FLC Messages and Reports 2011 - Fellowship of the Least Coin

working in England, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga attended.
Six Tongan women ministers invited from other denominations in
USA, Australia and NZ also came. The celebration started with a
retreat on the week-end of 18th-20th of June at the Good Samaritan
Beach. During the FWCT Annual Conference a day was spent for the
anniversary programme starting with a 6 a.m. morning service where
the first ordained woman minister preached. The activities were a
three hour fasting programme run by the 15 women ministers on
the theme “YOU, THE CHRIST, IN US”. Presentations consisted of
drama, poetry reading, musical performance, power point and verbal
presentation, and intercessory prayers.
The Queen Mother then launched the two books written by women
ministers and theologians, entitled: “Kaunanga” (Women ministers in
the ministry of serving) and the “Voices of Tongan Women: Theological
Reflections”. The books were published with FLC and WCC funding
and part of it was to promote FLC. Sales of the books will become
seed money for more writing and publications by women in Tonga, in
the Pacific region and beyond.
Current Pacific Issues
The island nations of the Pacific are vulnerable to many external factors—be
they political, economic, religious, social or national disasters. The tsunami
victims of the Solomons, Samoa and Tonga are still recovering from the
aftermath. People of Fiji and the Methodist Church are currently affected
by the military rule of the government. The Solomon government is still
negotiating with Australia regarding the RAMSI Project. Tonga will be facing
the challenge of a new government after the November election. The political
and economic impact of the presence of China in the Pacific. The increasing
use of the Pacific countries in the trafficking of drugs and dangerous goods.
And many more!
May I urge FLC to pray about food security in the Pacific and the detrimental
effects of global warming and climate change especially on the low-lying fat
atolls of Tuvalu, Kiribati, Niue, Tokelau, Marshalls, Nauru, Palau, Guam,
Tonga and many others , which years from now, may be drowned and
disappear under water.
There is a need for both governments and people, on policy-making, planning,
educational and on every level, to work together on alleviating factors that
worsen the situation such as burning rubbish, cutting down trees, removing
sand from beaches, destroying mangroves, emptying toxic wastes into the sea
and lagoon, using pesticides and sprays which flow into the sea and seep into
underground water and depleting marine resources for mass exports.
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