1 PacificPacific TheologicalTheological CollegeCollege NewsletterNewsletter Issue 62 March 2010 Vulnerability, Faith and Hope A good beginning A comprehensive review We have made a promising start. A team of three highly qualified The orientation week was a success. external consultants, Suliana Familiarity with the academic and Siwatibau, Ivan Williams, and John community life at PTC as well as Lee, carried out a thorough and the city of Suva helped to settle the professional review of all aspects of newcomers. The ecumenical and PTC. Their report is entitled The devotional spirit of the College was Journey—Why, How and Where To? revived through its liturgical and A review of the work and life of the social activities—genuine bonding Pacific Theological College with exercises. Sharing of information suggestions for its future. Given its Our Principal writes… helped to create a real sense of importance for future developments Welcome to this edition of the comradeship amongst members of of the College, the executive College newsletter. the community. New students and summary is reproduced on page 16. faculty members were officially The Council welcomed the findings, Our community braced itself for the welcomed during a feast that which highlighted numerous issues arrival of cyclone Tomas, predicted marked the end of the orientation to be addressed in order for the to be the most destructive to visit Fiji week. since 1972. It was the second time College to continue with a our academic year was disrupted Constitution revised meaningful future. Some require since we started on 1 February. We further deliberations. The Council PTC stands on the threshold of an were evacuated courtesy of a Executive committee has been exciting and challenging future. It is tsunami warning after the earth- mandated to initiate and monitor a result of two important quake in Chile. Those of you who ongoing discussions. A welcome developments which the College have visited the College know how move is the determination of the Council endorsed last November: vulnerable PTC is to any tsunami. Council to establish timeframes to the adoption of a revised And cyclones are a constant threat ensure that various proposals are constitution; and the tabling of the between December and April. The translated into concrete actions. first-ever Review Report of the most recent hit us last December. College since its establishment in Some issues identified by the News of impending cyclones brings 1966. Resolutions associated with Review Report are now being anxiety and an air of foreboding. these crucial documents have addressed by the Faculty: Past experience reminds us of the mapped out future developments · Discussions are underway for cuts to electricity and water, causing and activities. It is imperative that creating adjunct faculty members. all kinds of discomforts. But the you should be aware of these. Suitable church scholars within the same experience also teaches us The revised constitution replaces the region and a few in New Zealand about the grace of God. Our lives 2000 edition. It builds on two and Australia have been identified. are spared; and our discomforts pale previous attempts to address Exchange of academic personnel into insignificance when we learn of outdated clauses and insert new will enhance PTC’s academic life the many whose homes and sources ones to safeguard developments and improve our links with local of livelihood are destroyed, not to over the last five years. The major theological colleges and seminaries. mention the loss of loved ones. It is changes are to Council membership a stark reminder that fickleness is an · The first stage of an extensive and Faculty appointments (see page essential part of the context in which review of the curriculum for all 17). we live out our faith. academic programmes has just been 2010 Pacific Theological College Newsletter 2 (continued from p.1) completed. This task should be completed by the end of this year. The Women’s Fellowship Development Programme has been re-invented to focus more on academic development. One course will be offered each term for those interested. For 2010, courses in Counselling, Leadership and Management will be offered, commencing in Term 2. The forthcoming Executive will begin to address the Report’s emphasis on establishing a commercial/business arm for PTC. Such a change is very challenging! Wisdom and a genuine spirit of Faculty 2010 (L to R): Dr Kafoa Solomone, Rev Dr Cliff Bird, Dr Holger Szesnat, discernment will be needed to Rev Dr Afereti Uili, Rev Dr Fele Nokise, David Lloyd, Rev Rosalyn Nokise, Deidre ascertain the most practical solutions Madden, Selai Tuidrokadroka and Dr Manfred Ernst (Absent: Viane Tagiilima) in order to realise the future envisaged in the Review Report. Promotion Thank you Mr Sereki Naitasi, one of the longest We applaud recent initiatives by the Changes serving members of the Etaretia Porotetani Maohi. They Three Faculty members left us at Maintenance team, has been provided an animator for PCC, and the end of 2009: promoted to be its new Supervisor. they have offered PTC two Faculty Development candidates, one of The Rev Dr Tevita Havea (New whom they will finance. Other Testament) was recalled by his New arrivals member churches could explore home church, The Free Wesleyan Dr Holger Szesnat has returned to similarly creative ways to stand in Church of Tonga, to be its new join the Faculty as our specialist in solidarity with PTC. General Secretary in August. New Testament Studies. He comes to us from England. Felicity will join I also want to express my The Rev Dr Michael Press left to him later in the year. appreciation to all our member join his wife in Singapore where she churches, overseas partners and has accepted an appointment as The long search for a qualified mission boards and friends of the parish minister for the German Librarian has finally come to an end. College. Without your prayers, expatriate community there. Mr David Lloyd has joined the Faculty from Melbourne, Australia. monetary assistance, personnel and The Rev Dr Marama Tauira was students PTC could not function, let recalled by his home church, the A new church historian (Dr Press’s alone survive. Thank you for your Etaretia Porotetani Maohi, to take replacement) specializing in commitment, your empowering and up a new appointment in Tahiti. Medieval, Reformation and the enabling spirit and your willingness Enlightenment is scheduled to join to share your meagre resources. We us later in the year from the are strengthened by your spirit of Evangelical Lutheran Church of being partners in mission. Bavaria. May God’s grace continue to bless We are still searching for a full-time you all in your ministry. lecturer in Ministry, preferably in the areas of Crisis Counselling and Christian Education. Viane Tagiilima, Director of Finance Rev Dr Feleterika Nokise, Principal 2010 Pacific Theological College Newsletter 3 New Testament Lecturer We Welcome Two New Faculty Bula! I am very happy to send warm greetings, having recently left cold England after just over eight years. It is with a sense of great joy that I write from PTC, where I spent three memorable years before: it is good to join the community again, on a much improved campus with all sorts of new facilities. I was born in Germany, and began to study theology there to become a minister. After three years, I took a year out with a ‘missionary-diaconal’ programme of our church, and worked with church organisations in Dr Holger Szesnat, NT Lecturer Mr David Lloyd, Librarian South Africa. This eventually turned into eleven years in South Africa Librarian (1987–1998), during which I I came to PTC in June 2009 for 6 I have been a librarian in various continued my studies, completing a weeks as a volunteer, and enjoyed academic and ‘special’ libraries, but PhD in New Testament Studies; was myself so much that I decided to for the last 18 years have been the involved in human rights work; and come back full-time. I had done two librarian at Bendigo Health in taught New Testament at a number previous volunteer trips to a medical Victoria, Australia. This is a medical of universities for several years as library in Honiara, Solomon Islands, library in a teaching hospital. The well. During this time I also got and thoroughly enjoyed the Pacific library users ranged from 2nd year married to a South African, Felicity, people and their lifestyle, and medical students up to crusty old a human rights activist and lawyer. thought it would be great to do medical consultants, and also nurses, A three-year spell at PTC followed, something different with my life. My physiotherapists, occupational teaching New Testament and 3 children have all left home and are therapists, etc. It is wonderfully working with PTCEE. In 2001 we working and living independently in rewarding to work in the health left for England to be closer to Melbourne. There seems no sector: they are such motivated and family and to allow Felicity to further prospect of grandchildren, and so for caring people. One thing you learn is her studies. (She is now in her final the first time for many years I have not to look in any of the books. If year for a PhD in International no responsibilities and can do what I you do you start thinking you have Human Rights Law). I taught like! I have a very supportive wife, all sorts of diseases! Biblical Studies and directed the who actively encourages me in all electronic learning resources of a my dreams and endeavours. Continued on pg 8... minister’s training course based in Cambridge for eight years.