Shock Death of Pacific Church Leader

I arrived in Suva last Wednesday (July 27), to a nation mourning the death of the Rev. Dr Joni Langi, in the month before he was installed as the President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. He died unexpectedly on Thursday (July 21) of a sudden heart attack. At 10am a week later the President of the Republic of Fiji and thousands of members of the Church and the public were joined by Church leaders from throughout Oceania to celebrate the life of this remarkable leader, at the Centenary Church.

His election as the next President of the Conference last year was a recognition of the unique way he had served the Church in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Rotuma. Leaders gave tributes from each of these places where he had given his inclusive, direct and fun loving approach to growing effective groups and teams of congregations and leaders.

In my tribute I spoke as grieving friend bringing the thanks of the Uniting Church in Australia for his work at Wesley Mission in the late seventies where he was the minister for all the Pacific Congregations that then met there, later his continuing support for the Fiji Congregations in Australia, his wider work with the World Methodist Council, and his help as Gen Secretary of the Fijian Methodist Church.

Four months ago at a Methodist Consultative Council of Leaders in the Pacific held in Australia, there had been a reflection on the way the Holy Spirit comes to burn the wood that we offer in service to God. “All very well”, said Joni in his laconic way, “But it better be good wood, and not wet, or all we get is smoke!” His service to the World Church, the Pacific Church, the Fijian Church and the Rotuman Church, was the offering of the best wood.

He had a remarkable ability to work across the boundaries that bedeviled others. One could say that it was a Rotuman gift, to know that the smaller island must always respect other more powerful neighbors. For Joni Langi it is clear that this gift was not just that of being a diplomat, but a discovery about the nature of the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. He anticipated the future that God is building, bringing cultures and peoples to live together creatively. Above all he was one who built for the future, believing that his contribution was one amongst many, ‘but it was God who gave the increase”.

He was laid to rest in a Mausoleum at Davuilevu, the Methodist Training College, after a further service in the historic Baker Memorial Church. The stark white tomb was covered with flowers and garlands as it was sealed bringing to an end one of the largest funerals every held within the Church Community. It was fitting that this Rotuman missionary died on the same day as the missionary to Fiji, Thomas Baker.

The Conference will meet in late August to elect a new President. In the meantime the Rev. Laisiasa Ratabaca, the previous President continues as the Acting President.

Rev. Dr Dean Drayton

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