"The Oceania Anglican Fono is more than a gathering of neighbouring provinces. It is a gift of God’s grace in relationships patiently nurtured over time. We are called to love our neighbour, and it is a blessing that these relationships with fellow primates and general secretaries are marked by trust, honesty and genuine warmth.



"These bonds are the foundation of our common life. They give the FONO its strength, and from them we are able to work together on shared concerns, including theological education, labour mobility and climate change."

 1.  The 7th gathering of the Oceania Anglican Fono (FONO) brought together the Primates, General Secretaries, and their spouses from three of the four Anglican Churches in Oceania from 9–12 April 2026. This year's FONO was hosted by Archbishop Leonard Dawea of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and led by Bishop James Tama of the Diocese of Central Vanuatu and New Caledonia. 

2.  Noting the absence of fellow Archbishops from Aotearoa and Papua New Guinea, the FONO called for continued prayer, especially for the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea as it discerns a faithful pathway forward in its leadership.

3.  The FONO members met over 3 days, deepening relations between them, forging new partnerships amidst the challenges discussed and reinforcing the commitment of the FONO to work together to address the regional and global challenges and opportunities to further strengthen the fellowship of the Anglican Communion. 

4.  The theme of the FONO, "One God, One Ocean, One People," reflected our unity in God, our interconnectedness across one ocean, and our shared identity as one people in Christ. Key themes for this gathering included climate change, labour mobility, and the ongoing strengthening of theological education, building on the work of previous FONO meetings.

5.  The FONO unfolded in three distinct movements. The first centred on listening to the people of Vanuatu and hearing their experiences, hopes, and challenges. The second provided space for the member Churches to share their priorities and concerns. The third was grounded in worship and fellowship with local communities. 

6.  The Kastom Ceremony offered by the members of the Church of the Resurrection in Tagabe placed culture at the heart of the FONO and affirmed the deep bond of fellowship and unity between the delegates and the people and land of Vanuatu. 

7.  The FONO heard from the Honourable Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change of the Republic of Vanuatu, on the global climate landscape. He highlighted the significance of the 2025 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion and outlined Vanuatu's ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the threat of climate change, strengthen resilience, and transition to 100% renewable electricity generation by 2032. 

8.  In response, the FONO members agreed to:

a.  call upon the Anglican Communion to support Vanuatu's United Nations General Assembly initiative recognising the ICJ advisory opinion,
b.  review investment policies in light of best practice in climate justice, and
c.  convene a special FONO focused on disasters and disaster preparedness. 

9.  Representatives from the Department of Labour and Employment Services presented on labour mobility from the perspective of Vanuatu and offered a balanced assessment of the scheme. While acknowledging the economic benefits it can bring, the FONO also heard of serious social and local economic impacts that increasingly call into question the prevailing narrative of unqualified benefit. 

10.  In light of these concerns, the FONO affirmed that its response must be both pastoral and prophetic. Members committed to:

a)  offering a faith-based critique of labour mobility schemes where these prove to be exploitative, extractive, or imbalanced; and
b)  developing dual pastoral support systems for workers and their families at home as well as for the workers while they are abroad.

11.  FONO members also met with the Malvatumauri, the National Council of Chiefs of Vanuatu. This marked the first official visit by a high-level delegation of Church leaders to the Malvatumauri in recent memory, strengthening the relationship between the two pillars of Ni-Vanuatu society: kastom and faith. 

12.  The issue of theological education has remained on the FONO agenda for several years. Members agreed to:

a.  develop a shared database of theological education providers across the FONO Churches and
b.  explore a framework for the previously proposed "Centres of Excellence" in theological education. 

13.  The FONO also shared concerns and priorities arising within their respective Churches. Alongside labour mobility, theological education, and disaster preparedness, members reflected on the growth of Christian engagement in minority-world contexts, safeguarding and redress, structural adaptation within the Churches, and inequity both within and between Churches.

14.  Members were blessed to spend an evening with Seaside Anglican Parish in Port Vila. The gathering included presentations from local parishioners and traditional custodians of the vanua, songs of welcome, prayers, kava, and a beautiful, shared meal. It was a time of deep fellowship, mutual listening, and thanksgiving.

15.  The FONO acknowledged with gratitude the significant contribution made by spouses in the life and ministry of the Church in Oceania. Members also expressed sincere thanks to Archbishop Leonard Dawea, Bishop James Tama, and the outgoing General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, Dr Abraham Hauriasi, for their gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements. 

16.  The next three annual FONO meetings were agreed as follows: Australia in 2027, Anglican Diocese of Polynesia in 2028, and Papua New Guinea in 2029. The special FONO on disaster preparedness will be held later in 2026.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.

Psalm 24:1–2