July 5 2012

Anglican Church gathers in Fiji

Representatives of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia are gathering in Fiji for the General Synod/Te Hinota Whanui.

The meeting is the main forum of the Anglican Church, with about 160 delegates attending from tomorrow July 6th until Thursday July 12th. It will be held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi. Most of the sessions will be open to the public and the media.

The Synod is being hosted by the Diocese of Polynesia. The body last met in Fiji in 1990. The meeting has the approval of the Fijian administration.

On Saturday morning at 9am there will be a cultural welcome to delegates at St Christopher’s Church, Nadi. The welcome will include approximately 300 youth taking the centre stage from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa, who make up the Diocese of Polynesia.

On Sunday, at 9am, St Christopher’s Church will be the venue for the Synod Eucharist. The Archbishops’ will give their Address that afternoon, and they will outline challenges and achievements for the Anglican Church.

Former Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, will speak to the Synod on Tuesday as he heads the Commission, established by the Church, to address issues related to the ordination and blessing of people in same gender relationships. The Commission has been asked to report its findings in 2014.

ENDS

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