Tuvalu’s call: A partnership of faith, hope and action

The Uniting Church in Australia has renewed its partnership with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) this week, reaffirming a shared commitment to faith, solidarity and climate justice as Tuvalu faces an increasingly uncertain future.

July 14, 2026

On the low-lying islands of Tuvalu, climate change is not a distant prediction. It is an everyday reality.

The rising seas threaten the people of the Polynesian nation's homes, livelihoods, culture and identity. In Tuvalu, land is inseparable from faith, ancestry and belonging. As coastlines erode, so too does a way of life nurtured for generations.

It was this reality that confronted a Uniting Church delegation during a visit to Tuvalu in late May for the 29th General Assembly of the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT). During the gathering, the two churches renewed their Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming a partnership grounded in discipleship, mutual support and a shared commitment to justice.
The delegation included Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli, NSW and ACT Moderator Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, Queensland Moderator Rev Bruce Moore, Queensland Synod Associate General Secretary Rev Linda Hanson, Rev Malcolm Scanlan and UnitingWorld International Partnerships Manager Rev Dr Apwee Ting.

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For Rev Dr Ting, Tuvalu’s geography made the climate crisis impossible to ignore.

“Fongafale, the main island of Tuvalu, is extraordinary,” he said. “It stretches like a thin ribbon between the lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. At its highest point it is only 4.5 metres above sea level. The ocean is not a distant threat here – it is right there.”

Rev Havea Hiliau, who has long advocated for climate justice, described witnessing the impacts firsthand as deeply confronting.

“To be here on the ground in Tuvalu, and to see the devastation and the need of the people, is quite confronting,” she said.

Yet alongside vulnerability, the delegation encountered remarkable resilience.

“Tuvalu is a place of extraordinary beauty – ocean, sky, song, community, dance, prayer and amazing hospitality,” Rev Moore shared. “Climate change is not an abstract issue for another generation. It is the daily lived reality now touching homes, livelihoods, cultures and the future of an entire nation.”

“What I witnessed was not despair. I encountered deep faith, joy and resilience. People who continue to trust God with a courage that humbled me and renewed my own sense of hope.”

Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs and Climate Change, Maina Dalia, said uncertainty about the nation’s future weighs heavily on communities.

“We’re not only talking about fear, but we’re talking about the future,” he said. “With limited resources and limited options, the challenge is huge. It really is an issue of life and death for our people.”

President Suli said participating in the EKT General Assembly and renewing the Memorandum of Understanding reinforced the strength found in shared mission.

“It was a powerful reminder that we are stronger when we journey together, learning from one another and sharing in God’s mission across the Pacific,” she said.

President Suli said the people of Tuvalu are not asking to be rescued, but are asking to be heard.

“They are asking for partnership, dignity and action. Please continue to pray for the people of Tuvalu,” President Suli urged. “May we be a church that listens deeply, walks humbly and acts courageously, bearing witness to the hope we have in Jesus Christ.”

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