.

Bishop Joseph Garang Atem, from the Diocese of Renk in South Sudan, will be visiting and speaking with the children of St. Michael’s Little Angels Christian Preschool. All children and parents are invited to attend (even if your child doesn’t have class that day).

Bishop Joseph Garang Atem was born in Born, south Sudan in 1962, is married to Roda Samuel Chol.  They have twin daughters, Grace and Michelle, born in December 2006.  He was the principal of the Renk Theological College.  Bishop Joseph was consecrated as Bishop, Diocese of Renk, on June 14, 2008.

Upon completion of his studies at Nile Theological College in Khartoum, Bishop Atem was ordained deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998.  He served on the Dinka Cam Bible Translation Team until he came to the U.S. to study for a Masters of Theology degree at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois.  He graduated in 2000, completing his thesis, "Death and Life in Sudan: Will There be Reconciliation?"  He returned to the Diocese of Renk and was named Principal of Renk Bible School (RBS).

Under the direction of Atem, Renk Bible School was built with support of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Barrington, Illinois.  In 2004, the campus was demolished to build "peace" highway, and St. Michael's supported the rebuilding of the institution, which includes St. Michael's Chapel.  St. Michael's entered an ongoing Covenant of Relationship with Renk diocese in 1998.

Due to excellent teaching resources brought to Renk under his leadership, the Episcopal Church of the Sudan advanced Renk Bible School to college level, qualifying it to grant diplomas.  It is now known as Renk Theological College.  The bishop serves on the diocesan and provincial synod committees for theological education and oversees the visiting teachers program.