President concludes Tonga visit with strengthened Pacific partnerships
July 2, 2026
Following a week of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Christianity in Tonga, Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Charissa Suli has concluded her visit with high-level meetings that strengthened the Church’s enduring commitment to partnership across the Pacific.
The week-long bicentenary celebrations brought together thousands of people from across Tonga, its royal family and global diaspora for thanksgiving services, community celebrations and feasting.
During her visit, President Rev Suli met with Lord Vaea, Tongan Noble and Member of the Legislative Assembly, and separately with Australia’s High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Brek Batley. She said the meetings provided an opportunity to strengthen longstanding relationships and share perspectives on the future of Tonga and the wider Pacific.
“Both meetings provided an opportunity to strengthen long-standing relationships and to share perspectives on the future of Tonga and the wider Pacific.”
“Our conversations affirmed the significant contribution that faith communities, clergy and lay leaders make in strengthening communities, responding to disasters and supporting long-term development”
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Rev Suli said the conversations focused on the hopes and priorities of church and civic leaders and how churches can continue walking alongside communities in ways shaped by local leadership and mutual respect.
“Our conversations affirmed the significant contribution that faith communities, clergy and lay leaders make in strengthening communities, responding to disasters and supporting long-term development,” she said.
Education, climate resilience and community wellbeing were key themes, alongside the importance of Pacific leadership in shaping responses to the opportunities and challenges facing the region. The meetings also highlighted the value of partnerships between schools, churches, communities and governments, and explored ecumenical relationships across the Pacific, including the work of the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Rev Suli reflected on the Uniting Church’s longstanding partnership with the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, which continues through UnitingWorld, the Assembly’s international agency.
“It was encouraging to reflect on the Uniting Church’s longstanding partnership with the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga and our shared commitment to locally led development, humanitarian response and resilient communities,” she said.
She also acknowledged the important role of the Tongan diaspora in strengthening relationships between churches and communities across Australia, Tonga and the wider Pacific.
Rev Suli said the visit reaffirmed the Uniting Church’s longstanding commitment to the Pacific, rooted in its Basis of Union and expressed through decades of partnership with churches throughout the region.
“Our Basis of Union calls us to seek special relationships with churches in Asia and the Pacific, and that commitment has been lived out through decades of partnership with churches in Tonga and across the region,” she said.
Rev Suli led a delegation of representatives from across the Uniting Church during the visit, while the Royal Australian Tongan Choir of the Uniting Church also travelled to Tonga to participate in the bicentenary celebrations.
“I leave Tonga deeply grateful for the generosity, hospitality and wisdom that has been shared with me, and encouraged by the strength of the relationships that continue to
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