An historic first for Tonga
For the first time in its history, the General Synod - Te Hīnota Whānui has convened as the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia's governing body, hosted by the Diocese of Polynesia in the Kingdom of Tonga.
General Synod visits King Tupou VI
St Paul's Anglican Church Nuku'alofa was first to welcome the Synod on Saturday as St Andrew's High School brass band and prefects met delegates at St Paul's to form a 250 person-strong Synod procession walking to the Nuku'alofa Royal Palace of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV.
Arriving at the Palace, Synod members entered the grounds for a welcome and thanksgiving ceremony where the Diocese of Polynesia presented traditional gifts of a live boar, taro and kava branches in recognition of the King's hospitality.
Words of welcome rang out from the royal orators, who shared the story of Christianity's 200 years since the Wesleyan missionaries established the Methodist Church in Tonga. They also recalled Tonga's earlier Christian history when Anglican evangelists from the London Missionary Society brought the first ever Christian mission to Tonga from the Episcopal Church of Hawai'i.
Then Fr Niuselu Finau from Otahuhu in Auckland offered prayers on behalf of Synod for HM King Tupou VI and Te Hīnota Whānui, before Ms Moela Fuko presented fine mats and tapa cloths to King Tupou VI on behalf of the Synod.
King Tupou VI greets the full Synod
Synod members then received an unexpected invitation to greet the King individually, and were welcomed to step onto the 1867 wooden palace's porch to shake hands with His Majesty.
Synod member the Rev Richard Bonifant from St Matthew in the City in Auckland was taken aback by the King's generous invitation.
"The Royal visit was a very humbling experience. It was amazing to see the King so engaged, so prepared to offer us welcome and embrace, and to hear him recognise that the Anglican Church makes an important contribution to the life of the Kingdom." he said.
St Andrew's High School welcomes delegates
Departing the Palace, Synod delegates headed next to Nuku'alofa's Anglican college, St Andrew's High School, where some 200 students and youth members of the Tonga Episcopal Unit performed welcome songs, including a new composition that named the bishops and purposes of the 67th General Synod. The afternoon's performances were followed by a generous evening meal held at St Andrew's, accompanied by more traditional and contemporary Tongan songs and dances.
"It was incredible to see how much the school is thriving." said Rev Richard Bonifant, whose last visit to the school was some ten years before.
"The cultural performances were incredible, the student body was robust and clearly enjoying their deep connection to the school. So, that was the great joy of the evening for me – and of course the incredbile hospitality they offered to us."
Archdeacon Mere Wallace from Otautahi found Saturday's events stunning, especially the songs and dances.
"Everything since we've got here has been filled with love – the way they've looked after us, the way they've talked to us. And their singing is beautiful." she said.
"What I like here is all the rangatahi that are involved...and those kids were quite religious too, they knew their performance songs, but they also knew the songs of their faith."
"And the way they manaaki'ed us, the way they fed us, it was like 'nothing's an issue.'"
Tonga's culture of respect and care stands out
Sir Herewini Parata was moved by the Diocese of Polynesia's enthusiasm and commitment to hosting the General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui so well.
"What stood out was their manaaki for their guests, and the confidence and respectfulness of the young people – and their passion for their own culture and language." he said.
At each event and venue the General Synod's themes of equity and unity came through in its oft-quoted theme: 'One Mission, One Ocean, One Vaka'.
The General Synod Te Hīnota Whānui continues at Nuku'alofa's Tanoa Hotel until Thursday 20 August.
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