News from Chester Diocese given through education and training in this country, will be of great help - accounting, project Since the Pilgrimage by Brothers and Sisters management, school curriculum work. So who from Melanesia in May and June 2005, things knows, a Parish Link may mean a small group Melanesia News have been relatively quiet on our Melanesian going over the Melanesia to share particular gifts. front. So now we are trying to make sure we It may all sound a one way financial drain, but the The Melanesian Mission Issue 58, Spring / Summer 2006 grow from the 2005 experience rather than let it special relationship with the wonderful, Registered Charity No. 1104551 fade. The two top priorities are: appreciative Melanesians, becomes enriching and First - set up Parish Links. Bishop Richard of transforming for all. Ysabel Diocese is particularly keen on this - a These Parish Links need not be limited to Chester New Assistant Bishop for Chester Parish with a Parish (area) in Melanesia Diocese, and if anyone else is interested, please or with a particular project such as a hospital, contact me. Just MissioMissionn Southern Malaita. Turn to page 7 school or Rural Training Centre. Second - find someone with experience in There are so many things St Luke’s Goostrey have just set up a link with curriculum work in education to work in the for which to be grateful in Garanga Training Centre in Ysabel to help them Solomons for up to a year helping them create an the legacy of George create a proper, reliable, water system. integrated curriculum for church Rural Training Augustus Selwyn and John The new church in the village of Monago on Centres and Secondary High Schools. (I have a Coleridge Patteson, and to Savo Island is nearing completion in which copy of a report on plans for secondary and which we are heirs today. Barrow and Alderley Edge Parishes in Chester tertiary education in the Solomons - please contact Not least among them is the have been involved. They are planning to have it me if interested in reading it.) fact that the organisation consecrated in Autumn. set up to support their work We are continuing with our quarterly shipments / Dave Friswell MM(UK) and that of the emerging A Parish Link really does bring Melanesia to Melanesia. This March will see our first Melanesia Church was called simply the ‘home’. It becomes more personal and there is a despatch to Santo for Vanuatu. As always, we will Melanesian Mission – the name that we still use great potential for sharing ideas, sharing gifts welcome any clothing, sheets, education books, today. No mention here of missionaries, with all and even visits. Obviously the main financial medical clothing and equipment, garden and other the sense of movement in one direction or of burdens will fall on the English parish but all tools. I have a list of parishes and projects in ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’; no suggestion of a society, Revd Tevita Banivanua, General Secretary of their parishes have great needs, many to do with Melanesia with their stated needs. getting equipment, like metal roofing, and water something exclusive and less that the whole the South Pacific Association of Theological piping. They have low labour costs as they do Tony Sparham. Tel: 01625 523 127 church of God – simply Mission. For me that is Schools unveils the monument in thanksgiving everything themselves! Often, skills we have been Email: [email protected] an important thing to remember and perhaps for the vision of Bishop Selwyn and Bishop especially at that stage in our work where we find Patteson, founding fathers of theological Companions commit themselves ThankThankssss ourselves today. education in the Anglican Church of Melanesia. New Companions to pray for the Brothers and We are very grateful for It is a reminder that our agenda and our More details on page 11 their work, give financial and donations towards the work programme is not primarily our own – it is other practical support, and take of the Melanesian Mission. God’s. Mission is, first and foremost, the action of a man or a woman, an adult or a child, is helped care of the Brothers when they If you are able to commit to a God. It is the whole action of God as He to discover their value and their worth, and visit or travel through the regular gift then please get continually reaches out to create, to redeem and realise their full potential as human beings. It is Companions area. in touch and I will send you a to fulfil this universe, this world and those people what happens whenever they are set free from all Dave Friswell / MM(UK) /Dave Friswell MM(UK) Ottery St Mary is the ancestral Standing Order form. who inhabit it, and of which we, the church, are a the things that limit and repress them, the things home of the Coleridge family If you wish to Gift Aid your part. that constrain their God-given nature. and the church has maintained contributions (and are a UK Mission is not primarily an activity of the church, Mission is happening when men and women are links with Melanesia for over tax payer) then please let me but an activity of God in which the church, in allowed to be creative, where they are allowed to 100 years. know. If your church or obedience to his call, is caught up. It is that take responsibility for the things that affect their If you are interested in group are having a special movement of God which reaches out to redeem lives and communities, where they begin to do so Six new Companions of the supporting the work of the collection for the Mission men and women, moving them into a new with a care for one another and the environment, Melanesian Brotherhood were Brothers by becoming a then please get in touch and I freedom and spaciousness where they can be and with a concern for the quality of life that we admitted recently at a packed service Companion then please contact can send you pre-printed Gift reconciled to him and also to one another. all share. at Ottery St Mary near Exeter. Fr Brain MacDonald-Milne. Aid envelopes. Mission is that activity of God which enables one Mission is happening wherever barriers are Fr Brian MacDonald-Milne, Europe (Contact details on page 10) Dave Friswell human being to recognise the needs of another broken down and understanding is increased, Section Father of the Companions, and respond to them in acts of humble service. It where fears are overcome and listening and presented each new member with Melanesia News Back Copies is that activity of God’s spirit in the lives of his conversation begins. It is happening where their medal as part of the ceremony. In the archives of MM(UK) we have copies of the Southern people that enables men and women to know that people discover that they are not just cogs in a Bishop James Mason preached and Cross Log and the Melanesia News dating back to 1895 - except they are not alone, that God is in the midst of machine, commodities for sales, or pawns in his family, along with other for the period between 1995 and 2004 (Numbers 40 to 55). If them and that he is true to his promise to be with another’s game of power – but as human beings, supporters of those becoming you have any copies of these issues stored away and would like them for ever until the end of time. princes and princesses, the children Companions, welcomed the new them to find a good home, then please let me know as I would Mission is that activity that takes place wherever of God. cont’d on page 2 members into the group. like to try and complete the set for future generations. Thanks. Dave Friswell New Companions admitted in Exeter Diocese. See back page 12 from page 1 Mission occurs when human beings hear, in with the Church of Melanesia today. It is terms that they understand, the good news as precisely because of what we value from the Bachelor of Theology unveiled at Kohimarama found in Jesus Christ, and then find their lives Mission’s past, that we need to be open to fresh and that of their communities being reshaped as a possibilities and new ways of ‘going beyond’ BISHOP Patterson Theological College (BPTC) Sir Nathaniel Waena, who was guest of honour, result. today. at Kohimarama unveiled its first ever Bachelor of congratulated the College for such an Theology degree programme recently rendering achievement. So the Melanesian Mission is concerned with +Michael Exon, Chair of Trustees MM(UK) whatever enables these to happen in Melanesia, it the first institution in the country to offer such “May I sincerely congratulate the Anglican including sharing and receiving from Melanesia, a programme. Church of Melanesia for embracing the wisdom for the work of God’s mission here. Mothers Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena, and farsightedness in facilitating this new and And so the work of Mission that we support is, members of the diplomatic corps, other religious prominent initiative. and must be multi-faceted. It will find expression UnioUnionnnn guests, chiefs, staff, students and other members “Such fine academic achievement as this speaks in the sending and exchange of personnel, The Mothers’ of the church witnessed the event. volumes to the church youths of CoM in the sometimes long term but perhaps more Union (MU) in Speaking on the occasion Archbishop Sir Ellison provision of opportunity for higher learning to frequently for time limited tasks.