It was a historical meeting when leaders of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) and the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa convened to discuss theological issues and areas of mutual concern,
An ava ceremony by the Kanana Fou Theological Seminary at Kanana Fou welcomed the faifeau toeaina.
While there have been meetings between students from the theological schools of the tw
o Samoa , this meeting was unprecedented, in that top leaders of the schools at Malua and Kananafou brought together the majority of Reverend Elders, deacon elders and their wives.
Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Rev. Elder Tautiaga Senara in an interview with KHJ News. said the last gathering of the leaders of the churches in Samoa and American Samoa was in 2003 and it was only for a small group.
He said, “There’s a great desire for the two church leaders to continue to fellowship so they can identify issues that are important not only to the spiritual wealth of members but also the material wealth of the church at large.”
Rev. Elder Senara did not disclose issues on their agenda.
He told KHJ News that they did not discuss the case of Rev. Opapo So’ana’i .
He is the father of Toaipuapuaga Opapo Ah Chong, the woman with stigmata who recently returned from Rome where her case was evaluated.
During Saturday night’s dinner, Kanana Fou seminary students provided entertainment for the close to 300 guests.
Other than reverend elders from Samoa and American Samoa there are also faifeau from the US mainland, Hawai’i, New Zealand and Australia.
The entertainers also sent out a message for the churches in the two Samoa to spend more time together like it was before.
The delegation from Samoa CCCS which includes those from New Zealand and Australia will return tomorrow. Kanana Fou’s Theological Seminary students will be meeting with Malua Theological College’s next month.
