Page 26 - IB June 2017

Religion

Anglican leadership change

Tongan

upgrade Bishop Jabez Bryce Bishop Apimeleki Qiliho Bishop Winston Halapua

Diocese of Polynesia
by Netani Rika
BASED in Suva, Fiji, the Diocese of Polynesia was founded in 1908 and cov-
FOR the first time in more than a ers the host country, Tonga to the South, Samoa to the North-east and Pacific
century, the Anglican Church in Tonga congregations in New Zealand.
will have its own bishop. Under the Anglican Church’s leadership model in New Zealand, the Bishop
Although men with Tongan heritage – of Polynesia is automatically one of the three co-presiding bishops and arch-
Bishop Jabez Bryce and Archbishop Dr bishops. The first priest arrived in Levuka, Fiji in 1870. Tonga did not receive a
Winston Halapua – have led the Diocese priest until 1902.
of Polynesia, Tonga has always fallen While Anglicanism has been practised in Samoa since 1886, there was no
under the leadership of a primate based resident priest until 1923. In 1925 the Diocese of Polynesia began an association
offshore. with the Anglican Province in New Zealand, a relationship which has existed
Last month Halapua – only the second until today.
Pacific islander to head the church since
1908 – announced he would step down Tonga’s majority Christian community, bishop for Tonga where the Free Wes-
in August 2018. they have been instrumental in the leyan Church first ordained women to
That means the Diocese of Polynesia’s kingdom’s fight against climate change. the ministry in 1990.
Electoral College will meet over the next A significant church project has been While all the priests in the Diocese of
13 months to choose a successor, most the planting of mangroves to stop coastal Polynesia qualify for election as bishop,
likely from priests from its Fiji, Tonga, erosion. for the first time there are three very
Samoa and New Zealand congregations. Its House of Sarah Ministry to women strong women in contention for the four
A popular candidate is the Vicar of has been a strong advocate against positions on offer.
the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva – gender-based violence in Fiji, Samoa and Apart from the post of Archbishop of
the young, charismatic, Father Claude Tonga which remain largely patriarchal Polynesia and Bishop of Tonga, there
Fong-Toy. communities. are two positions for bishops in Fiji – in
There is also expected to be a push And the church has long been associ- the West and the North as heads of the
for a bishop from the ethnic Solomon ated with the marginalised, ministering regional congregations.
island community to which the church to the Solomon Island, ethnic Indian and Bishop Apimeleki Qiliho held one of
has ministered since they were black Chinese communities in Fiji. those posts until he left for New Zealand
birded in the 1800s to work on cotton These were mission fields generally initially om medical grounds and later
and coconut estates in Fiji. untouched by the larger and more in- for family reasons. He too will leave
Also in contention are women can- fluential Methodist and Roman Catholic the church.
didates Sereima Lomaloma and Amy churches in colonial Fiji. “The biggest challenge for me is when
Chambers who were among the first Halapua has stressed the need for the the church lives in the work, you need
female priests ordained by the church church to contribute in a unique way and to project a way of life,” Qiliho said after
in the Pacific. that may just come about in the appoint- the synod and announcing his intention
Which path the church decides to take ment of female leadaership. to stand down.
will depend on the Electoral College com- “God has gifted us with something so On the eve of his retirement, however,
prising the houses of laity (representing unique in the people, the beauty of the Qiliho recognised the need for continu-
the general membership of the church), environment, our ancestors, and the way ity.
clergy (ordained priests) and bishops. how we see our future generations and “Our priority as the church is to see
The Diocese of Polynesia has, under our blessed homes,” he said at the 2017 that the mission, God’s activity and
Halapua’s leadership, been liberal in its synod in Fiji’s capital, Suva. work is our priority because we are only
thinking when compared with other very “If only the church can contribute instrument of his work and message,”
conservative Pacific churches. something to the beauty of what is Qiliho said.
It has ordained a female priest in already given by God and that’s the joy “Christ gives us power to do his work.”
Tonga – former Police Commissioner and what I retire with as I thank God for Qiliho said there were strong contend-
Reverend Lola Koloamatangi – who is the golden opportunity I was given, to ers to lead the church and the Electoral
Deputy Moderator of the Pacific Confer- engage in the work of this country which College would possibly meet more than
ence of Churches and eligible to head the I claim and celebrate.” once to choose successors for himself
Tongan church. It remains to be seen whether that and Halapua.
While Anglicans form a small part of beauty will translate into a female r netrika66@gmail.com

26 Islands Business, May 2017