The Very Rev. Martha Deng Nhial was recently installed as dean of the Cathedral of St. Matthew in The Episcopal Church of Sudan. She is believed to be the first female priest to serve as dean of an African cathedral.
 
The cathedral is located in the Diocese of Renk. Because Renk does not have a diocesan bishop at the present time, Bishop Ezekiel Kondo of the Diocese of Khartoum presided at the installation service on Aug. 17.
 
The Church of Sudan has been ordaining women to holy orders for eight years.
 
Dean Nhial was ordained priest three years ago. Prior to that she was a nurse and a leader in the Mother’s Union, a philanthropic Anglican organization with chapters in most of the Communion’s 38 provinces.
 
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