Melanesian primate David Vunagi retires

Posted Sep 8, 2015
Bishops and priests at the end of a farewell service to Archbishop David Vunagi Photo: Anglican Church of Melanesia

Bishops and priests at the end of a farewell service to Archbishop David Vunagi. Photo: Anglican Church of Melanesia

[Anglican Church of Melanesia] A farewell liturgical service on Sept. 6 marked the official retirement of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, the Most Rev. David Vunagi.

The live broadcast service took place at the St. Barnabas Cathedral.

Vunagi became primate of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in 2009. He succeeded the late Archbishop Emeritus Sir Ellison Pogo.

Vunagi had served as Bishop of the Diocese of Temotu for nine years at the time of his election as primate.

He served the Church of Melanesia for 38 years as a priest, teacher and lecturer in church institutes.

In his farewell address, Vunagi urged members of the church to support the next archbishop and thanked the bishops, priests and lay members of the church for the support they’d shown him during his leadership in the Anglican Church of Melanesia.

Bishop Nathan Tome of the Diocese of Guadalcanal will serve as spiritual leader of the province until the election and enthronement of the next archbishop. The election will be held on Feb. 12, 2016, and the enthronement is scheduled for April 17.

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