And we're back!

Well I was a bit taken aback to see the last post here was 18 June. Dearie me, what laziness and neglect! 

Quickly trying to absolve herself.... I have been posting on Ptcee Suva, including news from USPG's International Consultation on Climate Justice which was held in July and at which I was the reflector. It was great to renew acquaintance with the Anglican mission agency USPG - United Society Partners in the Gospel - as they were such valued ecumenical partners in the United College of the Ascension and Queen's Birmingham when I served there. Every four years they gather Bishops and senior leaders from the Anglican Communion together in some part of the world, and this time the vital issues of climate justice were debated and compared from a number of regional and country perspectives in Fiji. My role was to listen carefully and offer some reflection at the end of each day. It was humbling to be invited to do this and useful to be conveniently local as the Consultation was happening at a resort down the road. Here we are at 'The Pearl'.

Also on Ptcee Suva (still seeking blogger's absolution) there are posts from the International Association of Mission Studies Assembly which was in Seoul 11-17 August. I attended this with Rev Iosefa Lefaoseu, currently pursuing PhD research at PTC, who's a minister of the Methodist Church in Samoa. 

Then to the UK for two months, having completed two years of the mission partner contract in Fiji, to fulfill what's still quaintly known as mission partner 'furlough' or 'deputation'. One month of that, roughly, was for rest and reflection; catching up with friends and family etc. And the other month was for speaking and preaching engagements as follows. 

Maybe we saw each other at one of the above? If so, thank you so much for coming and for your heart for the wider World Church. Lovely to meet you or renew acquaintance! 

And I must say, from the bottom of my heart; there just aren't the words, in any language, to thank the brilliant squads of local organisers who got everything together in the various venues. There were Pacific display boards, delicious Pacific-inspired things to eat, music groups having a go at Fijian and Hindi songs, organists being troubled by strange hymn requests, great questions raised and discussion topics wrestled with and kind, kind hospitality in numerous homes. I also know there were cheques sent to the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain on the back of these engagements, and for those - God Bless you. 

Lots of memories and photos of furlough, naturally, so I share just one or two...

Stewards on duty: always be ready, please, to inflate a Fiji rugby ball before services. Thanks Laurie at Badminton Rd, Bristol!

Ohhh  - how brilliant it was to see you again at Upper Norwood in the Blackheath and Crystal Palace Circuit. Happy memories of 2013-2014.

And here's the Chester and Runcorn and Delamere Circuits' event at Helsby. SO much planning and energy had been put into getting this together - thanks everyone

And here Fiji meets Barry Island! With the wonderful Team Taylor - Rev Pete, Deacon Sam, Rose and Matthew.

Lastly, the event at Dorking Christian Centre (the last time I was a 'proper minister' it was at St Martin's Shared Church in Dorking) was very touchingly mentioned in St Martin's magazine. I covet no coverage in the broadsheets after such an honour! 

Next blog - back in Fiji. See you soon.

Sustainable lives

It's never a dull life, I have to say. And always something to engage the brain and heart. Over a toasted tuna sandwich and a milky coffee at Soon Kim cafe in town this morning, I read Saturday's Fiji Times and got thinking about sustainable development - not for the first time - in the light of a bit of Prime Ministerial reflection. 

Sustainable livelihood, as an umbrella term, can be held aloft over a monumental number of concerns and issues: everything from sustainable fishing and sustainable families, to sustainable programmes of theological education. Which is where we come in, of course. Some may say, 'Well, theological education is hardly a matter of life and death!' Mmm - thinks. Remove 'theological' and ask the same question. Is education a matter of life or death? It can be. Education means you know which are the poisonous and the safe mushrooms and why drinking weedkiller can kill. It doesn't really matter if you were educated about those things from formal schooling, or from parents and grandparents in the family home. But it matters that you know them, for the sake of your life and the choices you make.

As a person of Christian faith, I can make a strong case for theological education, handled well, playing a huge role in shaping our priorities and urging us towards fullness of life for all. The stereotype that theology just complicates and mystifies everything is unjust. From the Judaeo-Christian tradition, just look how direct and vital the particular theological challenge to the people of Israel is in Deuteronomy 30. The context of course being loyalty to Yahweh - or not. It's a call to theological reflection and action: no more, no less. You've been schooled sufficiently in God's commandments, says Moses. What difference is that going to make to you now? To what you say and what you stand for; what you think and how you live? The choices mean death or life.

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

As I reflect on this call to choose, a horrible death and a life cut far too short come painfully to mind. The murder of British Member of Parliament Jo Cox has dominated the headlines in UK news. Death came shockingly to someone much loved and respected who chose a full life of public service. 

I know nothing of Jo Cox's personal theology or stance on faith, nor that of her bereft husband. But the world certainly knows the priorities he chose to speak about and stand for, when remembering Jo, even in the immediate aftermath of such pain for himself and his children. The Independent 17th June reported...

The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has called on people to “fight against the hatred that killed her”. Ms Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, died after being shot and stabbed outside of a library in her constituency in Birstall, west Yorkshire near to where she held her weekly surgery. In a statement, Brendan Cox said: "Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo's friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo."

Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.

"She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn't have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.

"Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full."

Above: Mother and Member of Parliament, the late Jo Cox. 

Below: Quality education discussions in Nadi, Fiji

Working for full, peaceful and sustainable lives for the Pacific's children

is probably the most fitting tribute to Jo that those of us this side of the 

oceans can make. RIP.

Vacancy

No, no; I haven't been thrown out yet. Probably only a matter of time though. The vacancy we've been advertising has been for a Programme Administrator for the Extension/Distance learning department and interviews were on Friday. We're needing seriously to strengthen the admin side of things now, not least if the BD is going to expand and - maybe - we paddle toes in the water of on-line delivery. So we cast our nets for someone skilled in databases and student record keeping and basic financial management and with a great phone manner and with a heart for chasing up backsliders kindly and for inclusive, ecumenical working and with attention to accuracy and detail, and an excellent punctuality record, and...and...  You know, recruiting for the angel Gabriel, basically.

I haven't been involved in recruitment and selection for a while, though did a fair bit of it in previous lives. It's also a very different thing when in an unfamiliar culture and context. There's something about the inevitable globalisation of recruitment procedures and human resources requirements that makes it appear the same superficially. But you just know that beyond every politically correct and professionally executed question and answer, there's a world of other information that's sought, really. Not least about things which are so, so vital here: birthplace and family background, ethnicity and confederacy, not to mention faith. 

We had a really encouraging set of applicants and got it down to a shortlist of four. My indispensible right-hand woman and man through the whole process were Lynne and Sanjeet. They're both busy enough with their own responsibilities here at PTC, but made time to assess applications, shortlist with me, and be on the interview panel. My thanks to them both is here on record. They were wonderful colleagues and guides to this still relative 'newbie'. So grateful.

Here's lovely Lynne. She's been an administrator at PTC for over 20 years. Her present work is concentrated with the God's Pacific People programme, where she does a great deal of personnel work making sure that participants on short courses from all over the Pacific have everything they need, not least flights and visas etc. While helping us out with the PTCEE interviews, she was simultaneously managing the departures of the English class students who were travelling back to Maohi Nui and West Papua.  Multitasking or what?

Sanjeet, below left, is our Finance and Administration team leader; previously working for the Raffles hotel group. Always such a help to PTCEE when stuff needs sorting. If you're after the right spreadsheet, ask Jeet. He had a few timely questions to the potential recruits about bank reconciliations and unclassified deposits..

So we've made an offer and we wait to hear yay or nay from that someone. We'll let you know. 

They won't escape the blog. 
Watch this space! 

And so we pray,

Faithful God,
You know your children
better than we know ourselves.
May our new administrator
at PTCEE be your gift to us in
human form for the ministry
of theological education here
in the Oceania. 

May the chosen person 
be ready to both give and receive; 
work professionally and serve wholeheartedly. 

May we grow together, 
in colleagueship and community, 
and be as you would have us be.

Amen.

Colourful celebrations

Festival of the Pacific Arts 2016 - Guam — Coconet: 

Click above and check out the biggest gathering of Pacific artists in the world - the Festival of the Pacific Arts 2016! 27 different Islands from Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia have come together in a sharing of knowledge and Taonga from their counties. Local Chamorro are hosting the different delegations at high schools around the Island that have been converted into dorms for the 100 strong delegations. Hundreds of different artist feature across all art forms until June 2nd - from visual arts, digital arts, floral, food, traditional dance, contemporary performance, body adornment, theatre, tatau and clay work.

Images courtesy of Lisa Taouma and Steve Hardy.

Sadly I'm not on Guam - I'm in Suva. But our good colleague Revd Dr Upolu Luma Va'ai who's on Faculty here at PTC and a minister of the Methodist Church Samoa is there giving a paper on indigenous language. We look forward to lots of stories when he's back home.

And speaking of homecomings....

Looking forward to preaching and presiding at Wesley City Mission at 8.00am tomorrow and then taking the short walk up the road to St Andrew's Presbyterian to preach at their 10.00am at the kind invitation of their minister Rev Nikotemo Sopepa.

In his other life, Rev Niko is pursuing a PhD part-time at PTC and his study adjoins our PTCEE offices. 

We like to think that large doses of mutual inspiration seep through the walls.

Sunday Sounds from Suva

Thud – bop bop - thud. Thud – bop bop - thud. 

The rhythmic ‘lali’ drumbeat at 5.00am which means someone out there's calling somebody to do something but I can’t in this case work out who, what, why or where. It seems to be coming from off campus on this occasion. If on campus, it’s important we heed and make haste.

Twang-twang-twang-twang-twang-twang-twang-twang-strum-strum-strum-strum-strum. 

Nanuku Church's young guitar class play their D major and A7 chords with fearsome concentration and aching fingertips at Pentecost service. Awesome.

Oww-sssss-ow-arrrgh! 

I step on rusty drawing pin left on church floor and draw blood. We worship barefoot. Mind wanders while listening to sermon due to this incident and lack of competency in Hindi. Muse on date of last tetanus jab…

Whirrr-vrrrooomm; whirr-vrrrooom; whirr-vrrrooom

My faithful, comforting, wall-mounted, politically neutral bedroom fan oscillates gently: left-centre-right; right-centre-left; soothing hot head and furrowed brow as I try to bash out on laptop academic paper required by end of May

Tinkle tinkle; clink clink. 

Visiting gecko tap dances on newly washed teaspoons 

in kitchen draining rack.

(I've always loved radio - the pictures are so much better...)

The Spirit blows where it will...

It's been a phenomenally busy week in the Education by Extension office, not helped by having no admin support for three days - long story. Tried not to get cross. Got a bit cross but it could have been worse. It was perfectly justified to get a bit cross mind you, because contingencies are all in place for extra admin support when necessary but they didn't kick in. A lone Director in the dept. just isn't enough in the people-centered Pacific. Sometimes when I'm cross I just walk the 20 paces from the office to the College gates, stare down the road to where sky and sea meet, and send one up. Even on dustbin day it restores the soul.

I wasn't cross with the causes of the busy-ness, let me stress, because it's wonderful to have people dropping by and enquiries about the programmes increasing. Mele and Sita, for example, whom I'd never met before, are Extension students from Tuvalu and have come to PTC for a one week residential course about gender violence. 

While they're on the spot here, they want to stock up on course books and check their files, etc. It was a delight to meet them: both hard working ministers' wives who spend a lot of time exercising leadership among women of the Ekklesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, running Bible studies, offering pastoral guidance etc. And, little by little, notching up their basic theological education through our courses. Mele got her Certificate in Theological Studies in 2011, and is cracking on with the Diploma. 





They asked me, 'Can we get credits for all the work we're doing at home so it can count towards the Certificate and Diploma?' It's such a great question. Why shouldn't that work count, really? My heart would probably cross-credit quite a lot if no-one was looking! But someone is looking. Unfortunately, or rightly so? The Pacific Qualifications framework and Fiji Higher Education Council are clear about the standards we're supposed to be meeting. And if PTC distance learning in theology is seen to be 'soft' on accreditation, our students' reputation in the life of the Pacific Churches suffers in the end. 'Oh, those women just got a back door qualification - it's not like their husband's 'proper' one!' People want transferable credits as well. 'Will this be recognised if my husband goes to minister in Australia?' We want to say a firm and non-discriminatory 'yes' to that. 

Like many meetings and conversations in our department though, this one with Sita and Mele set me thinking deeply. Again. There must be more room somehow for greater educational recognition of the kind of wonderful and faithful mission and ministry they exercise week by week. Probably through assessing planning, delivery, outcomes and what they learn through reflective practice. All the usual boxes to tick, I suppose. But in the area of Church and faith matters; it's hard. How do you assess and accredit this kind of learning and service at local level, really? 

Sita says, 'Well, while I'm on the course this week, which is only during the day, I'll just not be sleeping at night, Rev Val, so that I can complete my Pacific Church History Part II while I'm here and while we've got internet and the library and everything!' She beams. I think she's totally serious. And I recall with shame certain theological students in other parts of the globe with resources at their fingertips and ever-ready excuses on their lips. 

'Bring me the course curriculum for this week and the results of any assignments you do', I say as a parting shot. Never say never.

Also deserving of accreditation, but rewarded by me with only 'cookies and cream' lollies (how mean was that?!) were the Nanuku Church youth group today for their community clean up. This was by choice on their programme and we'd originally thought of a litter pick around the settlement, etc. However, they were all fired up to scrub and clean the church itself and immediate surroundings. Fair enough. (We might be sort of waiting for the matching youth club T-shirts before the wider community clean-up. Kalavata matters!)

Young people in Fiji are experts at cleaning. They're required to do it at home all the time and I simply can't imagine the scenario of offspring negotiating with Mum or Dad about whether they're going to do the sweeping or not. You just do it. It's expected of you. 

(Child labour? Exploitation? I know, I know.... all this sometimes spills over into mighty issues too...)

However, an hour and a half of fun was had by all, entirely youth led, as lino was mopped, dusty mats were beaten, window slats were rubbed with crushed up newspaper until gleaming, and all was made ready for Pentecost Sunday tomorrow. Nanuku Youth? Simply the best. Have a look.

Having said that the only 'reward' was lollies, what they don't know is that a brand new, bright red - rather Pentecostal! - guitar will be gifted tomorrow, to add to the eclectic, and randomly strung collection we're slowly acquiring for Wednesday guitar classes.

First public performance of 'Holy Ghost and Fire That is Keepin' Me Alive!' in Church tomorrow. Oooo-err. Whatever goes wrong, just keep smiling!

G20 interfaith summit at PTC

The College hosted an important summit meeting this week. In preparation for the G20, a group of interfaith scholars and champions met here, at the invitation of our Faculty colleague the Revd Dr Upolu Luma Va'ai. Click here to see Dr Upolu's Facebook summary of the event, It aimed to do the following and you can find out more and discover outcomes at the G20 Interfaith Summit website in due course.

Conference Background

Rationale

Based on the very successful annual G20 Interfaith Summit initiative, a group of universities, faith groups, academic experts, and government officials will convene a Pacific Region pre-conference meeting with the aim to highlight the key role that religion plays in contributing to sustainable development and to achievement of the United Nation’s post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. This Regional Interfaith Summit will bring together experts on religion and the economy, religion and law and Pacific leaders from various religious and professional backgrounds to explore ways that religious actors and communities can work together to enhance positive relationships and contribute to achievement of sustainable development goals.

Objective

The objective of the G20 Interfaith Summit is to facilitate peace and respect between people of all religious and philosophical traditions while exploring ways to work together to strengthen economic development. This is important because religion plays a  major role in global events today, including issues from medical ethics to cross-border conflicts to macroeconomic trends. However, religion can be misunderstood or even overlooked as a factor on the global stage, and thus, the contributions faith and religion make to social well-being and policies, which impact national and international communities, often go unrecognised.

Expected Outcomes

• Exploration through informed, scholarly discussion of links between religious practice, social cohesion and sustainable development.
• Promotion of research and dialogue on ways that a vibrant religious sector characterized by tolerance and mutual respect contributes to achievement of sustainable development goals.
• Demystification and opening up of communication channels between different faith traditions.
• Sharing ideas, experiences and “best practices” in building peace and respectful relationships. Exploring and affirming common values, virtues and principles among diverse faith and philosophic tradition.
• Production of a consensus statement that includes policy insights and strategies, and lessons learned.

Those of us who weren't actually participants in the Conference were still caught up in the community momentum of it all as our guests were received. Monday's classes were all cancelled. Students and support staff worked tirelessly to deliver the necessary Pacific welcomes and protocols, plus hosting and serving a hugely elaborate welcome feast. Here, Rev Taniela Balenaikorodawa offers chief guest Dr Brian Adams the Fijian tabua - tooth of the sperm whale - the highest token of respect a person can be offered from the Vanua - the people and land of Fiji.

The sacred root of the pepper plant yaqona is also presented in the sevusevu ritual, and then mixed ceremonially into the earthy, traditional drink offered in coconut shell cups. Below, the Methodist Church in Fiji's youth department carry out the traditions with solemnity, respect and precision.

Traditional woven mats are presented too. Here's Salome, our Education by Extension administrator fulfilling the task ascribed  to her. 

And the massively talented PTC Youth Group can be seen here

And so we pray...

Interfaith Prayer: Save us from weak resignation

Eternal God
Save us from weak resignation to violence
Teach us that restraint is the highest expression of power
That thoughtfulness and tenderness are marks of the strong.

Help us to love our enemies
Not by countenancing their sins,
But by remembering our own
And may we never for a moment forget
That they are fed by the same food,
Hurt by the same weapons,
Have children for whom they have the same high hopes as we do.

Grant us the ability
To find joy and strength not in the strident call to arms
To grasp our fellow creatures
In the striving for justice and truth.

~ prepared by a Christian, a Jew and a Muslim, August 1990.  In A Collection of Prayers for Peace, 2005
Posted on the Decade to Overcome Violence website of the World Council of Churches