Episcopal Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul has formed a new diocese by splitting Bor Diocese in Jonglei State and establishing a new bishop at Athooch.

In the Episcopal Church, a bishop is the head of all the churches within a certain district, referred to as a diocese.

On Saturday a new bishop for Athooch Diocese, Rev. Moses Anur Ayom, was appointed in the Bor Diocese headquarters in Bor town.

Athooch is an area consisting of the two payams of Baidit and Jalle, located north of Bor town just beside the main route to Twic East County

A new administration has also been elected for Athooch Diocese. Elected officials include Diocesan Secretary Rev. Daniel Awan Manyok, Treasurer John Matiop Buol and youth leader Abraham Mamer Kur.

Temporarily, the headquarters will be based in Makol Chuei Boma, where a church was built two years ago by a certain Kok Alat as a gift to the church.

After the nominations of the diocesan members, the Archbishop of South Sudan and Sudan Daniel Deng Bul gave a speech saying, “I thank all the Christians of Athooch Diocese for their commitment for making today possible.”

Bor Diocese was already split once before in 2008, when Twic East and Duk Counties were placed under a newly established Twic East Diocese.