WCC NEWS: WCC mourns passing of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is mourning the death of Most Rev. Fereimi Cama, bishop of Polynesia and primate of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Cama was also a trustee of the Pacific Conference of Churches. Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC 05 July 2021 Cama was instrumental in opening the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral—of which he was dean—as a venue to pray for the hostages in a 2000 Fiji coup. Despite the dangers associated with his actions, he offered to take communion to the hostages in an act of selflessness. In a letter of condolence, WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca gave thanks to God for Cama’s contribution and service to the life of the church within the Pacific, and the wider Oceania region. “In particular, we give thanks for his commitment and advocacy on issues of climate change, youth, women and his selfless acts of hospitality to the hostages and their families of the Fiji coup in 2000,” wrote Sauca. “We join with you, the churches and people of the Diocese of Polynesia, the Pacific Conference of Churches, Archbishop Cama’s family and the wider ecumenical family with whom he served in expressing our deep gratitude and thanksgiving to God for a life fully and faithfully lived in God’s service.” Sauca added: “We pray that the legacy and ministry of Archbishop Cama will continue to bear fruit in and by those who will follow in his stead.” “His wise counsel from years of working with and for the people will be missed,” wrote Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches. “Archbishop Cama stood for justice and equity in the areas of climate change, women and youth.” Known for encouraging unity and a teacher by profession, he also worked to ensure that the young people of the Pacific took a leadership role in the fight against climate change. “We pray that the Lord will comfort the Diocese of Polynesia at this time of sorrow,” wrote Bhagwan. "And we give thanks for a life spent in service to God's Pacific people."   WCC's letter of condolences at the passing of the Most Rev. Feremei Cama See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland