Table Of ContentTalanoa Toktok
Quarterly Newsletter of the Pacific Conference of Church-
es, 4 Thurston Street, Suva, Fiji
t 679-3311277
w www.pacificconference ofchurches.org
Quarter 2, 2019
PCC bans plastic
THE Pacific Conference of Church-
es has banned plastic and
Styrofoam on its premises and at
its events.
A directive by General Secretary
Reverend James Bhagwan has
enforced a fine on any staff mem-
ber who uses single use plastic
bags, bottles, Styrofoam contain-
ers and straws.
The ban is in support of a PCC call
in May for governments and
churches to discuss greater coop-
eration to ensure the protection
of the environment.
Regional ecumenical groups share resources
THE region’s three ecumenical organisa- at the PTC provided comprehensive “This is the beginning of greater coopera-
tions have joined forces to facilitate the broadcast coverage for the SPATS 50th tion and perhaps the formation of a re-
50the Anniversary of the South Pacific anniversary. gional ecumenical community,” said
Association of Theological Schools. SPATS General Secretary, Reverend Rusi-
She was assisted by veteran journalist and
ate Tuidrakulu.
Key staff from the Pacific Theological Col- former Fiji Times Editor in Chief, Netani
lege and Pacific Conference of Churches Rika, who is Communications and Assets “’The inter-organisation cooperation
carried out strategic activities to ensure Manager at PCC. meant SPATS had access to specialist
media coverage of the event. equipment and staff which we do not usu-
An agreement between the PTC, PCC and
ally have.
Theresa Fox - a trained journalist working SPATS allowed the inter-agency coopera-
for the Institute of Mission and Research tion for the first time in many years. “It was very encouraging.”
Paper trail … Papuans Elisa Senkyap, Iohannes and Samuel translate the Cenderwasi Pos as part of an English lesson
Papuans improve English skills
MEMBERS of the Gereja Kristen Injili Di pua. made over the two weeks,’’ said Jan Rum-
Tannah Papua touched up on their Enlish braar, head of the GKI Partnership Depart-
The course participants were three or-
language skills in Jayapura last month. ment.
dained ministers—one of them a woman—
Five members of the GKI—the largest and two lay workers. “It is important that as an emerging church
Christian church in Papua—attended a two- our people be able to communicate in Eng-
Designed to identify candidates for further
week session with PCC trainer, Netani Rika. lish with the world outside of Papua and
studies at the PTC, the course also helps in
Indonesia.”
The training was funded jointly by the Insti- the capacity building of church staff mem-
tute of Mission and Research of the Pacific bers. The GKI is expected to send key staff for
Theological College and the GKI which is training –possibly for Masters in Theolo-
“We are very happy with the progress
one of two PCC member churches in Pa- gy—at the PTC later this year..
Support for Kanaky referendum
A LETTER of support from the Pacific Confer- ty to pray for a peaceful outcome to the vote.
ence of Churches has been well received in
Current indications are that the pro-
Kanaky (New Caledonia).
independence lobby won the referendum/
Prior to a vote on independence in the French
Responding on behalf of the Kanaky church,
territory in May, PCC General Secretary Rever-
Pastor Wakira thanked the PCC Secretariat
end James Bhagwan offered support to the
and member churches for their support.
Evangelical Protestant Church in New Caledo-
nia and the Loyalty Islands. “’Weare hoping for change and thank you for
your continued faith and support for us and
He also called for the Pacific church communi-
our political leaders,” he said.
Video out
Develop
FIJI’S Roman Catholic Church
has produced a video detailing
the environmental and social
impact of river dredging in a with
rural community.
The video will be shown at an
international event to be hoist-
care
ed by the Vatican.
PCC staff played an integral
part in the production iof the
video as part of its support for
member churches. Sunset clause …. Development on the Honiara foreshore and a warning for churches to speak out
Solomons help CHURCHES must help find sustainable develop- interpret, understand and interact with one
ment solutions which protect the environment. another, and with the natural world,’’ Rev
THE United Church in the Solo- Bhagwan said.
That was the warning from Pacific Conference
mon Islands has been assisted in
of Churches General Seretary, Reverend James “The Pacific Conference of Churches affirms the
staff capacity building by the
Bhagwan at a recent regional meeting. call to faith communities made in the Talanoa
PCC General Secretary, Rever-
Call to Action by the Presidents of COP23 and
end James Bhagwan.. Rev Bhagwan said the PCC and its member
24 for spiritual leaders to unlock spiritual path-
churches were instrumental in the Otin Tai
Church elders gathered in Mun- ways for addressing climate change.
Declaration of 2014.
da where Rev Bhagwan devel-
“’As we seek to reweave the economic, ecolog-
oped “Since (then) the churches in the Pacific have
ical and ecumenical strands of the mat on
advocated for the plights of Pacific communi-
Irish visitor which we all sit in the context of Climate
ties affected by climate change to international
Change, the Pacific Churches urge innovative
communities, regionaland& national platforms
THE head of the Methodist and ecological frameworks for truly sustaina-
as well as at community level,” Rev Bhagwan
Church in Ireland paid a courtesy ble, decarbonised development that draw on
said.
visit to the PCC Secretariat in the nature-affirming spiritualities of the Pacific
April. “The prophetic role of the church also acknowl- and the rest of the world and incorporate
edges the partnership with technical institu- thetraditional knowledge and wisdom of Pacific
Reverend Sam McGuffen was
tions and governments for support through and indigenous peoples.
accompanied by Dr Julia Ed-
information, data analysis, projects and capaci-
wards who previously worked at ‘’We call for the protection of all natural car-
ty building in areas that contribute to the inde-
the PCC on climate change. bon sinks. We encourage the support by public
pendent rethinking of scriptural interpretation
and private sector of community-based initia-
andtheology through the Pacific lenses to
Manasa leaves
tives that go beyond NDCs such as low carbon-
strengthen resilience.”
sustainable sea transport.’’
YOUTH Programme staffer, Ma- His warning came amid concerns in a number
Rev Bhagwan said churches sought to build
nasa Vatanitawake, has left the of Pacific countries over development which
resilience and the Pacific Conference of
PCC after more than 10 years of was destructive to forests, the mangroves and
Churches reaffirmed the regional Church lead-
service. the sea.
ers “Moana Declaration” of 2009, on climate
Joining the PCC in the Finance “’A deep spirituality permeates the communi- change and the imminent threat of forced relo-
Department is Kinisimere Sarati- ties of the Pacific and is at the heart of the Pa- cation and displacement faced by Pacific peo-
bau from the Methodist Church, cific people’s relationship with each other and ples.
Fiji. the environment. It is integral to the way we
Delegate to inaugural Pacific church meet challenges members
Papua
loses
the
way
WHILE Papua struggles for self-determination, At each destination they transited for three
it must not forget its Melanesian roots. days.
Pastor Willem Maloali (pictured) was just 27 Despite the difficulties of air travel at the time,
when he attended the meeting in 1961 which the two men had one mission.
led to the formation of the Pacific Conference
“The church was seen as one of the instru- About Papua
of Churches.
ments to help prepare Papuans for independ-
Indonesia reacted violent-
At the time, Papua was Dutch New Guinea—a ence,” Maloali said.
ly with direct military ac-
colony of the Netherlands which was granted
“So we wanted to connect with Pacific commu-
tion which was repelled
independence in December 1961.
nities which were looking towards independ- by a joint Dutch-Papuan
“As Papuans we have lost our identity and be- ence at the time. force in 1962
come more Indonesian in everything we do,”
“It was young, emerging nations coming to- By 1963 Indonesia with
Maloali said.
gether to draw strength from each other.’’ occupied Papua and then
“There is an urgent need to find our way back, forced 1000 selected Pa-
Maloali said in an interview at his Jayapura
to reconnect with our identity to Melanesia puans to vote for annexa-
home, that Pacific churches could help Papua
because we are, after all, a Melanesian people. tion in a United Nations
by showing them contextual regional theology.
mandated referendum.
“Slowly our culture and way of thinking has
He said the Pacific had largely maintained its
In 1969 Indonesia de-
become more Asian than Melanesian.”
culture despite the passage of time.
clared Papua to be part of
In 1961 Maloali and a Dutch missionary flew
“This is something that is missing in Papua and its republic despite agita-
from Jayapura to Lae in Papua New Guinea and tion by locals which has
we must act before it is too late and we forget
then to Port Moresby, Sydney, Nadi and Apia. endured until today.
who we are.”
