Oceania

Context 

The vast geography of Oceania presents unique opportunities for USPG’s work across the region. We are connected to the networks of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia; The Anglican Church of Melanesia; of Papua New Guinea and of Australia. This model of extraordinary diversity was celebrated in our 2019 Lent Course.

As its name indicates the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is made up of three equal elements or cultural streams, known as the Three Tikanga: 

  • Hāhi Mihinare ki Aotearoa, or Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa is the Maori Anglican Church 

  • Tikanga Pasefika is the Polynesian Anglican Church 

  • Tikanga Pakeha is the Pakeha* Anglican Church 

*i.e. of European descent 

There is a General Synod, but each church has its own culturally contextual ways of governing, decision-making, ministerial training and liturgy. There are also three Primates who share authority. 

Rethinking Mission & Energising Church 

There is certainly a desire to discern, develop and strengthen USPG’s role across this region of the Anglican Communion. One notable area of development is a growing connection with the excellent network of theologians and students at the Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji who bring intrinsic Pacific values and insights in an ever-changing ecological environment. In this vein, these contextual theologies or ‘Voices of the Pacific’ could be an exciting potential venture for USPG. 

Championing Justice 

Due to the worsening climate crisis, majority of USPG’s engagement in Oceania has been in support of climate justice action. 

  • In 2016, USPG’s International Consultation took place in Fiji as a sign of solidarity with the region’s struggles against climate change. As a result of the consultation, a companion diocese link was made between the Diocese of Lincoln and Polynesia. 

  • At Greenbelt in 2017, USPG invited the then Archbishop Winston Halapua of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia to be a keynote speaker. Archbishop Winston delivered hard-hitting messages about climate change, drawing from experience of seeing islands in Polynesia disappearing under rising sea levels. Click here to listen to his presentation.

Other recent action has included: Emergency Appeal for the 2022 tsunami in Tonga.

 

Archbishop Winston Halapua standing on an island off Tonga, where sea water is causing long-term damage to the trees. USPG/Naomi Herbert

Call to worship at the opening ceremony of the USPG International Consultation in Fiji, 2016.