WINTER 2020 / 2021 | ISSUE 83 www.mmuk.net MELANESIA NEWS IN HIS NAME THE NATIONS WILL PUT THEIR HOPE - MATTHEW 12:21 LIVING IN HOPE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: News from the AGM & Festival Coffee Mornings & Cocoa Nights • The CSM Chapel Appeal has been LIVING IN HOPE launched. The Community of the Sisters of Melanesia are building The biblical understanding of hope is not Furlough Scheme that has saved their a new chapel that will withstand just wishful thinking about the future but a livelihoods and jobs. high winds and bad weather. UK confident expectation about things that are Associates of CSM are pledging Our brothers and sisters in Solomon Islands unclear and unknown. to raise £15,000 of the £84,000 and Vanuatu are also living under the required. Please support this venture The Coronavirus pandemic has affected shadow of the pandemic, if in different ways as generously as you can. all our lives these past months. Here in to us. A reduction of international vessels the UK we have lamented lost lives, jobs with supplies meaning a shortage of goods; • The Venerable Mike Gilbertson and livelihoods, the isolation of the elderly boats with imported goods not running to reports on the unveiling in Chester and vulnerable, the separation of families schedule, concerns about the ability of the Cathedral of an icon to the Martyred and friends. Yet we have also had reason nation’s health services coping with those Melanesian Brothers. to be thankful: for the way communities badly affected by Coronavirus and now • Katie Drew reports on our recent have pulled together; for the care, acts of the first cases of the virus being recently online MMUK AGM and Festival kindness and good neighbouring; many, reported in Honiara. which attracted over 70 attendees too, are grateful for the Government’s including participants from Australia, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. The Anglican Church of Melanesia, however, is continuing to live and respond hopefully in challenging times. In this edition • We hear more of Bishop Willie • And finally we launch our online of Melanesia News we have: Pwaisiho’s life story where he praises ‘Coffee Mornings and Cocoa Nights’, God for his teachers in ‘taming’ him with guest speakers from Melanesia and the UK. These planned events • Archbishop Leonard’s address to the details of his consecration of church (not an easy task, I suspect…) and we will keep supporters informed about MMUK AGM, with plans to establish buildings, ordination of priests and see how his mentor, The Very Reverend issues, help us learn about particular and support health clinics, and we confirmation of nearly 1,000 candidates Desmond Probets, had a big influence topics and give time to reflect on hear how the Southern Cross has been in his first 10 months of his episcopacy. on Willie becoming a priest rather than how we may best respond. refurbished and is back on mission. A a policeman. • An account by Tagolyn Kabekabe of the powerful symbol of hope and unity for effects of climate change on the diet the islands, it is encouraging to hear that The hope we share as followers of Jesus Christ, is not that challenges and dangers will be and health of Melanesians. this mission flagship will continue to removed. Our hope is in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead – evil defeated and share the Gospel and strengthen church • Rev Bobby Chuchini gives an the new creation launched. God acting to redeem, restore and renew his creation beckons family relationships across each diocese introduction to life during COVID in his us to participate in this Mission - transforming communities, reconciling the divided, and the whole Province. new post as Chaplain for the Mission to sharing the Gospel, caring for the environment - preparing for the kingdom of God. Seafarers. • There is news of Bishop Willie Tungale’s In Melanesia and UK, may God continue to guide his Church in living out this hope. installation as Bishop of Temotu and +Mark Rylands - Chair of MMUK 2 Melanesia News Winter 2020/2021 Melanesia News Winter 2020/2021 3 ACoM - I have some updates for you on ARCHBISHOP’S ADDRESS ACoM administration and leadership. Bishop Alfred of Hanuato’o diocese, officially retired The Most Revd Leonard Dawea, Archbishop of Melanesia, gave on 15 August, and Bishop Nathan Tome of the diocese of Guadalcanal had his liturgical this address at the charity’s AGM in September. farewell on 20 September, being Bishop Patteson day. The diocese of Ysabel has given Bishop Ellison an extension of five years in Bishop Nathan at his retirement service First I convey greetings to you from the nation. Even with the COVID-19 free status, office after his 60th birthday this year. with Archbishop Leonard Anglican Church of Melanesia, the Council of both countries are feeling socio-economic bishops, clergy, administrators and general impacts. More and more employees are losing Having served two terms, I am delighted level. To that end a resolution was made in the laity. Grace mercy and peace to you from God their jobs as a result of the scale down of most to inform MMUK that Dr Abraham Hauriasi, 2018 General Synod in Port Vila to revive our Father. private companies and government ministries. the General Secretary of ACoM, has agreed ACoM’s health ministry. Sadly only two ACoM While life in Honiara appears normal, there is to serve another term of five years. We all clinics survive at present, the Epiphany clinic at Appreciation - At the outset let me on growing unemployment. We are praying that appreciate the huge impact Abraham, through Fauabu on Malaita, and the St. Clare clinic at behalf of ACoM convey to you our deepest your scientists will quickly provide a vaccine. his sound knowledge and experience, humility, Taroaniara on Gela. Unfortunately both clinics acknowledgement for your unwavering and thoughtfulness, has contributed to ACoM are now in a dilapidated state. support to Melanesia, for all that we do Worship life throughout the province remains efficiency in administration, operation, and the together as mission partners, and that includes the same, but with ongoing awareness and training of green hands for finance. With those brief remarks, I wish you all God’s moral and spiritual support. On our side preventive measures in churches and other blessing on your work and our partnership for this partnership is so valuable, one that we related gatherings. Lately the Council of The Southern Cross - After almost a year of the Kingdom of God. It is good to talk to you. embrace to heart, a partnership that has lived Bishops agreed a paper outlining possible huge refurbishment work, ACoM’s mission Though we missed out a lot on face-to-face through centuries. It grows stronger with the changes to worship in the event that COVID-19 flagship the Southern Cross is now back on communication, may I assure you that ACoM new emerging issues affecting us. enters our countries. You know too well, how mission. According to our finance manager the holds you and your families and the work you we Melanesians look to faith; it is what our refurbishment cost around 2 million Solomon do to heart, most especially during this time of I particularly want to convey our heartfelt people still hold on to. That said, we educate dollars. We render massive appreciation and extraordinary uncertainty and fear. appreciation and thank you for supporting our people to be careful and that our faith acknowledgement to MMTB in Auckland, for us after cyclone Harold earlier this year. should lead people to act with responsibility. facilitating resources for the renovation. We May God bless all the trustees, supporters, The diocese of Vanuatu, which was mostly hope she can further serve ACoM mission your families, and our partnership in mission. affected, is gradually coming back to normal, Climate Change - In recent years, this has for some more years, after which a new and Thank you. although Bishop James’ home and the topped the chart of issues, until COVID-19 bigger vessel can be considered. diocesan office are still in temporary residence. interrupted our attention. Through the grace ++Leonard Dawea, Archbishop of Melanesia and love of God, it will cease in time. However, ACoM PHQ - Since relocating the Provincial I particularly want to offer words of climate change issues will persist and our Office by the main street of Honiara in 2019, acknowledgement and thanks to Andrew partnership on this issue should continue its actual work on the new complex has not yet Cartwright for being a trustee of MMUK for the momentum, if not further improve it. We are started. That said, a committee consisting past years. Thank you Andrew. I understand well ahead with our response, for example, of PHQ staff has been set up to oversee the that Canon Jane Brooke will succeed him, the setting up of the church observatory initial planning stages. It is going to be a huge and I welcome and congratulate her on her project on Malaita and Guadalcanal to provide project, so we are concerned about securing appointment. Having met and talked with scientific data. At this stage it is too early to maximum funds to ensure that initial plans are Canon Jane, I see she has a growing love and have any tangible results from the observatory, fulfilled. It is hoped that this project will begin passion for Melanesia. because of inconsistent data collection due next year. to the COVID public state of emergency and COVID-19 - As we speak, the two countries cyclone Harold. We trust our combined effort ACoM health ministry - In the early years, maintain their COVID-19 free status, however on this project will continue to bear fruit.