SUMMER 2018 | ISSUE 79 www.mmuk.net MELANESIA NEWS VOYAGING TOGETHER PRAYER, PEOPLE, GIVING ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The UK visit of Archbishop George Gap Years Take Off different Christian communities around the Where does my joy come from? Truthfully, islands on the Southern Cross, I saw that this over the last twenty years, maybe too much JOY IN THE LORD was usual behaviour. has depended on how well my work has been going. If it is going well, I am joyful. If not, then It dawned on me that the Melanesians are less so. joyful because they are thankful people. They are thankful that 150 years ago, ‘we’ had The Melanesian Church’s joy has challenged brought them the Gospel. Bishop Selwyn me to remember that I am first and foremost brought missionaries to share the good news a child of God and a follower of Jesus of of Jesus Christ in the pacific islands and, of Nazareth. These are the basis of my life and course, Bishop Patteson had brought the ministry. My vocation springs from this. I had Gospel to Melanesia. better not forget it. As a guest, I was treated like a friend. Then, as The Melanesians have taught me to rejoice in a friend, I was treated like part of the family. the Lord, for his sake alone. I was made to feel at home, like I belonged to them. The Melanesian Christians made it I am a slow learner. Joy in the Lord! This is what obvious that they loved us. Their sheer joy I began to see more clearly over 10,000 miles came from belonging to Christ. We were away in the Solomon Islands. I have known welcomed with the same joy because, in the importance of this in my head. However, Christ, we were to them like brothers and after 30 years of ordained ministry, now it has sisters whom they had not seen for a long started to move from my head to my heart. time. I was humbled and challenged. +Mark Rylands, Chair of MMUK In the end, God got through to me. Making my first visit to the Solomon Islands But this is not the Melanesian way. No. two years ago, I was struck by the welcome, You are met at the airport and presented hospitality and the joyful celebration of the with beautiful garlands that have been hours Melanesian Church. in the making. This is followed by singing, dancing and prayers which is then followed When people come from overseas to visit us in by feasting, more dancing, singing and England, our welcome is polite, yet restrained; yet more praying. Joyful welcome, lavish our hospitality tends to be friendly, yet formal; hospitality and exuberant celebration – that and our celebration is usually subdued and is the Melanesian way. certainly not too enthusiastic. We’ll shake people by the hand and say: ‘How do you do?’ My first thought was: why so much effort?! Is We’ll put the kettle on to make a cup of tea it just an attempt to keep ‘the westerners’ on and we will even organise a formal dinner. We side? We had certainly not brought gifts of are, in fact, glad to see our companions from money, so it was not ‘cupboard love’. After two overseas – we just don’t always show it! weeks of these similar welcomes, as we visited 2 Melanesia News Summer 2018 Melanesia News Summer 2018 3 Dr Abraham and Fr Nigel spoke passionately “I am excited about the ongoing spirit of about climate change at a conference at friendship and links for a strengthened Southampton University, and Archbishop partnership.” George raised the issue at the Primates Meeting in Canterbury at the end of his Many thanks to all the hosts, drivers, cooks UK visit. and friends who made this trip so warm and welcoming. Here are just a few pictures from Reflecting on the UK visit, Archbishop George, the visit. Many more can be found on the said “It was a truly enriching visit, we made so website. many friendships, and learnt so much about SPIRIT OF our mission link with the UK. FRIENDSHIP Back in September and October of Dr Abraham. Fr Nigel had studied in the UK a last year, MMUK had the privilege number of years ago. of hosting the Archbishop of Melanesia, the Most Revd George Takeli, Mrs June Takeli, As usual there was a full programme including the Anglican Church of Melanesia’s General visits to London, Southwark, Ely, Chester and Exeter Dioceses. Mrs Takeli also went to Secretary Dr Abraham Hauriasi and Mission Two former Bishops also died in December. Edinburgh to attend the Mothers’ Union AGM REST IN PEACE Secretary Fr Nigel Kelaepa. Bishop Hugh Blessing was principal of Bishop with friends from Chester Diocese. On their return to Melanesia, Archbishop Patteson Theological College for many years One of Archbishop George’s priorities on being George and colleagues suffered the loss of a before becoming the Bishop of Vanuatu. installed as Archbishop was to build on the The group also visited a number of schools partnered with schools in the Solomon Islands number of faithful servants of the Church of strong historic links the Anglican Church of The first Bishop of the Diocese of Banks and and Vanuatu. Archbishop George met with Melanesia. Melanesia has with the churches which sent Torres, Bishop Charles Ling passed away on the first missionaries to the region. This was students at Wycombe Abbey and Selwyn Former Sister Provincial for the Community his home island of Motalava. His Grace’s first visit to the UK as Archbishop College, Cambridge and preached in Chapel of the Sisters of the Church, Sr Kathleen died and the first time in the UK for Mrs Takeli and at Eton College. Then, this year in February ACoM’s Human while visiting family in PNG. A huge loss for Resources Manager, Mr. Alfred Sare her community, she was buried at TNK. passed away. Archbishop George’s Private Secretary, Please pray for all those missing loved ones, Michael Anita died shortly before the General valued colleagues and servants of the church. Synod. Later in December after the successful Synod in Vanuatu, we were shocked to hear God of the spirits of all people, we pray you that the Rt Revd James Ligo, Bishop of give freely to those who rest in Jesus, the many Vanuatu had died. blessings of your love, that the good work which you here began in them may be finished in the day of Jesus Christ. Amen 4 Melanesia News Summer 2018 Melanesia News Summer 2018 5 NEWS IN BRIEF On 12th August the new Bishop of Vanuatu will be installed. The Bishop Elect has not been announced at the time of print. The former Archbishop of Melanesia, David Vunagi has been appointed Principal of Selwyn College. Companions to the Melanesian Brotherhood will remember Ini Kopuria on 2nd June in the north with a pilgrimage to Holy Island and in the south west with a Eucharist at Exeter Cathedral. Contact MMUK for more details. In June Chester Diocese will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their link with the Province of Melanesia. Many exchanges have taken place, including last year’s visit of Archbishop George and party, prayers have been shared, and deep friendships forged. In February MMUK Trustees and special guest +Willie met at Foxhill in Chester Diocese for a two-day residential. Under discussion was how Solar panels will be installed at CSM’s to grow the charity’s supporter base, build on Headquarters thanks to donations from parish links and encourage more exchange St Martin-in-the-Fields, Newport Pagnell visits. Christina Vunagi has retired as Principal This year’s AGM and Festival Day will Parish Church and individual donors. of St Nicholas College in Honiara, after be held on Saturday 8th September 25 years in which the school grew from at Selwyn College, Cambridge. The 25 pupils to nearly 2,000. Her successor Eucharist will be held in the Chapel is James Lengi, who has returned from and there will be the opportunity to training in Taiwan, having previously been tour the College and beautiful grounds. At their recent Chapter SSF Brothers a deputy head at St Nicholas. Further details and guest speakers to elected Br Jonas as their Minister be announced shortly. Provincial. 6 Melanesia News Summer 2018 Melanesia News Summer 2018 7 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change poses an existential threat Recognising that all Provinces have Anglican VOYAGING to our people of Oceania. schools, the Fono commits itself to integrating climate change topics into the current The Fono heard from Professor Beth Holland curricula of the schools. about the increase in number and severity TOGETHER of extreme weather events, storm surges Furthermore, the Fono agreed to engage and rising sea levels in the region. The Fono with existing action-oriented campaigns such also focused its attention on the effects of as the ‘plastic-free’ campaign, tree-planting climate change in Oceania and heard from the campaigns, or even “rubbish picking” events IN CHRIST government of Fiji as the chair of the United to place the Fono members at the forefront Nations Framework Convention on Climate of changing behaviour of our children to Change 23rd Conference of Parties. have greater stewardship of our environment. The Fono will continue to monitor this The Fono notes the success of the province commitment and will encourage mutual of ANZP decision to divest out of fossil fuels accountability, particularly on this critical following the General Synod 2014. The decision.