Member Church News

What moves above the waters

Fresh water challenges of the Pacific

By Nikotemo Sopepa, Council for World Mission

Nikotemo Sopepa, an ordained minister of the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu. Married with two children, he is currently the Mission Secretary of the Council for World Mission (CWM) in the Pacific region. In the following reflection he compares the life affirming spirit of God that was hovering on the waters in the beginning of the creation story with today’s “death dealing” spirit of commercialisation of water over the waters of the Pacific region which is worsening its fresh water availability.

"1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Genesis 1: 2 (NIV)

Above the waters in the Pacific, bulldozers are moving in rapid paces clearing forest for new developments. There are ripples above the waters too, caused by continuous noises from chainsaws debauching the beauty of rainforests. Usually, hopes for life moves above the water lenses in small island atolls of the Pacific, now salt water seeps in from beneath, while from above it’s a flood of salt water flooding these freshwater lenses due to sea level rise.

Definitely the current of the waters in the Pacific have changed, and some are finding it difficult to find even a pint of water to drink. I know, surrounded by waters of the Pacific ocean, many Pacific Islanders do not think that we have a freshwater crisis, apart from those in low lying atolls. But it won’t be long before the waterfall and rivers give up on the rapid pace in which development is accelerating in the Pacific. And with the commercialising and privatisation of water, there is a looming danger of access to fresh drinking water.

Two years ago, we watched in disbelief and sorrow as king tides flooded the island of Tamana in Kiribati, sinking all the wells beneath the swell of waves contaminating drinking water. The excessive and illegal loggings in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands create dry barren lands. The rarity of rainfall in most northern Pacific atolls due to climatic disorder has created few states of emergencies. What is moving above the waters in the Pacific is death. There is no affirmation of life that can guarantee safe drinking water for Pacific people in the future.

The pattern described above is almost the reversal of the Genesis creation narrative where the Spirit of God as life affirming guarantor moves over the waters in the midst of darkness, chaos and nothingness. The movement of the Spirit of God

Waves crash against the wall at the end of Nauru International Airprot's runway. Rising sea levels pose a serious risk coastal erosion for small Pacific island countries. Image by Matt Robertson / DFAT.

Children's of Squatter settlement in Dharan, Nepal collect water from Shardu River. Image by Kaustuvraj.

over the waters gave path to light and birthed life and presence. Now we have death moving over the Pacific waters birthing death to the environment leaving thirsty a million mouths throughout the ecological order. The whole organisation in ecology, the people, the biosphere, the ecosystem is all thirsting for clean drinking water. Even the heavens above some places in the Pacific thirst for water.

There need to be rethinking and re-examining of the importance of water in the Pacific from a Pacific context. The people of the Pacific needs to retire to the traditional way of treating water as a channel that connects the heavens and earth. It is only when we see that water is part of us and cannot be commercialised, then we will also be able to consociate our actions with the entire creation. When we do this, the Spirit of God that was moving above the waters in the beginning of time, will move together with us above the waters, creating newness of life in the heavens, and here on earth.

Reflection and action

Does water have any cultural significance in your context? If so, how can these implications pave a way for assurance of safe and clean water for your community?

Could we identify some of the things we do that are part of the “death moving” above the waters? E.g. buying of bottled waters.

We can come together as churches or communities and discuss ways in which we could resist corporates and even government developments that undermine the beauty of our environment in the name of profit and economic growth.

Additional Resources

• https://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/worlds_water_2002_chapter53.pdf • https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/rr-fiji-water-shortages-resilient-development-300817-en.pdf • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nna2vjm9PrA

AFRICA The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) issues statement on the issue of vaccines

Image by Siphiwe Sibeko, Reuters

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) has issued a statement about vaccines after their Executive Committee met from 21-23 September. In the statement, it affirmed its belief in the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing serious illness, encouraged church members to get vaccinated when they can, and commended those who had done so.

The economic impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures has brought tremendous hardship to the vulnerable, and they urged Christians to not spread unscientific conspiracy theories or misinformation about the vaccines. This appeal to their members to do their part in their countries reaching herd immunity and to observe safety measures came as it is “the only means” for their countries to return to normalcy and be able to congregate, travel and hold events again.

EAST ASIA Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia (GPM) distributes food to indigenous villages, supports online learning for youths

Indigenous people in Malaysia were among those most severely affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented during the pandemic, as they ran out of food and lost their jobs. Even though local churches and NGOs raised funds to purchase and distribute food and sanitation items, these were insufficient to cover all the villages. Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia (GPM) supplemented this aid with the CWM Gift of Grace grant to provide for 12 villages, 154 families and more than 800 villagers from April to December last year. internet packages loaned or donated by individuals.

During school closures, GPM set up learning centres in the church and indigenous villages, with computers, tablets and Similarly, CWM’s COVID-19 Mission Initiative funds will be deployed for this initiative, as well as purchasing more equipment and providing internet access for youths.

Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC)’s response to challenges posed by COVID-19

With physical services prohibited during the pandemic, Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC) made the digital shift to facilitate meetings, training programmes, church services and prayer meetings for member churches and Christian groups online. Their ministries included distributing surgical masks, sanitising materials and food coupons for the underprivileged families; and counselling for families facing marital or parent-child relationship problems. Special financial aid for the families with emergency needs or difficulties resulting from accidents was provided as well.

SOUTH ASIA Inauguration of Sridampara St. John’s Church in central Bangladesh

The newly constructed Church of St John in Sridampara Village of Tangail District, central Bangladesh was inaugurated by the Moderator of the Church of Bangladesh (COB) earlier this year. The opening service and celebrations on 16 May were also attended by priests in adjoining parishes.

In addition, three acres of land have been donated by Sridampara Parish Secretary and members of the parish. An estimated 65 Garo tribal families in Sridampara who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods will worship in this new church building, where children and youth will pick up new skills.

COB’s Christian Mission Hospital, Rajshahi (CMHR) intensifies eye check-up efforts in communities

Following the end of the COVID-19 lockdown a few months ago, the Christian Mission Hospital, Rajshahi (CMHR) operated by the Church of Bangladesh (COB) has seen more patients, and increased their field efforts. Field eye camps are now frequently being organised under CMHR in selected communities.

For example, 3,000 children in Tanore Upazila under Rajshahi district have been screened during the health check-up field camps held in conjunction with Food for Hungry Association (FHA). These eye camps are the bridge between communities to hospital referrals, such as the cataract services of CMHR Eye Department.

PACIFIC Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) tackles the challenge of clean water

Funafuti, an atoll and the capital of Tuvalu where Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT)’s headquarters is located, has been more vulnerable to the pandemic as it is the main hub where people arriving or departing from Tuvalu make their first landing. Its position near the equator has also made it susceptible to tropical cyclones and other climate events such as droughts.

Clean water - especially for hand washing during the pandemic - is thus high on EKT’s priority list, a need that was met by the CWM Gift of Grace grant last year. The grant enabled EKT to purchase ten additional water tanks, which provided sufficient clean water to all EKT personnel, support staff, and their families who resided on Funafuti. It also freed up their budget to meet other shortages, during a time when other NGOs had yet to respond with pandemic-related funding.

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) Moderator’s pastoral message following Delta Variant in-community transmission

In end August, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) Moderator Right Rev. Fakaofo Kaio

released a pastoral message after transmission of Delta variant was detected in the community.

Faced with the situation of some being unable to get groceries and medicines as some supermarkets were overwhelmed, The Rt Rev. Kaio urged them to reach out virtually, encourage one another, and put people in contact with those who can assist in their community.

Anticipating an extended lockdown in Auckland as more Delta variant cases emerging daily, Rev. Kaio reminded them to follow lockdown requirements, and to “be strong, (because) we will help protect the country by our sacrifice”. Read his full letter at: https://www.cwmission.org/ wp-content/uploads/2021/0 8/PCANZ-Moderator-pastor al-message-25-Aug-2021-Co vid-19.pdf The minister of St Paul's Maheno-Otepopo Presbyterian Church in Oamaru has served as Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery and also the Southern Presbytery, and she appreciates the two-year lead time to explore the current issues and needs of the national Church before she assumes her role in 2023.

Christian denominations today face challenges such as aging and shrinking congregations, and increased compliance issues for churches run largely by volunteers. Rev Luxford said of these challenges, “Our Church needs to be realistic about how things are, and make hard decisions, yet we also need to nurture and give oxygen to those things that are healthy, life-giving and surprising. We have amazing, gifted and creative people in the Church and they need to be valued and celebrated.”

PCANZ celebrates election of its fifth female leader in 120 years

The Rev Rose Luxford of Oamaru was elected Moderator designate of PCANZ during its General Assembly held virtually on 30 September. This will make her the fifth female leader of the PCANZ in 120 years, which she says is both daunting, humbling and an honour.

Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) launches climate advocacy campaign ahead of COP26

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) General Secretary Rev. James Bhagwan, accompanied by PCC staff, unfurled a banner denouncing fossil fuels at sea in Suva, Fiji on 14 October. In conjunction with Greenfaith, he was launching a climate change advocacy campaign ahead of COP in Scotland. The banner is the first in a series which will be displayed at places of worship over the next three weeks, and Rev Bhagwan will also be engaged in discussions with churches and partner organisation before travelling to COP26.

CARIBBEAN The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) continues engaging in ministry in virtual spaces

Through CWM Capacity Development Programme (CDP)’s Member Church Initiative, basic digital filmmaking equipment was