Church Working Group Meeting: Minutes
Date: Tuesday 28 April 2015
Total Attendees: 49 pax
Meeting Opened: 9.50am
Agenda Items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Welcome / Prayer
Review Minutes and Actions from last meeting
Update on Church Tarpaulin Distribution
Notification: Evaluator attending Thursday’s meeting: collecting feedback on government and
NGO response to Cyclone Pam
5. Feedback from church representatives: needs that local churches face?
 Church representatives verbal report of priority issues.
 Submit written notes of all issues (what, where, when) to Cluster Support Kylie for collation.
6. Prayer / close
Followed by presentations of tarpaulins and refreshments outside the VCC office.
Actions agreed 28 Apr 15:
ACTION: Thursday’s agenda – the church leaders will meet with the evaluation consultant Rebecca
Barber to provide church observations and recommendations on response and recovery mechanisms.
Minutes
1. Welcome / Prayer
Prayer: Pastor Youen
Review of today’s agenda.
Review of Cluster system and how Church Working Group developed.
Review of actions that Church Working Group has undertaken so far:
- Collected list of needs of churches and communities
- Distributed tarpaulins for churches
- Assistance in Tongoa, Tanna and Erromango.
The Church Working Group is a forum for church leaders to discuss options on Cyclone Pam response and
come to agreement, develop common statements to go to government.
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2. Review Minutes and Actions from last meeting
Minutes:
Photocopy missed some pages.
Chair provided some background information on the actions from last week:

Food distribution. Churches assisted with volunteers to ensure food distribution in Port Vila was fair.

Registering for tarpaulins: there had been some reports that all Port Vila residents had now received
tarpaulins, this not backed up by reports by residents, there was confusion about where to register.

VAT exemption: Church Working Group had made a previous submission to Ministry of Internal
Affairs to extend VAT exemption on building materials and garden tools until June. Last week’s
action was to confirm with Department or Rates and Taxes that the exemption applied to both building
tools AND gardening tools. This was confirmed, via a letter released by Department of Rates and
Taxes giving official notice.
Question: Was a submission made to government about allocating funds to repair church evacuation centres?
This submission is still in process.
ACTION from 23 April: If there is an evaluation process on structures, distribution, response; Churches
and VCC need to be consulted to present their views on improvements on the system for the future, and how
to make most of existing structures and networks.
Actioned: Church Working Group will submit comments to a response evaluation being conducted by Save
the Children.
ACTION from 23 April: Tuesday next week approx.. 10.30am: VCC will set up a small tent at VCC Office
with refreshments. All church representatives invited to attend. If churches have not received a tarpaulin this
is a time they could collect one. Pastors will collect names and details of churches who have not yet receive
tarpaulins and invite them to this refreshments, or bring names if they cannot attend. Media (television and
newspapers) will be informed to help share information on this. If you are able to confirm numbers to Chair
by phone, tarpaulins can be prepared ready for Tuesday.
Actioned: Presentation of 97 tarpaulins to 37 different churches on Tuesday 28 April.
ACTION from 23 April: VCC Working Group members will try to find some way to address overcharging
behaviours and selfish behaviours and attitudes. Will consider releasing information through media.
Ongoing.
Move to accept minutes, Minutes accepted.
3. Update on Church Tarpaulin Distribution
VCC has 300 large tarpaulins for distribution. VCC in partnership with Act for Peace have been distributing
these tarpaulins to churches across Efate. There have been questions about whether they can be used for
schools or houses: this current distribution is targeted to help churches, so they can resume worship services
and spiritual guidance.
Question: Will tarpaulins be distributed to Epi or Tanna?
Initial distribution will go to Efate only. If there are tarpaulins remaining after Efate distribution, a decision
will be made on what other areas VCC is able to distribute to. VCC does not wish to make promises that they
may not be able to keep, so they are confirming which communities they are able to transport tarpaulins to,
within existing transport budget.
Provide feedback to Chair on if the tarpaulins have been useful or not. Churches can keep records on how the
tarpaulins have been used: have they been used for church purposes?
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If your church has not yet received a tarpaulin, please discuss with Chair.
Will reports be sent to overseas agencies, or for use by VCC? Some information will be sent to overseas
agencies to maintain accountability, but VCC also recording for their own knowledge and record.
4. Notification: An evaluation consultant is attending Thursday’s meeting to collect feedback on
government and NGO response to Cyclone Pam
Some of the NGOs (Save the Children, Oxfam, World Vision and Care) have come together to contract a
consultant, to evaluate the response processes for Cyclone Pam.
The consultant is meeting with government staff, NGO staff, community members to collect opinions and
observations of the response process for Cyclone Pam, and record suggestions for improvements. The
consultant is able to attend Thursday’s Church Working Group meeting if church leaders would like to
submit their observations and suggestions about the disaster response processes and structures.
Information from these consultations will be written into an evaluation report that will be submitted at the
Pacific Humanitarian Summit in June.
ACTION: Thursday’s agenda – the church leaders will meet with the evaluation consultant Rebecca
Barber to provide church observations and recommendations on response and recovery mechanisms.
5. Feedback from church representatives: needs that local churches face?

Thanks provided to VCC for hosting this Working Group. The VCC has been a channel to report voices
of the Church to government. Government has looked for information from schools, from health, but
church needs have not had a voice until this group.

It is good that VCC is commencing a Small Grants Scheme to repair evacuation centres. Some questions
are raised about what qualifies as an evacuation centre?
At the moment there is no list of evacuation centres. Part of this process will enable recording where
evacuation centres are. At the moment there are no set criteria or requirements by NDMO.
In a meeting prior to Cyclone, Pastor Shem noted that NDMO comes to churches to provide evacuation
centres, but there’s never been support to the churches to build or maintain these centres. This needs to
change, and there needs to be government support to repair evacuation centres that have been damaged
in Pam.
Suggestion: churches need to be made stronger, improved so more disaster resilient. Churches should
collect specific quotes to provide an accurate picture of funds needed.
How quickly can repairs be made? Will repairs be in place before commencement of cyclone season in
November?

Comment: VCC and Church Working Group is also the voice of kastom and Vanuatu culture to these
Cluster groups. Government should heed the information coming from VCC, to ensure Vanuatu voice is
heard amongst those of overseas experts.

When cyclone came, it showed that we must work together. I am glad that VCC can hold this discussion
so we can share information and discuss everyone’s point of view. All churches, all members should
come together to be active members of VCC. If members’ comments are slow to come, VCC will be
slowed in acting – in the future, members need to keep working together. It is good to see this progress
for VCC.

In future disasters, the government should reach out to VCC and to chiefs. Pastors and chiefs have ears
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and eyes in the village to see what is happening locally.

Churches need to be registered with Vanuatu Financial Services Commission in order to operate. Why is
government not using these lists, and how are the large amounts of funding being distributed? For those
of us who aren’t registered, how are we recognized under the law.

Government seems to forget churches – they approach them at time of election, but then forget their
strength and reach in times of disaster.

Re assessment and response: assessment is slow, VCC can assist in speeding it up. In terms of response,
VCC can help.

Chair: VCC don’t want to take over, but do want the churches working group to be recognized and
listened to alongside other Clusters like education and health.

VCC is recording these viewpoints, we will contribute to evaluation reports for consideration, and for
suggestions on improvements for the future.
Prayer/closing:
Chair encourages all members and church leaders to come to these meetings, to take time out from work to
discuss recommendations, prepare joint strategic steps to go to government and other forums.
Chair acknowledges work of Act for Peace Australia, and work by Tracey Robinson and Geoff Robinson to
implement climate change, disaster risk reduction and now disaster response to Cyclone Pam in partnership
with VCC.
If any members have newspaper articles, photos, stories about Cyclone Pam or response, please share them
with Tracey Robinson or VCC as they are powerful messages.
Meeting closed at 11.20
Next meeting: Thursday 30 April, 9:00am - 10:00am, VCC.
The next meeting will focus on discussing how VCC and churches should be linked into government
networks for disaster response and recovery.
Phone number of Douglas Ngwele if any members have questions: 775 2797 / 540 2382.
Attendance
Name
Douglas Ngwele
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pr Albently Uzakana
Ps Ericson Restuetune
Fr John Patrick Bani
PS Sandey Ishmael
James Varikap
Pr John D Leeman
PS Philip Morris
Ps Christopher Karu
Organisation
VCC
Mautoa SDA
Church
SDA Church
Anglican Church
Ph
540 2382
Email
dngwele@gmail.com
775 2245
5378065
5341769
patrickbani@gmail.com
Bible Church
710 0271
Efate District
Ministry Leader
Portoroki SDA
Church Numbatu
Church of Christ
5400323
jleeman@adventist.org.vu
535 2061
morrisphillip2014@gmail.com
541 6962 / 777
4901
4
8
9
10
11
12
PS Nixon Manika
PS Moses Ngwera
PS Youen Atnelo
Japheth Tavoa
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Ps Joses Sali
Elder Palti Williams
Min. Bihu John
Clerk Amos James
Ross Dick
Wilson Hosea Elder
20
21
22
Roy Tinning
Ps David Mawa
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
PS William Koli
Morex John M Bong
Anamias Wari
Noel Takau
Fiona Shem
Brodwin Zama
Juliets Koukare
Hellen Riibako
Francis Tasso
Pastor Charlie Jimmy
Philip Tangwha Elder
Nemo Matai
Ben Tungon
Johnson Luen
Andric Tangwha
Api Elijah
Edy Silas
Kisito Nambith
PS Kalo Kaltabang
Paul Sam
Alon Ben Hiwa
David Havvy
Serongon Jon
AOG Vila
Churches of Christ
AOG
Church of Christ
Apostolic Church,
Ohlen
Church of Christ
Moso SDA Church
SDA
Olwie SDA Church
Elder Prima SDA
Britawo SDA
Church Minister
SDA
Langwor Church
NTM
Beverley Hills
church
Elder SDA
Teouma Bridge
Equip Church MB
USP English SDA
Church
USP English SDA
Church
USP English SDA
Church
Tanoliu SDA
Church
USP English SDA
Church
Tamanu SDA
Church
Company Leader,
Epau SDA Church
SDA Ekipe
Elder Epule SDA
Church
Minister Teouma
SDA Church
Elder Erapo SDA
Teouma
Elder Eworkau
SDA Teouma
The Father’s House
Church
Baptist Churches
of Vanuatu
Etas SDA
SDA
Ernas SDA Church
CHMAOG
542 5810
776 3613
775 4355
774 4156
jtavoa@yahoo.com
774 9639
541 7554
777 7279
5378050
545 9465
540 0783
534 2927
544 5332
773 0607
774 4215
541 7595
774 0470
543 9743
774 1953
774 1953
774 1953
710 4546
5360330
7757131
772 0604
538 1543
540 1384
594 9205 / 777
9312
591 4785
534 7303
540 0323
710 4379
777 0770
711 6645
779 0115
537 8385
alonben16@yahoo.com
5
43
44
George Jon
45
46
Eileen Boe
Elder Moses Walter
Ps Remo Shem
47
Alex Jacob
48
PS Paul Dominique
William
SDA Side River
Melemaat Hituaty
SDA Church
ACV
Equip Church
Erakor
Epauto SDA
Church
Bible Church
Eratap
536 8983
5405868
7775480
eileen.boe@vanuatu.com.vu
543 9743
541 6855
Lx.jacob1@gmail.com
5455510
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