wfn.org | ACNS Bishop Winston Halapua becomes third Archbishop

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Bishop Winston Halapua becomes third Archbishop

Posted On : May 18, 2010 1:22 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/5/18/ACNS4702
Related Categories: New Zealand

At 10.45am on the 12th May Archbishop Brown Turei declared that Bishop Winston 
Halapua had been elected as the new Bishop of Polynesia ? and therefore, as one 
of the three Archbishops of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and 
Polynesia.

There followed a series of brief but moving presentations from representatives 
of each of the three tikanga.

These were led by Mrs Lola Kolomatangi, on behalf of the Diocese of Polynesia ? who said 
it was the custom of mothers in the Pacific to gift "a cultural vestment" on 
its new leaders.

With that, Polynesian women brought forward various gifts and tokens ? Tongan 
tapa, and three garlands, each representing Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, which they 
placed around Bishop Winston?s neck.

He, in turn, took two of those lei and draped them around the necks of the two 
existing Archbishops, Brown Turei and David Moxon.

Herewini Parata moved to present the greetings of Tikanga Maori to the new 
bishop ? and then, with the help of Archbishop Turei, he tied a pounamu taonga, 
a greenstone pendant, around Dr Halapua?sneck.

He led a haka ? and then it was Bishop Ross Bay?s turn to present the greetings 
of Tikanga Pakeha to the new Bishop, with a large floral bouquet.

As is the Fijian custom, the Rev Sam Koi responded in Fijian on behalf of the 
new Bishop. Surrounded by the other men in the Diocese of Polynesia delegation, 
all of whom were on bended knee, he told Synod that they would return to their 
countries and churches, telling of the honour bestowed on their bishop by Synod.

Bishop Halapua himself said nothing ? until he left the conference hall, and 
began the first of the day?s media  interviews.

> Academic and cleric

Halapua succeeds the late Bishop Jabez Bryce, who had led the Diocese of 
Polynesia for 35 years, and who died in February this year.

Dr Halapua was elected as an assistant bishop in 2005.

Bishop Bryce had wanted to strengthen the diocese?s outreach in the far-flung 
islands it serves ? Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa ? and Dr Halapua was 
one of three assistant bishops chosen at that time.

Bishop Winston?s ministry has an academic focus. He has a doctorate in 
sociology from the University of the South Pacific, and he came to New Zealand 
in 1996 to take up a post as a lecturer at St John?s College, the Auckland 
theological college where many Anglican priests are trained.

In 1997 he was appointed Principal of the College of the Diocese of Polynesia 
in New Zealand, which is one of the three constituent colleges at the greater 
St John?s College campus. As such, he has been deeply involved in the formation 
of many Polynesian priests, and as a lecturer at Auckland University?s School 
of Theology.

In 2008 the late Bishop Bryce had announced his intention to retire and he 
played a part in planning the election for his successor.

This Electoral College was originally scheduled to take place in May ? but with 
Bishop Bryce?s death, the election was moved forward.

In the Anglican scheme of things, bishops are declared elected only after they 
have been approved in a three-part process. They are nominated at the Electoral 
College ? and that nomination must then be approved by the other bishops in the 
church, and (assuming there are no hitches there) by General Synod, which 
functions as the parliament of the church.

The final stage of the electoral process, the balloting of members of the 
General Synod, took place during their Gisborne meeting.

Bishop Winston is married to Sue, who is also an ordained priest (in the 
Diocese of Auckland) and they have two adult sons.

The new diocesan Bishop of Polynesia ? and therefore Archbishop of this 
province of the Anglican church ? will be ordained and installed at Suva?s Holy 
Trinity Cathedral on August 1 this year.

> Article from: Anglican Taonga