Vaka, who was consecrated and installed on Sunday, is actually the third Anglican bishop to serve in Tonga.

Its first Anglican missionary was Bishop Alfred Willis who arrived in 1902. In the mid-1960s, Bishop Fine Halapua, the father of Archbishop Winston Halapua, lived in Tonga and served there as a suffragan bishop of the Diocese.

Vaka is Tonga's first constitutionally-mandated bishop. His election follows the decision taken by the Diocesan synod in May to establish the Archdeaconry of Tonga as an episcopal unit.

Last Sunday's service of consecration and installation saw a crowd of around 300 people squeezed in and around St Paul's Church in Nuku'alofa.

During the service, Archbishop Halapua outlined the episcopal history of Tonga. He said that for the past 50 years, this distinct entity in the Pacific, with its own language, culture, traditions and fervent love for the monarchy, had been without its own bishop.

At his election, Vaka said having its own bishop puts the Anglican Church in Tonga "on another level."

That new and more visible position will bring recognition - and mean a great deal to faithful Tongan Anglicans who live in the world's only constitutionally-Methodist monarchy.

"For us," he says, "it's like a flower blooming. Or a bird that has begun to fly."

'Afa Vaka comes from a family with deep Anglican roots - four members of the Vaka family have been ordained priest and two more will be soon.

After graduating from St Andrew's High School (Tonga's Anglican college) as head boy in 1970, he immediately returned to help out as a volunteer woodwork teacher and was there for 32 years until he stepped down as principal.

Along the way, he'd picked up formal qualifications in woodwork and industrial arts - he set up an industrial arts department at the school - and a Bachelor of Education from the University of the South Pacific.

Source

• ACNS
• ACNS
• Image: ACNS

He has been invited to come by the Most Revd Dr Winston Halapua, the Anglican Archbishop of Polynesia.

He will be in the Pacific from 27 July to 14 August.

Sentamu is a vocal critic of the stark global inequalities in society and their causes.

He has consistently spoken out on the low priority given by those in power to alleviating the plight of the very poorest and desperate of humanity.

"Climate change affects everyone: agriculture, tourism, fisheries, water, health and wellbeing," said Sentamu.

"The skills and capabilities of local populations, national governmental authorities and regional organisations must act to ameliorate the effects of climate change."

"I am delighted to join Archbishop Winston Halapua for this Diocesan visit."

In addition to the Leadership Reflections with clergy, lay and ecumenical leaders, Archbishop Sentamu will also address young people on Pangaimotu Island in Tonga as part of the ‘Moana' Oceanic Eucharist.

In Fiji he is to attend ‘Lotu' youth mission events at Suva and Ovalau.

The Archbishop will visit the Pacific Theological College and the Pacific Regional Seminary, a Diocesan College.

In Samoa, Sentamu will bless a new school building in the presence of Samoa's Prime Minster, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi.

Dr Sentamu will also visit Poutasi Village, extensively damaged by a tsunami in 2009, and he is to preach at two Ordination services in Samoa and Tonga.

Source

• anglicannews.org
• talamua.com
• Image: talamua.co.

They hope to work with other churches in the future to champion the elimination of violence in all forms.

Diocesan secretary/registrar John Simmons said there was a need to tackle the issue and the church was one of the major organisations which could lead the charge against violence.

This was one of the main issues discussed at the 36th Synod of the Diocese of Polynesia held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva at the beginning of May.

"The church stands up against violence in all forms. I was the mover of that in the last Synod, I am an advocate of the elimination of violence and what better way to start than in the church," Mr Simmons said.

Source

• Anglican Taonga
• Image: michaelkaufman.com