Discovering familiar faith through culture, hospitality and weaving
Rev Paul Chalson shares how his President’s Conference experience has deepened his commitment to cross-cultural ministry
January 27, 2026
by Rev Paul Chalson, Minister at Canberra City Uniting Church
The President’s Conference marked two firsts for me. My first time at a President’s Conference, and my first time in Tonga, or any Pacific nation.
Despite this, there was much that felt familiar. For eight years I have been Faifekau (minister) with To e Talatalanoa, a Tongan language and culture Uniting Church congregation. As a fifth generation Australian of predominately Celtic and Nordic heritage, there has been a steep curve learning Tongan culture and a few lines of Tongan language. Thus, the 2025 President’s Conference offered an opportunity to deepen my understanding of Tongan culture and its strong connection between faith and culture.
In addition, I am convinced of the strength and blessing our cultural diversity offers us as a church and the crucial importance of developing skills in cross cultural ministry. The theme of Rev Charissa Suli’s presidency – “Threads of Love, Weaving Christ’s love across cultures and boundaries” – resonates strongly with me and I was keen to explore it further with the President in a cross-cultural situation.
"The conference itself provided great opportunities to explore cross-cultural ministry..."
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
The conference met all my hopes and expectations and more so.
In part, this was in experiencing the “vibe” of Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga. Just walking through the streets, visiting the markets, ordering coffee each morning in very broken Tongan at Friends Café, grabbing food from the street vendors, and chatting with various locals including cousins of Sa’ane To’uli, a member of To e Talatalanoa who was also attending the conference, all added to a growing sense of place, and the experience of Tongan culture in its point of origin.
But more crucially, the conference itself provided great opportunities to explore cross-cultural ministry, especially as it immersed participants deeply in the experience of Tongan hospitality and culture as we feasted, shared in cultural experiences, and worshiped with our hosts. This was the familiar part, though again, it was good to experience it in the context of Tonga, and my understanding of Tongan culture was enriched. One of the cultural experiences connecting to the theme which I greatly enjoyed was a workshop on traditional Tongan weaving.
The input of Pacific church leaders, at times challenging and unsettling, but also inspiring further engaged us to reflect upon cultural diversity, church life and ministry.
I could name many other aspects of the conference and my visit to Tonga which I valued but it would take too much time. I will note that I particularly loved the opportunity to swim underground in the Anahulu Cave and also to swim out to the coral reef just 100 metres off the wharf in Nuku’alofa.
I mentioned above the weaving workshop, a practical experience of a Tongan craft which connected us in a practical sense to the conference theme of weaving threads of Christ’s love across cultures. We experienced and explored the theme in many ways including this workshop, which for me became a meditation. Thus, to conclude, I offer a short reflection I wrote following the weaving workshop.
Before the weaving - preparation
Not an easy task
Not always a gentle task
A kind of unweaving,
stripping away layers
of assuptions and obstinence
forming strands for the weaver
similar, different, ready
woven into something new
something beautiful.
strands gathered
stories, songs, wisdom, practice
community
the act of weaving is very communal
skills shared with the novice
a feast of wisdom served
stories, laughter
a foretaste of the promise within the fala to come
but as I sink into the weaving
satisfaction, frustration, rhythm, interruption
I sink into the moment
I weave with fingers
I weave a silence
and there, on my tiny fala
God
a flower blossoms
Rev Paul Chalson
Minister, Canberra City Uniting Church
More news from the President
Lay Preachers gather to share in weaving Christ’s love
Lay Preachers gather to share in weaving Christ’s loveMore than 40 Lay Preachers, worship leaders and church members from across Australia gathered in Naarm/Melbourne from 4–6 September for the National Lay Preachers’ Conference. Hosted by the Lay Preachers’ Association of Victoria and Tasmania with Pilgrim Theological College, the triennial conference was…
President joins Pacific women leaders in Tuvalu
President joins Pacific women leaders for gathering in TuvaluUniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli is in Tuvalu this week, joining women leaders from across the Pacific for a regional gathering exploring the connections between faith, gender and climate justice. Hosted by the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) Church in Funafuti, the Tuākoi Lei – Faith, Gender…
President’s Season of Creation message
Today, 1 September, marks the beginning of the 2026 Season of Creation, as Christians around the world gather in prayer, reflection and action to celebrate God’s gift of creation and renew their commitment to care for our common home. To mark the beginning of the season, Uniting…
President's reflection: Arise and shine!
President’s reflection: Arise and shine! Last week, President Rev Charissa Suli attended a global gathering of Methodist and Uniting Church women. She carried home stories, wisdom and a renewed call for the Church to shine. The 15th World Assembly of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women (WFMUCW) brought together Methodist and Uniting Church…
President's Pastoral Prayer for Nepal
President’s Pastoral Prayer for the People of Nepal As we hear of the devastating floods in Nepal, we pause in sorrow and solidarity with all those affected. In the face of lives lost, families separated and communities facing profound uncertainty, we turn to God in prayer. We pray for those who grieve, those still…
Eastwood UC: Weaving Belonging in a Divided World
Eastwood UC: Weaving Belonging in a Divided WorldThe Uniting Church President, Rev Charissa Suli, recently visited Eastwood Uniting Church in Sydney’s north west, where she preached and shared Holy Communion as the congregation celebrated its 2026 theme, TOGETHER. The theme reflects the congregation’s rich intercultural life, bringing together English, Korean and Chinese-speaking worshippers, alongside people…
President's reflection: How can we love our neighbours well?
President’s Reflection: Threads of Love in Hobart and beyond God’s mission has always been shared. At Hobart North Uniting, President Rev Charissa Suli witnessed how different gifts and callings can weave together to love our neighbours well. During a recent visit to Hobart North Uniting Church, President Rev Charissa Suli was encouraged by a congregation asking…
Presbytery leaders gathers in Hobart
Presbytery leaders gather in Hobart Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. more than The Uniting Church’s National Presbytery Ministers Gathering 2026 brought more than 35 leaders from every state and territory…