It matters

Theological Education by Extension, I mean. It matters that Christians across the South Pacific, often in remote places and with limited resources, are taken seriously when they feel the call of God on their hearts and minds to learn more about, for example, the Bible, ministry, preaching, pastoral care and counselling, social action, evangelism and outreach. Our PTC handbook puts it well.

Why Have Extension Courses?

‘Ministry’ does not necessarily mean ordained ministry. There are, as Paul reminds us, a variety of gifts (1 Cor 12:12–26). Theological Education by Extension (TEE) developed out of the need to provide theological education in a way that suits students and equips them for Christian ministry while allowing them to remain in their local communities. PTCEE’s extension programmes are intended to fill a gap in theological education in Oceania. Most areas in the Pacific have theological colleges, but full-time study at a residential theological institution is impossible for most Pacific Christians. Many are unable to leave their homes or pay for residential studies. Furthermore, many local theological colleges are dedicated to training people for ordination and they do not admit lay people, even though lay people may be responsible for much of the ministry within and beyond their churches. The deeply religious nature of Pacific people and their hunger to experience the abundance of the Christian life makes it imperative for PTC to provide accessible theological education. Many people in the region live on isolated islands separated by vast expanses of ocean. PTCEE programmes are print-based, so they make theological study accessible to church people throughout the region. Students can choose a programme that best suits their needs. The courses are written mostly by people in the Pacific to be appropriate for Pacific people. They are applied, contextual and ecumenical.

With all that in mind, a real challenge on the Director's desk just now is to put a bit more oomph behind offering a Bachelor of Divinity programme by Extension so that people can go beyond Certificate and Diploma level. There's lots of interest in developing this and I'm on the lookout for writers to help revise and update existing courses that can fit the BD bill. Anyone out there? It's got tremendous potential, so prayers for that please.

Away from the desk, I feel like I've been island hopping, though I haven't - yet. Kafi, who's from Tuvalu but currently staying in Fiji, invited me to celebrate Tuvalu Day with his fellow islanders last Saturday. It was a breathtaking spectacle and a heartwarming, communal event overflowing with pride, joy, colour and thanksgiving. Kafi is ploughing faithfully through our certificate courses at the moment, but last weekend took a well deserved break from studies and rightly so. In the huge local gymnasium, not far from PTC, we enjoyed a picnic lunch of fluffy white rice, corned beef and a rich tomato sauce (I've always adored corned beef so that was a winner!) and then marvelled at the music and dance on offer from different Tuvalu islander groups competing throughout the afternoon. It was beautiful and powerful; majestic, expressive and thrilling: so many faces alight and bodies alive. All generations too. This is who we are, it said. Roots, identity, soil and soul. We give thanks.

Also known as Twiggy...

It's not all singing and dancing though. The house still needs to be cleaned. Allow me to introduce you to sasa broom - a gift of the coconut tree - and the domestic implement of choice for dust gathering. At first, I secretly and rather arrogantly thought that a 'conventional' broom (by Brit standards that is) with a familiar fixed and unyielding rectangular head would do the job perfectly well. I am now suitably shamed. Sasa broom, as I was advised by those who know, makes light work of flicking effortlessly into and out of dark corners. Computer cables and extension leads hold no fear for her as she swishes over them with ease, fronds separating helpfully to gather in the tiniest particles. The dust releases itself easily from her fibres too - another plus. No more upending the brush to pick bits of old dental floss and squashed sultanas out of it. (Or whatever your personal detritus happens to be). And, to cap it all, sasa broom is also gentle on the ear, offering a kindly, soothing, rhythmic 'whoosh, whoosh' as she does her work. No more the irritating drone and weighty drag of Henry Hoover. Bliss! 

No wonder that good lady in Luke chapter 15 found her lost coin. It's because she had a Twiggy. A Dyson would have been disaster.

Let's hear it for the learners

Which most definitely includes me! Learning a lot as ever in week 4 of being in post as Director of the Pacific Theological College's Education by Extension programme and week 5 of being in Fiji itself. We need rain. Especially in the West. Only an ineffectual dribble so far and water supplies a problem for some of PTC's staff living on the outskirts of Suva. OK on campus so far but have bought a spare plastic dustbin and filled it up in anticipation...

A classic mistake of a photo with the light behind everyone - sorry about that - but here's our tutorial class from Friday morning. A beautiful mix of humanity in terms of ethnic background, denomination, age and gender. Members are pursuing various courses - ministry, Church history, ethics etc - by extension but either live on campus or are near enough to PTC to come in and take advantage of a class, the library and the Director - which is great! We talked about Practical Theology this week: how all our learning has to stand up to the 'So what?' question in terms of application to real life and real Church issues. Why does it matter? What difference does it make? Practical Theology is also a recognised academic discipline these days (has been for a while) and as a result has acquired impenetrable jargon. We commiserated about that and agreed not to become fazed or undermined by it.

Not that much fazes Mila, wife of the Anglican Priest at Suva's Cathedral and Elizabeth, President of PTC's Women's Fellowship, also married to a minister and from American Samoa. Little Esther came along with Mum because plans changed and she couldn't go swimming that morning.

Tema (Methodist) on the left and Ema (Anglican) on the right also both deal with Clergy husbands and busy lives, managing to find time for studies too, God bless 'em..

Food was shared at the end of tutorial this week, organised by the students, to say a heartfelt thank you to Michael Kafonika (chatting in the picture on the left) who stepped into the gap between Directors at PTCEE, to the detriment of his own PhD work which is now getting back on track. He's been a massive help to me - thank you Michael.

And similarly indispensable has been Salome, on the right in the blue stripy t-shirt, who is PTCEE's office assistant and my right-hand woman. She's very patient with me.....

Friday was a full day because in the evening the whole College went 5 mins up the road to Pacific Regional Seminary (PRS) which is the Catholic set-up for the formation and training of their priests. We shared a beautiful act of worship in their striking Chapel, were greatly moved by the phenomenal, plentiful and touching generosity we were shown, not least in terms of the feast prepared, and then there was an evening's cultural entertainment offered by both Colleges. PRS have Tongan students and we don't at present, and their vigorous presentation certainly got vociferous appreciation from the fans!

Some of Tonga's Catholic Priests in training

During worship earlier, the Revd Dr Upolu Vaai, a Samoan Methodist minister and one of our lecturers, preached about the ecumenical hope that's created in the World Church when those being formed for ministry 'meet at the crossroads' as Jesus met with the Samaritan woman at the well, each being changed by the other. I so agree with him! But the ecumenical momentum needs to continue and be lived out way, way beyond College with fierce commitment, determination and the same levels of mutual appreciation and hospitality. That's the challenge

It's lovely to have some manageable garden by Staff House 12. My young neighbour Yoane from Papua New Guinea has been helping me with it and we're planning on planting lemongrass because the mozzies hate it, and maybe adding to the pineapple crop: a plantation of one currently, being lovingly embraced in the photo below by Rev Ted. He's one of Pam Mason's family of Teddies for Tragedies which she knits so faithfully. Pam is from St Martin's, Dorking, my last Church, and I was very touched that she knitted Rev Ted for me, who travelled well to Fiji and  - unlike many of his fellow bears - hasn't needed to offer comfort in times of tragedy as yet, praise God. But it's good to know he'll be on hand if the call comes, eh?