Ready...steady...GO! 1st Sept 2017

First September in the UK features in the psyche of many with Methodist leanings as the start of a new 'Methodist Year'. In Fiji, it doesn't feature much. The enormous and very influential Methodist Conference here has just ended with new leaders chosen and inducted, but they don't actually get in the saddle and grab the reins until 1 Jan. They're unlikely to be on horseback either. Our forebear did it differently...

Church elects new leader               Mere Naleba [Fiji Times]

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

New general secretary elect Reverend Ili Vunisuwai and new president elect of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa after the elections during the conference at Centenary Church of Fiji last night. Picture: JONA KONATACI
REVEREND Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa is the new man at the helm of leadership for the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma.

Mr Vakadewavosa was yesterday elected president of the church, taking over the reins from outgoing president Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua.

Mr Banivanua served as president since 2014.

Reverend Ili Vunisuwai replaces Mr Vakadewavosa as general secretary.

Abudant prayers for them, please, not least because 2018 will bring General Elections here. Our Prime Minister spoke to Conference about climate change and the press reported as follows:

The Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, yesterday categorically responded to queries from Methodists at the Bose Ko Viti about his role as COP23 President.

The PM was invited by the church to attend the meeting and talk about climate change.

He told a packed audience at the Methodist Centenary Church in Suva that his presidency role at COP23 in Bonn, Germany, in November was not about politics.

“Fiji’s position to fight against climate change is not about gaining a name for myself or the country,” the PM said while responding to questions from the audience who had asked him if such big world events were being used to gain political mileage.

“It is however about saving the world and giving a voice for small island nations and standing by what is right for the benefit of all Pacific Islands.

“Climate change should not be taken as a chance to gain political attributions, but it is about fighting for the people, for the sake of the next generation and generations to come.”

The PM then requested the audience to leave aside questions about politics because he was invited to the meeting to talk about climate change and COP23.

Church leaders then asked the PM if he was shaken by the fact that United States President, Donald Trump, had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.

Mr Bainimarama said: “If we wait for Trump we won’t gain anything. We have been waiting for him and inviting him to various events, but if he is not willing to stand with us then we will continue with COP23.

“We want him there, we want everyone around the world to talk about climate change. We don’t want him because he is America’s president, but because he needs to support this initiative and join others around the world.”

Seems to have been ridiculously busy at the desk recently, what with getting Project PTCEE up and running. It had to get through a number of committees, but now we're doing the big push for digitisation and online developments. Find out more about it here.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/projectptcee

A one-off injection of funds is required, especially if we want to employ extra personnel for managing a learning platform and for instructional design. But it'll be well worth it, and it's long, long overdue. 

We were sad to farewell Pona and the beautiful Kaikuyawa Family returning to be with Rev Rex in Papua New Guinea. We had a traditional farewell ceremony organised by our Fijian ethnic group, then an afternoon tea. Some tears shed, not least by the youth group in which the kids have been so involved. Love to you all - you'll be so missed.

Oh and yes, 1 Sept 2017 marks a silver anniversary for me. Praise be!