E NEWS 10TH MARCH 2023
On international women’s day on Wednesday, I had the privilege of leading the devotions and blessings for the launch of a colleagues PhD in book form in Auckland. Rev Dr Marie Ropeti Apisaloma book is called Nafanua Theology a Samoan Christian argument for women in ordained ministry. Samoa continues to remain one of the last bastions yet to ordain women in ministry in the whole world stating it is against Samoan culture, their memory of Samoan history is very selective.
Before the missionaries arrived in Samoa, women held honorary positions in society. They were the tamaita’i Sa (sacred female) they were priestesses, they received somewhat an equal respect to that of the matai (chief). This prestigious position of women stems from our concept of the “feagaiga”: which literally means “covenant.” The feagaiga thus refers to the “covenant of respect between a brother and a sister which gives special honour to the sister.” In this feagiaga concept the brother is obligated to serve and protect his sister for as long as he lives. All the brother’s services given to the sister must be made to her satisfaction, for it is generally believed that the sister has the power to curse him if she is angry or unhappy. These curses are usually thought to carry on for generations in the brother’s kinship line and can only be revoked if the sister willingly utters pardon and forgiveness to her brother. The depth of this relationship is clearly defined in our proverb: “O le teine o le i’oimata o lona tuagane,” meaning “The sister is the inner pupil or corner of her brother’s eye.”[1]The missionaries believed that women should not have the power to bless or curse, that they as God’s messengers should be the only ones to have that power so they took feagaiga title from the sisterhood and named themselves the new Fa’afeagaiga (ministers are known by this title) whilst the sisterhood faded into obscurity. By becoming a minister of the word and sacrament whether that be here in Aotearoa NZ or Samoa, we as women are reclaiming the Feagaiga (sisterhood) and our rightful place as priestesses.
This Sunday we explore the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and the prejudices associated with her encounter with Jesus. The Samaritan woman went to draw water at noon because she was not welcomed at the local well where the women in her community went for water. In Jewish culture, Rabbis did not speak to women in public not even their own female relatives, including their wives, sisters and daughters, so what Jesus did what radical and broke down barriers. If you think back to your own life story, where were the times that you broke down barriers? What impact did it have on your life and the lives of others?
On April 6th we will be celebrating Maundy Thursday with a Passover/Last supper meal in the Judeo Christian fashion. So far we have a couple bringing a joint of lamb, another unleavened bread, another green salad and wine. I have not received many rsvp’s yet but we will need total number asap so we can invite more people to bring lamb etc. If you would like to roast a joint of lamb and bring it that would be much appreciated but please let me know.
I’m looking forward to attending the Titahi Bay Cluster group this Sunday and encourage other regions to also consider having a gathering soon too. Hope all is well with you, I continue to expect invitations to visit you in your homes particularly those of you who have been unable to attend church for some time for different reasons, I’m more than happy to have a cuppa with you. Do take care and go gently over the coming week. Fei
[1] Roina Fa’atauva’a, “The Status and Role of Women in Traditional Samoan Society,” Pacific Journal of Theology 2:7 (1992), 15-16.
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/212764288f70/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-9320559
