The Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) next week will inaugurate its tenth diocese and consecrate its first bishop for the new diocese. On 24 November 2024 at St Barnabas Church in Sa’a, Small Malaita, Malaita Province, the Rev. Rickson Mamaoru will be consecrated by the primate, the Most Rev. Leonard Dawea, as the first bishop of the Diocese of South Malaita and Sikaiana.
Carved out of the Diocese of Malaita, the new Diocese covers West Areare, East Areare, Small Malaita and Sikaiana island in the Malaita Outer Islands. ACOM, also known as the Church of hte Province of Melanesia, currently consists of nine dioceses in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia: Central Melanesia, Malaita, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Ysabel, Temotu, Hanuato’o, Banks and Torres, Central Solomons and Guadalcanal.
The largest church in terms of membership in the Solomon Islands, ACOM has approximately 200,000 members, Over 600 active clergy, 16,000 Mothers’ Union members, and is home to several religious communities, including the Melanesian Brotherhood, Society of Saint Francis, and Sisters of Melanesia.
The church was established in 1849 by George Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand. Initially, it was a missionary diocese within the Church of the Province of New Zealand. In 1861, John Coleridge Patteson was consecrated as the first Bishop of Melanesia. For 126 years, the Melanesian church remained a mission of the Church of New Zealand. In 1975, it became an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion.
The Anglican Church of Melanesia operates numerous educational institutions, including preschools, elementary and secondary schools, and Bishop Patteson Theological College. It is also working to establish John Coleridge Patteson University, which would be the first university based in the Solomon Islands.
The church is actively involved in various ministries, including youth and young adult programs, evangelism, HIV/AIDS awareness, women’s empowerment, environmental justice, literacy, and peace and reconciliation efforts.
