THE Anglican Church does not recognise George Augustus Selwyn enough for his missionary work in the islands of Melanesia and therefore it is encouraged to give him all due recognition.
This was articulated by Reverand Dr Atkin Zaku at the ACOM 50th anniversary service convened by the Diocese of Central Solomons parishioners in Honiara on Sunday.
The service is part of the jubilee celebration activities that started last Thursday for the Central Solomons Diocese of ACOM.
ACOM is also known in the Anglican Communion as the Anglican Church of the Province of Melanesia.
Prior to the establishment of ACOM, the Anglican Melanesian region was part of the Anglican Church of the Province of New Zealand.
The Anglicanism was introduced to the Melanesian region by Bishop George Augustine Selwyn of the Anglican Church of the Province of New Zealand.
The ACOM 50th anniversary celebration activities commenced on Thursday 23 and concluded on Sunday 26 with a worship service that brought together members of the Diocese of Central Melanesia parishes in and around Honiara and some members of the Diocese of Guadalcanal.
Rev Dr Atkin Zaku read the history of the ACoM church and and the key figure of the ACOM history, which was Bishop George Augustus Selwyn who started the Anglican Church of the Province of New Zealand’s mission to the Melanesian islands in the 1840s.
“Bishop Selwyn is not recognised as he should be for his service and the Church should be recognising him more by composing more songs about his ministry so that he will be remembered as he should be.”
Rev Dr Zaku said Bishop Selwyn should also be treated as one of the Saints that Anglicans should ask to pray for them.
“Bishop Selwyn is the foundation of ACoM through his major philosophical programme that he put in place when he started the Melanesian mission in 1849,” he added.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
