Friday, 30 June 2017

Write! Have you heard the call?

Writing for Publication Workshop 26-28 June 2017

Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.
(Revelation 1.19)

There’s been a Writing-for-Publication Workshop on the PTC College Calendar this year, 26-28 June, and we give profound thanks to God for such an encouraging, stimulating, rich, insightful and laughter-filled few days. It all happened because of a conversation I had with a Bishop of the Church of England in the back of a minibus in Seoul. See how the Holy Spirit works?

Eleven theological and missiological papers were presented; seven from women and four from men, inspired by real-life reflections and convictions from across Oceania. We touched on topics ranging from a Pacific eco-theology of pregnancy, through the American Samoan eyes and experience of Filomena...



...to a reassessment of Catholic mission in Tonga from Viliame (above), soon to be ordained as a Marist Father. After comments, responses, talanoa and ‘tweaks’, all the papers were web published straight after the workshop, including an additional paper generously offered by Dr Bird. It was moving to see these projected at the workshop’s Closing Eucharist and pray,

Faithful God, we dedicate to you these writings and those who laboured over them. May they serve your mission and purposes we humbly pray, in the name of Jesus, Word of Life. Amen.

Rev Geraldine presents on Jonah

The published papers can be freely accessed and read by visiting http://www.missiontheologyanglican.org/ Twelve tangible outcomes, much laboured over beforehand and then brought to birth. Works in progress which, like any new shoots, will benefit from continued weeding and watering, pruning and feeding. The authors welcome interaction, comment and ‘talanoa’ around their presentations, and of course the flexibility and immediacy of the web allows for this in a way that print publication cannot.

The workshop marked a new collaboration between Mission Theology in the Anglican Communion (MTAC) - a worldwide, and very ecumenically minded network - and PTC Education by Extension (PTCEE). The Rt Revd Dr Graham Kings, the Mission Theologian who coordinates MTAC, came in person from London to be one of three co-chairs. We are so grateful to him and for MTAC sponsorship of FJ$4,250 [GB£1,600] towards costs. The Director of PTC’s Institute of Mission and Research, Mr Aisake Casimira and yours truly were the other co-chairs. 


Wise encourager and Theological Consultant among us was distinguished Pacific theologian and minister of the United Church in the Solomon Islands, Rev Dr Cliff Bird.


Misson Theology in the Anglican Communion  describes its purpose as follows.

To raise up new 'Doctors of the Church' in the global South to write, network, publish and engage with theologians in the global North, to renew the worldwide Church and influence society.



Fr Anthony and Rev Billy deep in concentration..

Rev Kara adjusts his world view?

The ‘raising up’ is significant. None of the presenters are formally titled ‘Doctor’ as yet, but are still – and why would we be in the least surprised by this? - brimming with theological capacity, missiological wisdom and rooted, contextual, Pacific experience from church and community. Unfortunately this can be belittled or underplayed when conversations about ‘academic status’ set our agendas or the loaded word ‘student’ is used of those already bringing years of experience to the table. Sisters and brothers at varying ages and stages of theological education have things to say that the rest of the Pacific and the world beyond can usefully hear. Even better: read. 

Rev Leinamau presents on Christian Education in Vanuatu

We don’t have to go far for a biblical mandate, with reference again to the Book of Revelation:

I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, (Rev 1.10-11)

MTAC is sounding a trumpet call to those in mission and ministry all over the world to write down what really matters in their real-life contexts, communities and churches, so that the world can be enlightened. This is exactly what our workshop has been about. The thinkers and writers who took part heard that trumpet call with clarity and the fruits of their labours are now published on the worldwide web. 


Deaconesses Litiana and Verenaisi of Methodist Church, Fiji present their insights...

Rev Marie 'paddling against the tide' as a Samoan woman in Church life

As Acting Principal of PTC, Revd Dr Gwayaweng Kiki said, in his speech to the community at the workshop’s closing feast, ‘Through the work of a few, the whole community of PTC and all the churches we represent throughout Oceania are lifted, honoured and blessed.’

Kanaky, Kiribati, Samoa...

Tonga, Vanuatu, American Samoa...

There is still a great lack of published, Pacific, theological writing as Dr Cliff Bird reminded us more than once. ‘I am so excited by this initiative’, he said to the gathered presenters. ‘You have done some great papers. Please keep developing the discipline of writing, and don’t be fearful to share it with the world. We are writing history and theology from now; from present experience’.


Traditional 'sevusevu' welcome to Bishop Graham 
by the graciousness and kindness of the Fijian 'vanua'

This is an excellent wake up call. In the Pacific, we enjoy speech more than pen, perhaps. Vocal cord more than computer keyboard. But when we write consistently and share our work generously, with ample doses of confidence and humility, this is commendable service for God, from the Pacific, in challenging and changing times. As we all know, it only takes a few Google searches under terms such as ‘theology’ and ‘mission’ to throw up masses of horrifically dubious material from highly questionable sources. Pacific theologians can surely help to redeem the web through offerings of much greater substance and integrity.

Cross on the table at Morning Prayer...

We thank once again, sincerely, Bishop Graham and the MTAC network for investing in and partnering with us in this first Writing-for-Publication workshop. 

Who's up for the next one?



Monday, 12 June 2017

Oh we DID like to clean up by the seaside....

Last Saturday in fact. And all credit to PTC's very own Institute of Mission and Research (IMR) - in the adjoining offices to ourselves at PTCEE (reflected glory...) - for galvanising our community into action. You can read their Facebook post and pictures by clicking on the Institute's heading below, but I'll post a few pics as well because I know not all my lovely readers do the Facebook 'thing'. 

Thanking the PTC community for the great turnout on Saturday the 10th of June to commemorate World Oceans Day in a practical way! We also acknowledge the support of PRS through the presence of Fr. Bill. The community managed to collect 50+ bags of rubbish along the Suva city foreshore area from the catering school to the My Suva Park with the help of both young and old, men and women! We hope that this will become an annual (and more frequent) event, and that by doing so, we impact on changing hearts and minds - one person at a time. #KeepingOurOceansLitterFree






And now meet Mr Crab, whose personal plight is somewhat illustrative of the oceans' in general. When unable to locate a replacement shell from the God-given materials he might expect on the beach, he adapts to options which are plentiful. The plastic bottle top, for example. 



Amusing? Awe inspiring? Does it make us wish some humans set in their ways could show such an ability to go with the flow? 

Or, putting all flippancy aside, simply terrifying? As this video, endorsed by our Ministry of Fisheries and shown in Fiji cinemas on World Oceans Day begins to show?




We cleaned up Saturday morning on our local shores and in our local park. Other groups were out too. By Saturday evening, you'd hardly have known.

But that's no reason to stop preaching forth - as well as picking up.




PS. 

And no, you can't have my gumboots. 
Many offers have been made. 
Refused them all. 

When the plastic/rubber (?) eventually wears out, it'll be recycled, so don't be looking for them on the beach either!




Friday, 2 June 2017

Ethical ponderings and other bits


Bula!


Here we are again. And here's what happens on Monday mornings after Chapel. Our Women's Fellowship bring the weekly flower arrangement for the PTCEE office, which we gladly buy from them at $5 Fiji dollars a time to contribute to their fundraising and projects, and we enjoy a bright and uplifting Monday moment! I recommend it highly to anyone needing an uplifting Monday (or Tues, or Weds...) moment. This week Roslyne Keleb from the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu was the floral artist on duty. What a star...


We joined forces on Friday for lunch: the forces being our Extension tutorial group and Pastoral group. Some prayers, some sharing, and on the menu, walu fish in coconut milk, lamb sausages with spicy noodles, chicken drumsticks, dhal and roti, rice, sweet potatoes, (kumala), sliced cucumbers, pineapple and bananas. Should've bought ice cream. Forgot. Next time...



In the green dress is Radini Temalesi who's ploughing the Diploma furrow and has become fascinated with Christian Ethics. She gave the student presentation earlier and challenged us thus:

3. FAITH PERSPECTIVE

We believe in a Love caring God but most of the time we do not show love. Forgiving enemies is like a healing process and that is Christ-like Love. Evil destroys everything eg. anger stirs our hearts. Evil is everything that goes against God.


The post-presentation discussion then got into 'forgiveness' in a big way, and whether prison sentences, eg. for rape cases, are not really God's way. Some argued that victims of rape need to be encouraged to forgive, however difficult, and the perpetrator's 'mistake' deserves forgiveness not a long sentence. There have been some high profile cases in the Fiji news recently and its a really hot topic. An undercurrent to all this is the view, among some, that Christian ethics and criminal justice systems aren't an easy alliance and Fiji is more and more required to conform to and be squeezed by imported models of justice, human rights etc: models which contradict, unhelpfully, traditional family and village values. I've heard such views expressed many times.

As I moderated the discussion, I wondered how different the dynamics might have been had someone from, say, the very active and vocal NGO networks constantly on the campaign trail of ending violence against women been present? Nothing in the fairly typical NGO paragraph below contradicts, to my mind,  Christian ethics....


Violence against women prevalence surveys in the Pacific have shown that the incidence is the worst in the world with over 60 per cent of women and girls having experienced violence at the hand of an intimate partner or family member.
Violence against women, and intimidation of violence, is an abuse of women’s human rights. It limits women’s participation in social, political and economic life. This significantly impacts on development outcomes, affecting families and communities and placing significant strains on health care, social services and policing and justice systems. For example, the children of women who experienced violence have increased levels of child mortality and emotional and behavioural problems, and are more likely to become perpetrators of violence.
In the Pacific, support services for survivors of violence have seen minimal progress in recent years. However, local organisations focusing on a human rights approach to the issue are having some success.
Violence needs to be prevented as well as services provided for survivors. Supporting the transformation of deeply held values and beliefs that justify men’s violence against women is a crucial long-term goal of violence prevention efforts. Prevention of violence requires coordinated efforts at all levels; aimed at raising awareness of related issues, changing community norms about violence and increasing women’s status in society.
Significant advances in the Pacific have been achieved in expanding women’s access to justice. However, the implementation of laws, as well as the overall functioning of the judicial and police systems, remains fragile. Violence takes many forms and is multi-causal and multi-dimensional so interventions to respond and prevent it need to take place on multiple levels. Strategies to reduce violence against women must involve civil society initiatives, the church and government institutions. Coordination between these groups needs to be greatly strengthened and improved.
... but in Church-related contexts here, the challenge is always to offer a credible, tightly argued Biblical and theological grounding to the issues, if they're really to be heard and received. 
Male advocacy goes a long way of course and there's an encouraging article at the next link by our PTC colleague Rev Raki Tigarea on Male Advocacy for Eliminating Violence Against Women - you have to scroll down to page 8 - in the light of a workshop he recently attended.
So it was a heartfelt and pretty gutsy student presentation and discussion. Vinaka, Radini Tema. We don't paddle our toes at the edges here, we plunge right in. When I returned to the PTCEE office afterwards, it was good to glance again at the powerful poster below, featuring the convictions of the Methodist Church in Fiji's President, Revd Dr Tevita Nawadra Banivanua. It greets us at our Reception desk each morning. 
As well as flowers.



Now then, there are some jobs going here if you're interested?

Vacancy: Short-Term Lecturer in Theology and Ethics


Pacific Theological College (PTC) is looking for full-time short-term lecturer for its Theology and Ethics Department. This is to cover sabbatical leave of the current Head of Department, Dr Vaai. The period to cover will be from mid-April (Semester 1B begins 16 April 2018) to the beginning of September (Semester 2A ends 7 September 2018). Actual start and finish dates will be negotiated with successful candidate.

For full details see the Job Description, and see our Vacancies page.

Closing date for this one is 31 July 2017

Or, do you fancy being our College Receptionist? Click here if you do or have a quick glance below. 





And, please pray for Fiji and our Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama who's got something of a challenge coming up...

01/06/17

COP23 Presidency deeply disappointed with Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement

Statement by the Fijian Prime Minister and Incoming President of COP23, Frank Bainimarama


The decision by the Trump Administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change is deeply disappointing, especially for the citizens of vulnerable nations throughout the world.

It is also a grave disappointment for millions of people living in those areas of the United States that are threatened by the effects of climate change, whether it is the flooding that threatens cities like New York and Miami, or the periods of drought and deluge that have plagued California and other states, or the temperature rise that is affecting cities, wildlife and natural areas across the United States.


As incoming President of COP23, I did what I could – along with many leaders around the world – to try to persuade President Trump to remain standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as, together, we tackle the greatest challenge our planet has ever faced. While the loss of America’s leadership is unfortunate, this is a struggle that is far from over.


That is because the world has reached the consensus that all nations must meet this challenge together, and we need not forgo economic growth to do so. On the contrary, solving the climate crisis through cooperation, innovation, new technologies and improved access to capital around the world will create real, sustainable economic growth for those who have the vision to make this moment of challenge a moment of opportunity.


The rest of the world remains fully committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. I am especially encouraged by the commitment being shown by China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and the vast majority of other nations. They will continue to lead this process, with or without the support of the Trump Administration, but with the knowledge and assurance that many ordinary Americans support participation in the Paris Agreement, and that many American states, cities and businesses will continue to pursue the ambitious climate action the Agreement entails.


As incoming COP President, I reaffirm that I will do everything possible to continue to forge a grand coalition that will accelerate the momentum that has continued since the Paris Agreement, embracing governments, civil society, the private sector and millions of ordinary men and women around the world. I am also convinced that the United States Government will eventually rejoin our struggle because the scientific evidence of man-made climate change is well understood. The issue is settled, and the impacts are obvious, and humankind ignores these facts at its peril.


Thanks - see you next time.