Sione 'Amanaki Havea

Sione 'Amanaki Havea (1922–2000) was a Tongan Methodist minister and theologian, known for developing a contextual theology for the context of the Pacific Islands.[1]

Sione 'Amanaki Havea
Born1922
Died2000
NationalityTongan
Known forCoconut theology
ChurchFree Wesleyan Church of Tonga

Career

Havea was a strong advocate for ecumenism amongst Christians in Oceania. He served as the first chairman of the Pacific Conference of Churches (1966–1971) and was an active participant in the World Council of Churches.[2]

Havea was an ordained Methodist minister who served for two terms as president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (1971–1977 and 1982–1992).[3] Between these terms, he also served as the principal of the Pacific Theological College, in Fiji (1977–1981), an institution which trains students mainly coming from Pacific Island churches, establishing a woman's program and advancing a theological orientation which addresses the context of Oceanic culture.[4]

Theology

Havea is best known for promoting the construction of Pacific theology, one that comes from the soil and context of the Pacific Islands.[1][5] He believed one of the most vivid images for Oceanic culture was the coconut and spoke of a coconut theology.[6]

See also

References
  1. Palu, Ma'afu (2012). "Dr Sione 'Amanaki Havea of Tonga: The Architect of Pacific Theology" (PDF). Melanesian Journal of Theology. 28 (2): 67–81.
  2. "2000: The year in review: Obituaries". World Council of Churches. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. "Brief History". Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  4. "PTC: History and Tradition". Pacific Theological College. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. Havea, Sione 'Amanaki (1987). "Christianity in the Pacific Context". In Havea, Sione 'Amanaki (ed.). South Pacific Theology: Papers from the Consultation on Pacific Theology, Papua New Guinea, January 1986. Oxford: Regnum Books. pp. 11–15. ISBN 978-1870345019.
  6. Carroll, Seforosa (April 2004). "Weaving New Spaces: Christological Perspectives from Oceania (Pacific) and the Oceanic Diaspora". Studies in World Christianity. 10 (1): 72–92. doi:10.3366/swc.2004.10.1.72. ISSN 1354-9901.
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