Fijian National Conference – Invited to a New Family

“Grow in grace my friends”

This was the theme of the 4 day Fiji National Biennial Conference held in Melbourne from 8-12 January 2004. From the first day to the final day, the sense of joy in belonging together to the family of God was clearly evident at the Mountain Valley Centre, Boronia, Victoria. 100 conference members from Australia were joined by 47 members of the Centenary Choir, Suva, whose presence brought an added richness and vibrancy with a feast of music and dance.

There was also space in the programme for each of the Fijian congregations and groups (3 in Victoria; 2 in Brisbane, 4 congregations and the Fiji Parish made up of 5 congregations) to share some of the joys and concerns that they have been experiencing.

We heard how three Fijian families who used to worship in a garage in Rotty Hill have now become a recognized congregation of the Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery.

We heard how 9 Youth from Parramatta and Ermington attended NCYC in Newcastle and three of those who had participated, shared how they have initiated a number of successful youth rallies and requested that the next Fiji National Conference allow youth to have a parallel youth program. …. enthusiastically encouraged other Fijian congregations to begin to plan now to encourage their young people to attend the conference in Adelaide in 2005.

We heard of the joy that the three Fijian congregations in Melbourne feel to have Dr Jovili and Lisa Meo in their midst. Dr Jovili Meo was formally the Principal of the Pacific Theological College in Suva and was appointed 2 years ago by the Victorian Synod to develop Fijian ministry and assist in multicultural theological education. We celebrated with the Pascoe Vale, received as a congregation of the Uniting Church on 18/11/2003. We also heard of their ministry with the nearby detention center and the pastoral care they were offering to Fijians coming to Melbourne for health care.

We heard of positive sharing relationships that were taking place between Fijian and English speaking congregations sharing property.

The Conference acknowledged the ministry of Rev Savanatha Wilson who has served the Fiji Parish in Sydney the last 4 years and whose term has come to an end. The Confernece wished him well and also named the importance of welcoming and assisting the orientation of any new minister coming from Fiji to serve in the Parish.

The Conference also heard some points of pain: we heard of the misunderstanding and division in the Brisbane congregation that has led to a split. Recognising the difficulties and limitations Presbyteries often face in providing appropriate pastoral care in cross-cultural situations, the Conference wanted to encourage Presbyteries to see leaders of National Conference as possible resource people in such situations.

The Conference named the tension present in some of our congregations on the one had, belonging to the Uniting Church and doing things the Uniting Church and on the other hand valuing the connection with the “home” church and wanting to maintain those links. At times this leads to feeling pulled in different directions. This can lead to divisions in congregations related to these identity issues. The Conference was keen to encourage ministers coming to serve in Australia from Fiji to work within …the guidelines of the Uniting Church and to see their role as helping people grow in their identity as Uniting Church members. The Conference acknowledged the difficulty for ministers coming from overseas to become familiar to a new church and a new setting and wanted to remind the Uniting Church not just to leave these ministers to their own devises but to offer them support and friendship, orientation and welcome. The Conference also made a commitment to develop their home grown Fijian Australian ministers and nurture their leaders who can be trained for ministry in Australia. Congregations too, were often more familiar with Fijian Methodist procedures than Uniting Church ones and so further education is needed and translation of relevant documents such as the Basis of Union and UCA placement and profile processes, property guidelines and understanding the responsibilities of a congregation in relation to support of a minister.

A couple of congregations also mentioned that their members were struggling with decisions of the Assembly in relation to sexuality and Resolution 84.

Providing pastoral care for Fijian families in more isolated areas such as Cains, Rockhampton, Townsville and SA was also mentioned. The incoming Chairperson, Dr Meo might be able to do some visitation in the coming year when he visits Queensland to lead the Tinity Theological College’s Intensive course in Multicultural and Cross-cultural Ministry.

The inspiring Conference bible studies were led by Dr Jovili and Lisa Meo named the pain of women’s experience of exclusion and lack of recognition. The bible studies focused on the importance of giving recognition to women and valuing the gifts and leadership women bring.

An evening concert by the Centenary Choir was open to others from Melbourne to join and it was an unforgettable night. Akuila Waradi of the Fiji High Commission in Canberra also attended. It was a highlight to see Rev Veitinai Waqabaca transform into a animated dancer. The young people from Parramatta and Ermington led a moving closing worship.

After a full and wonderful gathering, members of the conference, at the closing worship . were encouraged to “Continue to grow in grace and knowledge”. Rev Inoke Nabulivou, spoke of the grace of God that reaches us wherever we are. but that it is important to keep asking the question, are we still growing? Drawing on 2 Peter 3: 14-18. “Grow in grace my friends. We have eaten together these past days, danced and shared together, sensed ourselves invited into God’s grace filled community, it is time to return to our homes but to continue to grow in our Christian lives, grow in what we have heard and shared and when we meet again in two years time, ask one another, how have you been growing, or are we still the same?

Rev Inoke Nabulivou has given great service to the Fijian community and is a very much loved and respected leader within his community.
In acknowledging the work of Inoke, Helen Richmond, National Director of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Ministry spoke of the tremendous contribution Rev Nabulivou has made to the work of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Ministry and in leading the Fijian national conference in particular. Though Inoke will continue to be an important mentor and guide to Fijian congregations in Australia, after over 10 years in the role, since the first meeting of the Fijian National Conference in 1993, he decided to step aside. Dr Jovili Meo now takes up that role assisted by Vinnie Ravetali (Buna) as Secretary, Aminiasi Laveta as Treasurer and as Vice Chairperson, Rev Veitinia Waqabaca.

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