Most Revd Justin Badi Arama (born Maridi, 1964) is a South Sudanese Anglican bishop. He was Bishop of the Diocese of Maridi from 2001 until he was elected Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan on 20 January 2018. His enthronement took place on 22 April 2018. He has been married to Modi Joyce since 1984, and they have four children, two male and two female.
He was confirmed in the Anglican faith at 16 years old. His father, at the occasion, gave him three gifts – a Bible, a pen and a hoe. He was a youth leader and lay reader before being ordained an Anglican priest in 1995. He served as curate at the Cathedral and diocesan secretary, before being elected the second bishop of the Diocese of Maridi in 2001.
He was elected Archbishop and Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan at the House of Bishops meeting at All Saints Cathedral, Juba, on 20 January 2018. He narrowly won the election against Abraham Yel Nhial, Bishop of the Diocese of Aweil, with 80 votes to 79, for a ten year term.
In a statement to the media released after the election, Bishop Badi Arama said the unification of the church in the midst of a devastated political environment will be one of his top priorities. The Anglican and Catholic Churches in South Sudan are one of the few national organizations that have bridged South Sudan’s troublesome tribal divide and the church has traditionally played a role as one of the leading voices in civil society.
“As I come, my vision is that Christians in South Sudan should see themselves as brothers and sisters,” Bishop Badi Arama said, adding: “I want to thank my father the outgoing archbishop for all his dedicated service to the Episcopal Church of South Sudan that has brought the church to the level where we are today.”
