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By Elliott Wright New York, NY, March 13, 2009--A study of United Methodist ministry needs and possibilities with Pacific Islanders in the United States is being organized by the denomination's mission agency. The study will look at demographics and ministry priorities relating to persons whose ethnic roots are in the Pacific Islands, such as Hawaii, Fiji, Guam, Samoa, and Tonga. "This is a project whose time has come," said Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference in welcoming the study plans. "Many Pacific Islanders come to this country with strong Methodist DNA." Bishop Swenson's area covers large parts of the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam. Tongans form the largest Pacific Islander groups within the US and the United Methodist denomination. There are 42 Tongan, six Samoan, and smaller numbers of Fijian and Guamanian congregations in the US, according to the Rev. Nam-Jin Jun, who heads the office for Asian American and Pacific Islander Ministries at the General Board of Global Ministries. A 10-member study committee is currently being organized, Mr. Jun said. The chair is the Rev. Dr. Eddie Kelemeni, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Honolulu, Hawaii. Mr. Keleneni also chairs the Pacific Islander National Caucus of The United Methodist Church. The caucus has repeatedly petitioned the General Conference, a quadrennial legislating assembly, to set up a ministry plan for their people in the US, following a pattern in effect for Hispanics/Latinos, Korean Americans, other Asian Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans. Last spring in Fort Worth, the 2008 General Conference approved a Pacific Islander ministry study to begin in 2009, with a report to be presented to the 2012 conference. The study process was assigned to Global Ministries, which is also covering the costs budgeted at $200,000. "A national ministry plan may emerge from the study," said the Rev. Jorge Domigues, the Global Ministries interim deputy general secretary for Evangelization and Church Growth, in whose unit the Asian American and Pacific Islander Ministries are housed. "We are pleased to be able to represent the interests of Pacific Islanders within the church and to contribute significantly to the ministry study." The study will conduct research and investigate ministry needs of the Pacific Islander communities, develop recommendations to address those needs, and establish funding priorities for effective ministries. "Pacific Islanders are people of faith and great generosity," said Bishop Swenson. "Many who migrate to the US were raised Methodist in Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa, where British Methodist missionaries worked years ago. They often understand what it means to be Wesleyan better than some of us." Global Ministries is consulting with the Pacific Islanders' caucus in naming the members of the study committee. Rev. Kelemeni, the committee chair, who is of Tongan descent, leads the oldest Methodist church in Hawaii. First Church Honolulu was established in 1855 under a royal charter issued by King Kamehameha IV. Demographic information on Pacific Islanders in the US is difficult to evaluate, since Pacific people are often combined with statistics on Asians. The National Education Association reports 764,000 Pacific Islanders among, according to population size, Native Hawaiians, Samoans, Guamanians, Tongans, Fijians, and Marshellese. Pacific Islanders are generally more numerous on the West Coast, but communities exist across the country. That there should be more Tongan United Methodist congregations than from the other groups is not surprising. Methodism has long been the major Christian presence in the island nation, where it is still considered the semi-official religion. Global Ministries has maintained working relations with the autonomous Methodist churches of Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa. Elliott Wright is the information officer of the General Board of Global Ministries.
Date posted: Mar 13, 2009 |
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