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In this Issue….

New Dogura Bishop p 1

Port Moresby Bishop Retires p1

Ramsden Reminiscences p 2

Island of Dreams p 3

POM Young Pioneers p 4

ACPNG & PNGCP News p 4

Autumn Day Conference p 4

PNGCP is a UK-based mission agency dedicated to raising awareness and support for the Anglican Church in PNG

NEW BISHOP FOR DOGURA… In May 2014, Fr Tennyson Bogar, then Vicar-General and Dean of St John's Cathedral in Port Moresby Diocese, was elected to be the next Bishop of Dogura. The Consecration of Bishop Tennyson took place amidst much local celebration and rejoicing on 29th July at Awaiama. Bishop Tennyson, 57, from Keia, Milne Bay Province, is the son of Fr John William Bogar, and grandson of James Bogar, one of a group of South Sea Islanders recruited by the first missionaries in the 1900’s to be teacher-evangelists in New Guinea. After completing secondary education in Australia, Fr Tennyson studied Theology in the Philippines. Ordained deacon in 1981, he first served at St George's, Rabaul, before becoming Communications Officer in the Anglican National Office, Lae. Ordained priest in 1983, he then

lectured at Newton Theological College before being appointed Rector of St Francis', Goroka in 1987. In 1991, Fr Tennyson was appointed Anglican Defence Force Chaplain at Igam Barracks in Lae. There, one of his most harrowing duties was in 2003 when he was part of the Defence Force contingent who went to the Solomon Islands to identify and bring home the bodies of the seven murdered Melanesian Brothers for burial. In 2012, he left the Defence Force and accepted the position of Dean of St John's Cathedral, Port Moresby, taking on the responsibilities of Vicar General later that year.

...and PORT MORESBY BISHOP RETIRING (see p.2)

Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Summer 2014 Newsletter

Bishop Tennyson, with Archbishop Clyde, greets his people

Fr Tennyson and Mo. Eren with six of their eight children in Port Moresby

ACPNG’s new House of Bishops, plus retired Bishops Tevita and James – and

one proud mother!

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AN ISLAND CALLING Many employed men in PNG dream of returning to a simple life in their community. Some abandon promising careers and well-paid jobs to do just that. Archbishop James Ayong, known to many in the UK, worked with vision and commitment through to retirement, whilst nursing just such a dream. Now, five years on, he reflects on the realities and joys of life on his island of Kumbun.

He writes, “I didn’t stay in my village as a child or a teenager because my parents were local missionaries and we travelled to many parts. After schooling, I worked in different places. Even when ordained as a priest, I wasn’t called to a New Guinea Islands parish but seemingly was needed in places I had never thought of. All those years I wanted very much to go back to Kumbun. At last I retired and was reunited with my family and old friends. It is a good feeling being referred to as ‘Papa bilong graun’, linking to God the Creator.”

Two miles off the South coast of New Britain, Kumbun is already effected by climate-change and rising sea-levels. The majority of the local people live at sea-level, close to the lagoon entrance with its fresh-water spring and safe anchorage. With white sands, lagoons and reefs on the South and protective mangroves to the West, Kumbun can be walked around in less than two hours.

“When the Missionaries arrived from the Solomons in 1902, they were given the island’s best and safest location, on the ridge running across Kumbun, to establish the mission station, the school and the aid-post. There has been little improvement to these facilities since; still no electricity or running water although some spots on the island can now get Digicel (mobile-phone) reception and I can call nearly anywhere in PNG. Only a few people have followed my lead, though, in building their houses on this higher ground.

Letters take many days coming from Kimbe. We still use firewood or kerosene for cooking and lighting. Transport between rural communities on the South coast of New Britain is worsening, with ferry services and the grass air-strips closing down. I have given my boat and engine (a gift from the Scottish Episcopal Church for his post-retirement ministry) to the community for runs to

hospital, travel to the communal food gardens on nearby islands, and other community matters. It is difficult and expensive travelling to Kimbe or Port Moresby for help with my health or eyesight.

What do I miss in retirement? Using some of the PNG languages I know; reading matter to keep in touch with the Anglican Communion and wider world; and opportunities to contribute to the further development of ACPNG. The most difficult thing about coming back to the island was the initial reaction of my relatives, unsure about returning my land and properties after so long away. It was easily resolved by allowing them to continue their use whilst also supporting me in my advancing years when I need food, fish, firewood or other practical help. Such are the blessings and obligations of community in PNG.

There are so many satisfying aspects to my simple life on the island. I wake to say my early-morning prayer at 5.30am, then walk down to the beach for a swim. After dressing, I attend Morning Office in the church with the Rector, returning to my house at 7.15am for breakfast of coffee and roast bananas, or sometimes scones, made by my niece or sister. My normal day is busy: preparing the lamps for night-time; cleaning up the grounds; working in my food-gardens; cutting grass under my coconut- and fruit-trees; feeding the chickens and pigs – and it’s quiet away from the village. I have a large rainwater tank, enough to provide fresh water for my neighbours. I rest after a wash in the afternoon, then to church for the Evening Office, and on to supper and bed.

My daily life is often interrupted by requests from the parish priest and the school programmes, and Bishop Allan sometimes asks me to take Confirmations and Baptisms, to attend important meetings of parishes, and look into married problems. I enjoy helping out this way in the diocese.

In Kumbun, I really live as a person of the land and enjoy meeting with people who come up to my place for conversation and to drink my coffee. I live in my village as a free man, not having to think wider and plan for the Province or my diocese. My mind is now tuned to local activities.”

+James and parish-priest after Morning Office, walking towards home past

his food-garden

Start of another busy day on Kumbun village beach

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PNG YOUNG PIONEERS

The Anglican Alliance is an initiative set up after the 2008 Lambeth Conference to coordinate Anglican responses to disasters and, proactively, to help Anglicans around the world share information and ideas about the development work they are engaged in. It has set up an online course called “Agents of Change” to teach people the best way to plan and run development projects. Following the official launch, a group of six young people from Port Moresby parishes are taking part in the programme’s pilot run and are featured on the Anglican Alliance’s Facebook page.

ACPNG AND PNGCP NEWS:

The Anglican Mission Board – New Zealand have invited Archbishop Clyde Igara to join their Board of Directors for the next two years to further strengthen relationships with ACPNG

Congratulations to Rowan Callick, recently awarded a PNG OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, ‘for services to journalism and PNG’. When working in PNG for Word Publishing, he helped set up the ‘Wantok’ (main PNG pidgin newspaper) in Port Moresby. Since returning to Australia, he continues to write and comment on some of the hot issues and developments in PNG

Congratulations, too, to Cameron Venables, who originally came to PNG to stay with the SSF Brothers whilst doing youth work in Popondota and Dogura dioceses: later returning after ordination in Australia to serve for several years as a priest in Popondota Diocese. He has recently been appointed Assistant Bishop in the Brisbane Diocese

Members of Norwich, Waiapu (New Zealand) and Rockhampton (Australia) Dioceses are planning a joint visit to ACPNG in 2015

Fr Isaiah Masida of Popondota Diocese visited England this August to be installed as World Chaplain of the Girls Friendly Society during Canon Val Gribble’s Presidency. Whilst here, he visited ex-PNGCP mission-volunteer Bishop Roger Jupp, who was his Newton College Principal and mentor, then bishop in Popondetta. Currently, +Roger is serving in a Nottinghamshire parish. Fr Isaiah also gave an update on his parish and diocese to the PNGCP Committee and undertook speaking engagements in the Norwich Diocese

In August. the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife paid a flying visit to PNG as part of a trip to meet with the Primates of the Philippines, PNG, Melanesia, Australia and NZ. At her request, Mrs Welby was provided with a briefing on women’s issues in PNG

With grateful thanks to the following for their contributions – Sue Ramsden; retired Bishop James Ayong; Jasper Rea; Peter Milburn – and to the Scottish Episcopal Church for sponsoring this Newsletter. Any comments, queries or ideas welcome to the Editor, John Rea, at PNGCP

The eight-page Christmas 2014 Newsletter will have ‘Education in ACPNG’ as its main theme.

STOP PRESS!

Did you enjoy ‘Ramsden Reminiscences’ on page 2? If so, make a date to come along to meet and listen to them in person as they reflect on their 18-year service with ACPNG and the challenges facing the Church and PNG today. +Peter and Sue Ramsden will be the main speakers at the next PNGCP Day Conference in London . There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and to talk with them and others. When? Saturday, 25th October 2014. Coffee from 10.30am, with the formal programme starting at 11.30am and finishing before 4pm. Drinks and afternoon tea provided but bring your own packed lunch. Where? The Lambeth Mission and St Mary’s, a brick-built Methodist church at 3-5 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7DQ. Nearest tube is Lambeth North (Bakerloo line) – 5 mins. walk. Waterloo main-line station is 10 mins. walk. Buses 3, 59, 344 and 507 stop nearby.

We look forward to meeting you there

Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Registered Charity Number 249446

PNGCP, St Andrew’s House, 16 Tavistock Crescent, London W11 1AP Email: pngcpoffice@gmail.com Tel: 0207 313 3918

Anglican Alliance PNG Team with +Peter