Fijian pastors in NZ receive training to support their congregations

Fijian pastors from across Tāmaki Makaurau participated in an intensive workshop this week designed to strengthen community support systems and address the challenges faced by their congregations.

Organised by the National Fijian Wellbeing Plan Working Group under Pasefika Proud, the workshop provided pastors with basic knowledge about stress, trauma, and violence and their effects on individuals and families.

Talatala Alifereti Uludole, Head of the Auckland Fiji Methodist Circuit, says the workshop “aligns well with the work they do on caring for their congregation.

“Pastors are often the first point of contact when it comes to family crises for our members,” he told PMN News. “We have had to deal with numerous of these cases with our church members.

“It is essential to have the skills and knowledge to deal with these issues so that our members know they can come to us and talk with us and feel safe.”

The workshop focussed heavily on mental health awareness, helping pastors recognise, understand, and respond to common challenges within their congregations. It also addressed the relevant legal aspects.

A focus of the workshop is recognising and dealing with mental health challenges within their church community. Photo/Sai Lealea

With over 300 church members to care for, Uludole says the training has refreshed their understanding of how to better serve their community.

“The facilitators dove deep into understanding the issues our congregation face, the kind of support they need in relation to the issue they face, and how we can provide that support,” Uludole says.

“Many of us lack the skills and the knowledge in these areas. If anything, what we’ve learnt will only enable us to take the level of our service to our members a notch higher.”

The workshop will help strenthen the pastors' duty of care towards their congregation. Photo/Sai Lealea

Uludole believes that the training is a valuable addition to their professional development, enhancing church leadership and ensuring the holistic well-being of both pastors and church members.

Topics covered during the workshop included intergenerational trauma in Fijian communities, the pastors’ role in crisis response, creating a safe space for sharing, recognising cues of distress, balancing spiritual and practical support, and the well-being of pastors to ensure effective service.

Dr Api Talemaitoga, a Fiji-born Pacific health expert in New Zealand, says many Fijians look to their pastors or church leaders for spiritual guidance during difficult times.

“Sometimes people just want to be heard, and providing a trusted and confidential 'listening ear' is a great resource,” he told PMN News.

“The congregation will feel more confident if they knew that their church leaders were receiving training in these areas that can assist them.”

He described pastors as trusted figures within their communities, saying that the training equips them with more tools and resources to help congregants seeking assistance during troubled times.

The training, held in West Auckland, is part of a series of four workshops planned for Fijian pastors throughout Aotearoa.

“Often stress and other mental health issues can impact church members, and so having the ability to at least listen and advise or direct to other agencies is a great resource for the pastors to have,” Talemaitoga says.

“This is a great initiative. It's very important for pastors to have this training, and, most importantly, they should know who and when to refer people to agencies that are trained and funded to deal with these issues.

Well-being was also an important component of the pastors' workshop. Photo/Sai Lealea

“Consideration should also be given to allow senior church elders to receive the training so that they can stand in for the Pastor and assist if and when required.”

The workshop will move to Wellington next week and continue to the South Island the following month.