Amy Chambers
Encyclopedia
Amy Chambers is an Anglican priest
in Fiji
, and the Principal of St John the Baptist Theological College in Suva
.
Born as Amy Fong Toy to a farming family of Chinese
descent in Labasa
on the northern island of Vanua Levu
, she was educated at Labasa Secondary School. She taught for one year at St Mary's School in Labasa before joining the Bank of New Zealand
. She left that post after her marriage, and subsequently worked for the Anglican All Saints Secondary School. From 1974 to 1998 she worked for Air Pacific
, first in Labasa and then at Nadi
International Airport
. After a brief stint with Air Fiji
, she was accepted by the Anglican Church for training at St John's Theological College in Auckland
, New Zealand
.
Chambers completed a Diploma in Biblical Studies at St Johns, followed by a Bachelor of Theology
degree at the University of Auckland
, before returning to Fiji in December 2003.
She is currently a member of the "independent monitoring group", chaired by Sela Molisa
, tasked with overseeing the work of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji
.
Chambers has four sons and a daughter. All are married, except for one.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, and the Principal of St John the Baptist Theological College in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
.
Born as Amy Fong Toy to a farming family of Chinese
Chinese in Fiji
The Chinese diaspora in Fiji consists a small, but influential, community in the multiracial society that makes up modern day Fiji. In the early 2000s their numbers were estimated at around 6,000, or a little over half of one percent of Fiji's population. The most recent estimation puts the...
descent in Labasa
Labasa
Labasa is a town in Fiji with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census held in 2007.Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers - the...
on the northern island of Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, she was educated at Labasa Secondary School. She taught for one year at St Mary's School in Labasa before joining the Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest banks and has been operating continuously in the country since the first office was opened in Auckland in October 1861 followed shortly after by the first branch in Dunedin in December 1861...
. She left that post after her marriage, and subsequently worked for the Anglican All Saints Secondary School. From 1974 to 1998 she worked for Air Pacific
Air Pacific
Air Pacific Limited, Fiji's international airline, operates international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America and Hong Kong. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines...
, first in Labasa and then at Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
International Airport
Nadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
. After a brief stint with Air Fiji
Air Fiji
Air Fiji was an airline based in Nausori, Fiji. It operated inter-island services to destinations within the Fijian Islands. Its main base was Nausori International Airport, Suva, with a base at Nadi International Airport....
, she was accepted by the Anglican Church for training at St John's Theological College in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Chambers completed a Diploma in Biblical Studies at St Johns, followed by a Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
degree at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, before returning to Fiji in December 2003.
She is currently a member of the "independent monitoring group", chaired by Sela Molisa
Sela Molisa
Sela Molisa is a ni-Vanuatu politician. He is currently a member of the Parliament of Vanuatu, and was briefly Minister for Trade in Serge Vohor's Cabinet from April to May 2011...
, tasked with overseeing the work of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji
National Council for Building a Better Fiji
The National Council for Building a Better Fiji is an organisation established in 2007 by the government of Fiji. Its task is to prepare the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress proposed by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who came to power in a military coup in...
.
Chambers has four sons and a daughter. All are married, except for one.