Church of the Province of Melanesia
Encyclopedia
The Church of the Province of Melanesia is part of the Anglican Communion
, and includes 8 dioceses. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Melanesia
The Most Rev'd David Vunagi.
and Vanuatu
the Church is often called simply Anglican.
The Church was established by Bishop George Augustus Selwyn
in 1849, and was initially headed by a bishop of Melanesia. One of the important features of the province's life over many years has been the work of a mission vessel in various incarnations known as the Southern Cross
. First based in New Zealand
, the missionaries, mainly from Oxbridge
and the public schools
, established their base on Norfolk Island
, bringing Melanesian scholars there to learn Christianity
until the school was closed in 1918.
The many languages in Melanesia made evangelisation a challenge. The Melanesian Mission
adopted the language of the island of Mota
in the Banks group of islands as the lingua franca. The Church of Melanesia is known for its pioneer martyrs, especially Bishop John Coleridge Patteson
, murdered in 1871, Charles Godden, killed in 1906, among several others.
, New Caledonia
.
, whose Metropolitan See (diocese) is the Diocese of Central Melanesia. The current Archbishop is the Most Reverend David Vunagi (elected 2009).
was the first bishop of Melanesia. The polity of the Church of Melanesia is Episcopalian church governance, which is the same as other Anglican churches. The church maintains a system of geographical parishes organized into dioceses, of which there are now eight, namely:
The Diocese of Central Melanesia. The Bishop is the Most Rev'd David Vunagi, Archbishop of Melanesia.
The Diocese of Central Solomons. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Ben Seka.
The Diocese of Temotu. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd George Taleki.
The Diocese of Malaita. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Sam Sahu, the assistant bishop is the Rt Rev'd Alfred Hou.
The Diocese of Ysabel. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Richard Naramana.
The Diocese of Banks and Torres. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Nathan Tome.
The Diocese of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd James Ligo.
The Diocese of Hanuato'o. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Alfred Karibongi.
area) is divided into regions, each headed by a senior priest. The regions are further subdivided into parishes or districts (the two words being interchangeable), headed by a parish priest, usually called a rector. Parishes may be subdivided into sub-parishes, headed by assistant priests. Catechists are lay people appointed by a local community and authorised by the bishop to take services and look after the spiritual life of a village.
is used, called A Melanesian English Prayer Book. Its predecessor in local liturgical development was A Book of Common Prayer Authorised for Use in Churches and Chapels in the Diocese of Melanesia, first published in 1938.
and Anglican doctrine
The centre of the Church of Melanesia's teaching is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic teachings of the church are summed up in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed
.
The focus of the Church's worship is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, sometimes called 'the Mass', more usually 'Communion' or 'Communion service.' This is celebrated weekly wherever there is a priest and in some communities it is celebrated daily, except for Saturdays.
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer
are offered in most churches and congregations daily, and Evening Prayer, "Evensong
", is often sung (except for the Psalms) on Sundays and feasts.
Feast days are celebrated by most communities with great rejoicing on a Sunday near the feast day, or at least in the same month.
The Church in its canons accepts and teaches the seven sacraments of the Church, Baptism
, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance
, Holy Matrimony
, Holy Orders
, and Anointing of the Sick
.
, the Solomon Islands Christian Council, and the Vanuatu Council of Churches.
The Mothers' Union
is quite active, as are the four religious communities active in the province, the Melanesian Brotherhood
, the Society of Saint Francis
, the Community of the Sisters of the Church
, and the Community of the Sisters of Melanesia
. The province has its own liturgical customs and a Calendar of saints
.
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, and includes 8 dioceses. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Melanesia
Archbishop of Melanesia
The Archbishop of Melanesia is the spiritual head of the Church of the Province of Melanesia, which is a province of the Anglican Communion in the South Pacific region, covering the nations of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu...
The Most Rev'd David Vunagi.
Official name
The Anglican Church of the Province of Melanesia is the official name, but it is usually shortened to the Anglican Church of Melanesia or ACOM. Within Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
the Church is often called simply Anglican.
History
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
in 1849, and was initially headed by a bishop of Melanesia. One of the important features of the province's life over many years has been the work of a mission vessel in various incarnations known as the Southern Cross
Southern Cross (ship)
Southern Cross has been the name of a succession of ships serving the Melanesian Mission of the Anglican Church and the Church of the Province of Melanesia. She succeeded the Undine, a 21-ton schooner built at Auckland and in service from 1849 to 1857...
. First based in 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...
, the missionaries, mainly from Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
and the public schools
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
, established their base on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, bringing Melanesian scholars there to learn Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
until the school was closed in 1918.
The many languages in Melanesia made evangelisation a challenge. The Melanesian Mission
Melanesian Mission
The Melanesian Mission is an Anglican missionary agency supporting the work of local Anglican churches in Melanesia. It was established to purchase the ship Southern Cross. Today it continues to provide financial and staffing support for the Church of the Province of Melanesia, an independent...
adopted the language of the island of Mota
Mota language
-External links:* in Mota* from Project Canterbury*...
in the Banks group of islands as the lingua franca. The Church of Melanesia is known for its pioneer martyrs, especially Bishop John Coleridge Patteson
John Coleridge Patteson
John Coleridge Patteson was an Anglican bishop and martyr.Patteson was educated at The King's School, Ottery St Mary, Eton and then Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1853 in the Church of England...
, murdered in 1871, Charles Godden, killed in 1906, among several others.
Membership
Today, there are nearly 200,000 Anglicans out of an estimated population of over 800,000 in two countries, and a newly formed parish in NouméaNouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
.
Archbishop and Province
The spiritual head of the Province is the Archbishop of MelanesiaArchbishop of Melanesia
The Archbishop of Melanesia is the spiritual head of the Church of the Province of Melanesia, which is a province of the Anglican Communion in the South Pacific region, covering the nations of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu...
, whose Metropolitan See (diocese) is the Diocese of Central Melanesia. The current Archbishop is the Most Reverend David Vunagi (elected 2009).
Bishops and Dioceses
John Coleridge PattesonJohn Coleridge Patteson
John Coleridge Patteson was an Anglican bishop and martyr.Patteson was educated at The King's School, Ottery St Mary, Eton and then Balliol College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1853 in the Church of England...
was the first bishop of Melanesia. The polity of the Church of Melanesia is Episcopalian church governance, which is the same as other Anglican churches. The church maintains a system of geographical parishes organized into dioceses, of which there are now eight, namely:
The Diocese of Central Melanesia. The Bishop is the Most Rev'd David Vunagi, Archbishop of Melanesia.
The Diocese of Central Solomons. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Ben Seka.
The Diocese of Temotu. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd George Taleki.
The Diocese of Malaita. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Sam Sahu, the assistant bishop is the Rt Rev'd Alfred Hou.
The Diocese of Ysabel. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Richard Naramana.
The Diocese of Banks and Torres. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Nathan Tome.
The Diocese of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd James Ligo.
The Diocese of Hanuato'o. The Bishop is the Rt Rev'd Alfred Karibongi.
Priests and Parishes
Each diocese except for Central Melanesia (the HoniaraHoniara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
area) is divided into regions, each headed by a senior priest. The regions are further subdivided into parishes or districts (the two words being interchangeable), headed by a parish priest, usually called a rector. Parishes may be subdivided into sub-parishes, headed by assistant priests. Catechists are lay people appointed by a local community and authorised by the bishop to take services and look after the spiritual life of a village.
Worship and liturgy
The Church of Melanesia embraces three orders of ministry: deacon, priest, and bishop. A local variant of the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
is used, called A Melanesian English Prayer Book. Its predecessor in local liturgical development was A Book of Common Prayer Authorised for Use in Churches and Chapels in the Diocese of Melanesia, first published in 1938.
Doctrine and practice
See also: AnglicanismAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
and Anglican doctrine
Anglican doctrine
Anglican doctrine is the body of Christian teachings used to guide the religious and moral practices of Anglicans.-Approach to doctrine:...
The centre of the Church of Melanesia's teaching is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic teachings of the church are summed up in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical council, which met there in the year 325.The Nicene Creed has been normative to the...
.
The focus of the Church's worship is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, sometimes called 'the Mass', more usually 'Communion' or 'Communion service.' This is celebrated weekly wherever there is a priest and in some communities it is celebrated daily, except for Saturdays.
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
are offered in most churches and congregations daily, and Evening Prayer, "Evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
", is often sung (except for the Psalms) on Sundays and feasts.
Feast days are celebrated by most communities with great rejoicing on a Sunday near the feast day, or at least in the same month.
The Church in its canons accepts and teaches the seven sacraments of the Church, Baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
, Holy Matrimony
Holy Matrimony
Holy matrimony is a phrase used by Christians to describe marriage. See also Christian views of marriage. It may also refer to:*Holy Matrimony , a 1943 comedy starring Monty Woolley and Gracie Fields...
, Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, and Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick, known also by other names, is distinguished from other forms of religious anointing or "unction" in that it is intended, as its name indicates, for the benefit of a sick person...
.
Ecumenical relations
Like other Anglican churches, the Church of Melanesia is a member of the ecumenical World Council of Churches, and is a member of the Pacific Conference of ChurchesPacific Conference of Churches
The Pacific Conference of Churches is the Regional Ecumenical Organisation representing the Christian churches at all levels in the Pacific region...
, the Solomon Islands Christian Council, and the Vanuatu Council of Churches.
The Mothers' Union
Mothers' Union
Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
is quite active, as are the four religious communities active in the province, the Melanesian Brotherhood
Melanesian Brotherhood
The Melanesian Brotherhood is an Anglican religious community of men in simple vows based primarily in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.- History :...
, the Society of Saint Francis
Society of Saint Francis
The Society of Saint Francis is a Franciscan religious order within the Anglican Communion.The Society of Saint Francis comprises: The Brothers of the First Order; The Sisters of the First Order; The Sisters of the Second Order; The Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order...
, the Community of the Sisters of the Church
Community of the Sisters of the Church
The Community of the Sister of the Church is a religious order of women in various Anglican provinces who live the vowed life of poverty, chastity and obedience...
, and the Community of the Sisters of Melanesia
Community of the Sisters of Melanesia
The Community of the Sisters of Melanesia, more usually called The Sisters of Melanesia, is the third order for women to be established in the Church of Melanesia, which is the Anglican Church of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu....
. The province has its own liturgical customs and a Calendar of saints
Calendar of saints (Church of the Province of Melanesia)
The calendar of saints and commemorations in the Church of the Province of Melanesia is a continually developing list. Both old and new, universal and local saints and worthies are celebrated....
.
External links
- Official provincial website
- A large group of documents on Anglican history in Oceania from Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...