President Rev Charissa Suli has joined theologians, church leaders and practitioners from across Oceania in Fiji for the Association of Practical Theology in Oceania (APTO) Conference last week.
Gathered around the theme “Waves of Hope: Storied Theology for the Whole of Life,” the Presidnet delivered an international keynote, “Building Community; Creating a New Story in Our Time” on Tuesday.
Grounding her reflections on Scripture and her Tongan and Māori heritage and experience, Charissa asked: “What kind of communities are we building, and for whom?”
Drawing particularly on the Tongan imagery of lalanga, or weaving, she reflected on how Christian communities can become places where difference is not erased and people do not have to set aside their story or culture in order to belong.
The conference forms part of the President’s wider engagement with Pacific churches this week. She will also join the Pacific Conference of Churches Climate Change Working Group ahead of the Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji and Vanuatu, listening and contributing as churches work together for climate justice.