Minutes of the Samoan National Conference Tri-Annual Meeting Held at Lidcombe Uniting

Minutes of the Samoan National Conference tri-annual meeting held at Lidcombe Uniting Church, NSW, 16th-19 Oct 2011.

Conference THEME:
“Ola tamaoaiga” Abundant life!
John 10:10b
Topic / Discussion (Main points) / Resolution/Actions
Apologies / Vaalotu Solofa (VIC)
Apoua Eli (NSW)
Vaepa Nafatali (Victoria)
Togia Wilson (NSW),
Galoi Ifi (QLD)
Faaitaita Manu Sione (QLD)
Asiata Sevalina (QLD)
Tupe Ioelu (VIC)
Junior Ioelu (VIC)
Salima Salima (VIC)
Juliet & Leinati Tautalaaso (VIC)
Maiava Alesana (VIC)
Tuula Hunt (VIC)
Minute 2008 – Matters arise from previous conference. / Require names to be kept.
Task group to work with Kerry – not listed in minutes.
Lay preacher’s course still not implemented.
Lalomilo’s papers for Lay Preaching need to be given to all ministers so they can be interpreted and used. / Minutes passed after discussion.
Presidents Address:
Rev Alistair Macrae
Who are we? Uniting Church in Australia
Preamble to Constitution
Asylum Seekers.
Gambling
Fiji –
Tuvalu – Climate Change
China invitation
National Conferences
Acknowledgement– of Land
Women Leadership / Issues relating to indigenous people
Congress – represents working with the original people of the land.
Ecumenical – relationship with other faith communities.
We were formed from Methodist, Congregational & Presbyterian – we always want to build relationship with other churches.
International – partnerships with other different churches overseas.
Multicultural & Cross-Cultural
We worship in 50 different languages. We share faith in all different cultures ie – Samoan, Indonesian, Chinese.
Faith in Action – we have many agencies that reach out to vulnerable people in community – sharing the love of Christ with our community – a justice church.
Shared Leadership – not confined to ministers – we have many lay leaders.
Recognise gifts of leadership in all.
Decision Making – hearing the wisdom of all. Valuing the views of many.
Changing constitution – Assembly
Goes to Synods, Presbytery
For the gospel to grow, it needs to grow within our own culture and interpreted in our own understanding.
The first people had already encountered God prior to the arrival of the colonisers.
Redeeming cultures – identifying God within the context of our culture. There were parts of the culture that opposed Christian teaching but the culture contained a lot of the teaching of Christ even prior to the arrival of missionaries.
More humane way to deal with people.
Supporting the legislation to protect individuals and families.
Tension with Methodist church and the Political Leader(s).
Need an action plan to welcome the people in these countries whose land will be unsustainable in the future due to Climate Church.
The church to help China work with its people.
To involve the different conferences in the churches.
In addition to what has been agreed, we invite the minister of the location of the conference to perform the acknowledgement
To encourage women in the Samoan congregations to undertake Periods Of Discernment (POD) and ministry studies and work towards changing the Samoan mindset with regards to women ministers. / A vibrant culture existed prior to the arrival of missionaries, who had already encountered God and the Spirit – that is what we wish to grow and develop.
An active approach to recognise the first people.
Using the riches of cultures to enrich our faith and worship within the Uniting Church.
Multicultural – identity
Cross-cultural – worship and workings.
Acknowledgement of country to be inserted in the Samoan Conference.
Raised in meeting in Keilor – Invitation to an aboriginal leader locally, or the table to perform acknowledgement.
Acknowledgement by the President.
In NSW Synod, people can use a prayer written by Aunty Pearl (aboriginal leader) as part of the acknowledgement
Issue to be discussed further.
Church Structure / Sani presented on the church structure and processes – 22 June 1977 established the formation of the UCA (Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian).
Questions raised:
Properties – who do they belong to?
Uniting – The circle is not complete – still growing.
Decision Making – Councils:
Congregations, Church Council, Presbyteries, Synods &Assembly.
Connection to our Traditional Churches – Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian can be written on our church signs to indicate to our people where we come from. / Develop understanding as to the structure and decision making of the Uniting Church.
Tony Floyd to cover in his presentation.
Decisions & recommendations by the conferences are put forth to and through the MulticulturalUnit – to the Assembly standing committee orto be presented to Assembly
Multicultural /Cross cultural Ministry and Mission – Tony Floyd.
(Re attachment)
Property / Multicultural –many cultures we identify with
Cross-cultural: the way we live our lives.
Roles of National Conference-
Provides network to share, encourage and nurture in our own language.
Nurturing the voice of the youth.
We can adopt some of our practices (children Sunday)
Tokenism:
Avoid creating roles merely to satisfy discussion – women leaders, youth leaders.
Owned by Uniting Church Property Trust. / Recommendation:
To request that all Presbyteries and Synods affirm and celebrate the second Sunday in October as Children and young people’s Sunday – “Lotu Tamaiti” – where children and young people lead worship.
Tony will put forth this motion in Assembly.
PRAYER / The Conference paused to pray after hearing the news of a newborn childfound in a rubbish bin.
Prayer for the child & family
GENERAL BUSINESS:
MINISTRY MATTERS – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. / Recognition of those who have just completed studies, induction, ordinations, reception into the UCA, commissioning as pastors.
Siaosi Semaia / Continuing formation and preparation for ministry (placement & ordination)
Began a new fellowship in Springfield Multicultural Church, QLD
Faaumuumu Poleka / Awaiting placement & recognition as UCA Minister. Began a new fellowship as part of the Penrith UC, NSW
Apelu Tielu / Ordained in July 2011 and inducted as Minister of the Yass Uniting Church Parish,ACT, outside of Canberra.
Graduates at the end 2011.
Tupe Ioelu / Preparing for placement & ordination, VIC.
Juliet Tautalaaso
Temukisa Vaeluaga
Kiliona Mafaufau
Iose Tuigamala
Faasalele Tanuvasa / Completed 1st Semester and is studying part-time.
Awaiting confirmation of full time studies program in 2012, VIC.
Awaiting confirmation of theological studies program for 2012, VIC.
Inducted into Hawthorn Uniting Church after many years of struggling for recognition since migrating to Australia from Samoa (Methodist Church in Samoa). VIC
Inducted into Hawthorn West Uniting Church & recognized as UCA Minister, VIC
Inducted into Lara Uniting Church and recognized as Uniting Church Minister, VIC.
Commissioned as Pastor for Keysborough UC, VIC.
TUSI PESE (Samoan Hymn Book) / Need to revise the hymn book, to edit and make necessary adjustments, additions andcorrections.
5 disc handed to Vaalotu
Require a committee to work with Vaalotu.
Mediacom can undertake the task of formatting and printing the Hymn Book.
Can the church (UCA)assist in funding the printing of the Hymn book?
Request to the Assembly through the translation funds for some support. / Victoria to work in transferring data from floppy to a more modern record and then give to MediaCom for printing.
Agreed to fundraise for funding the printing the Hymn Book.
Sani to explore with Tony Floyd re funding support from and through the UCA.
LAY PREACHERS TRAINING.
We continue to encourage Lay preachers training in Samoan with or without accreditation which is a much longer process. / Move ahead with starting lay preachers training in Samoan utilizing Lalomilo’s papers.
Craig Mitchell undergoing survey on Lay Preaching. / Sani will forward to all ministers Lalomilo’s papers for each minister to begin running their training.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RETIREES:
Rev. Sione & Apoua Eli;
Rev. Samata & Heather Elia / Thank you and recognition of work carried out in the many years past.
Opportunity given to Sione & Samata to respond. / Shared their stories and experiences which have contributed to the making and formation of themselves and others.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANK YOU TO President Rev ALISTAIR MACRAE. / The Chair thanked the President on behalf of the Conference and presented him with a gift (book voucher)
Saturday 15th October, 2011.
Traditional Samoan welcome with ava ceremony!
PRESENTATION: REV Dr. JIONE HAVEA
Wisdom of Samoa today, / The sin of the nation – did not protect the vulnerable. Amos
Doing what its right, loving goodness and walking humbly with your God – Micah.
Abundance – blessing (curse)
Abundance – to have more than enough – chance to waste.
Manna – taking only what you need for today. – give us food for later on.
Poor vs Rich
Rich: access & excess
Poor: eat & survive.
Gandhi – There are people in the world so hungry that god cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
Ghandi – Earth provides enough to satisfy everyman’s need, but not everyman’s greed.
PRESENTATION: KERRY ENRIGHT / UNITING WORLD – connection with partner churches in Samoa & Pacific Council of Churches.
Website - Unitingworld.org.au
LIPOTI A EKALESIA: / Inala (QLD)
Logan City (QLD)
Goodna (QLD)
Sunnybank (QLD)
Lidcombe (NSW)
Penrith (NSW) / Award to Mulipola for his service to asylum seekers.
Forming a new community of faith as part of the Penrith Uniting Church
Keysborough (VIC)
West Hawthorn (VIC)
Plenty Valley (VIC)
Essendon (VIC) / Faavaeina le mafutaga UCA Samoa i le Sinoti Victoria & Tasmania
(Established UCA Samoan Fellowship i the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania)
Chairperson/Taitaifono: Rev Kiliona Mafaufau
Secretary/Failautusi: Rev Samasoni Nafatali
Annual Conference and Tri-annual get together with all churches. / Cost is a major barrier to this motion. / Remain as we are, leaders meet annually and conference tri-annually
Election of Office bearers 2014-2017
Past Chairperson Rev Samata Elia chaired the meeting during the election.
Chairperson:
Sani Vaeluaga informed the Conference that he is not available for re-election. The conference supported Sani’s request.
Two names were nominated for Chairperson election:
Rev Tino Scanlan (QLD)
Rev Kiliona Mafaufau (VIC) / Result: Rev Tino Scanlan was the Chairperson-elect for 2014-2017
Secretary:
Mr Taumanupepe Sopo Togatuki spoke and informed the Conference that he will not be seeking re-election for Secretary. He has be doing this task for many years now, and it is time to have someone else take on this important role for the conference.
Three names were nominated. / Mr Siaosi Semaia (QLD) was elected as Secretary-elect for 2014-2017
Treasurer:
Only one nomination: Mrs Taega Leota / Mrs Taega Leota’s was re-elected as Treasurer-elect for 2014-2017
Social evening
A joyful time of fellowship and fiafia with singing and dancing concluded the business part of the Conference on Saturday.
Sunday 16th Oct 2011:
The conference joined together in worship and celebrated Holy communion.
The Chairperson led the service and preached of the theme of “Abundant life” in Christ! / Abundant life:
Knowing and living out our faith and what we believe - whose we are
(followers of Christ); our purpose (what is our calling); knowing our neighbours know and take seriously the context who our neighbours are/land and place where we live, work and worship!
The host congregation: Lidcombe UCA Samoan Parish “Ataata Lafoia” then invited all to a beautiful feast.
The day concluded with words of thanksgiving by the Conference and the Lidcombe Parish before the Chairperson concluded the conference with farewell words, well wishes and prayer
Next Conference 2014 / Thur 16th Oct – Sun 19th Oct 2014