The dedication ceremony started with various church district presenting gifts in a traditional Ta'alolo and the Mafutaga Aoao a Tina - the Church Women's Council presented fine mats, siapo and a monetary gift of $2 million tala. (NZ$1.1 million)

After the Taalolo, the christening ceremony followed, with Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese cutting the ribbon to open building while the Chairman of the Church, Reverend Elder Tautiaga Senara conducted the service.

The ceremony was attended by the head of state, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, members of the council of deputies, cabinet ministers, leaders of other denominations, parliamentarians, members of the business community and hundreds of guests.

After the guests were seated, The Church General Secretary, Reverend Vavatau Taufao announced the only media to be allowed inside was the EFKS TV which is owned by the church.

The Samoa Observer reported that Vavatau has refused to speak to their reporter.

He insisted that he wanted to talk only to a reporter from Radio New Zealand International.

Difficulties have been encountered in completing the project including delays, questions surrounding loans raised, the cost of contruction matertials and difficulties with contactors.

The exact cost of the project and the extent of the remaining debt remains unclear.

News organisations have suggested different amounts. The confusion is increased by the fact that the amounts quoted are in Samoan tala, US dollars and in some cases the currency is not specified.

It appears however that the total cost is in the region of 17 million tala (NZ$9.6 million).

Vavatau said criticism of the church spending too much on constructing church buildings rather than the welfare of the people was an important matter to be considered.

"It is the people that agreed to build this, even though it is expensive it is their choice. But as General Secretary I believe that this is a living testimony of church prayer,"

Source

• talamua.com
• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• sobserver.ws

He says such accusations are not factual and needed validation.

Ro Aca Mataitini, former Roko Tui Cakaudrove and now training officer with the Ministry of Itaukei Affairs, had said churches continued to get bigger while the seriousness and number of crimes continued to escalate.

(Roko Tui is the title for the executive head of any one of Fiji's 14 Provincial Councils)

Mataitini was speaking to traditional leaders in the district of Wailevu in Cakaudrove earlier this month.

He said the problem existed in iTaukei villages because people had forgotten who to worship.

Instead of focusing on the purpose of building a church, people had turned it into a competition, worshiping the worldly head of churches instead of God Ro Aca Mataitini said.

Chong said one could question the presence of churches in relation to the increase of crime and immorality in the country but to blame the church was not acceptable.

He added individual churches were doing their fair share of work to address issues faced in communities.

Methodist Church general secretary Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa said the issues could be addressed through a collective approach as addressing the issues in society was not the work of the church alone.

FemlinkPacific Executive Director Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls has also questioned Mataitini's accusation.

"Churches and centres of worship provided refuge for many at times of natural disaster and also have educated generations of Fijians," Bhagwan-Rolls said.

"Ro Aca Mataitini's broad, sweeping statement missed the opportunity to provide strategies prevent crime and also failed to reaffirm the recent steps by the Fiji Council of Churches members to denounce violence against women in a public media campaign."

"Instead of blaming the church, his message could have been an opportunity to talk about how the state and church could work better with citizens and congregations including women's networks to enhance preventive action and analysis and respond to the root causes of violence."

Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijitimes.com
• Image: 1.bp.blogspot.com

The new deep yellowish church building in Tuafusi is very distinctive and it stand out in Apia's townscape.

The church is part of complex that will become the main centre for SISDAC in Samoa.

It replaces a building that was destroyed by fire in 2012.

The cost of the building was originally set down to $10 million, and donations from various parishes with 8 of them donating more than a million tala each, contributed to the overall cost which of SAT$12,154,764.00.

The celebration was attended by His Highness the Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Masiofo Filifilia, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians and friends.

His Highness the Head of State and Masiofo were guests at the opening.

The opening celebration started with Masiofo Filifilia and Tiana Papu, SISDAC President's wife cutting the ribbon, before retired Pastor Polataivao Va'alele Te'o opened the church doors to allow everyone inside for the official service.

The work was meant to be done within a year with work starting in September 2013 and for it to be christened in September 2014," said Pastor Vaotu'ua.

The delay was due to bad weather and the delayed arrival of building materials from overseas.

As the delay was further extended, the building contractor, Quin Dao was reminded of the construction policies where funds could be deducted from their service if work does not meet the deadline.

According to Pastor Vaotu'ua, when the work was delayed for the second time, the SISDAC leaders told Quin Dao that a penalty of $10,000 would be deducted from their payment to which Quin Dao agreed to.

However, that did not happen as SISDAC leaders wanted to pay Quin Dao for their full service.

Source

• talamua.com
• Image: talamua.com

During August, Sunday morning worship services have focused on The Word. On 5 August, the focus was on Spirited Conversations. The following is one of the spirited conversations, held between Anna Gilkison and Kathy Stirrat during the service.

Introduction (Anna)

Church is Wherever God's People are praising.

At the Methodist Synod School of Theology during a discussion about issues facing the churches, every small group talked about buildings. We are preoccupied with worry about buildings and some people (!) think we should get rid of them, go back to our roots, become simple house churches again. But it isn't that simple!

Anyone with a family who can't afford to buy their own home knows how insecure that can make you feel. If we got rid of our buildings we'd feel the same insecurity, the same stress. We'd be limited in what we could do, not just for ourselves but for the community. Having a solid base for our ministry makes that ministry more effective. It also means we have a visible presence in the community.

Introduction (Kathy)

Church without a Church.

The Church is wherever God's people are praising,
 knowing they're wanted and loved by their Lord.
 The Church is wherever Christ's followers are trying
 to live and to share out the good news of God. That's the first verse of a well known hymn by Carol Rose Ikeler. As the hymn says, the church isn't the buildings, or traditions or rituals or a physical location necessarily, rather the church and God is wherever people meet together to pray and praise, to worship and welcome, to care and share, to seek and to serve others in the name of Christ. Read more

Sources

• Johnsonville Uniting Church
• Image: Sunnysblog