3 Tikanga Council for Ecumenism

At the recent 3 Tikanga Council for Ecumenism Meeting in Suva, the Archbishop Sione 'Uluilakepa warmly welcomed the Council members, and the staff and students of St. John The Baptist Theological College presented a heartfelt cultural welcome on behalf of the Diocese. The Council members participating in this meeting included representatives from Tikanga Pasifika, Tikanga Māori, Tikanga Pākehā, and the General Secretary of the Church. The Council's role is to oversee the Anglican Church's ecumenical and interfaith relationships in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia. The Council's mandate involves engaging with other churches and denominations, establishing dialogues, monitoring discussions with other faiths, and fostering relationships with other denominations. This was the Council's first visit to the Diocese of Polynesia, and they sought to better understand the Pacific region's perspective on Ecumenism. They were impressed by the work being done in the region regarding ecumenism, including efforts related to social justice and climate change. The Council was amazed by the extensive work and the scope covered by the Pacific Council of Churches. They gained insights into the advanced state of relationship building with other denominations in the Pacific region, particularly the close ties nurtured over the years by leaders and continued by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong and Archbishop Sione 'Uluilakepa. The visit emphasized the close relationships between the Catholic and Anglican Church, as well as the Methodist Church. It was recognized that the understanding of ecumenism needs reevaluation across different regions. In the Pacific, ecumenism focuses on building and nurturing relationships at the levels of family, community, and church settings rather than solely on theological understandings. The Council found the visit invaluable as they engaged in Talanoa and gained firsthand experience of ecumenism within the rich context of Pasefika at the Pacific Council of Churches Secretariat and the Pacific Theological College.