Gender Equality Theology (Pacific Region)
More than 90% of people across the Pacific identify as Christian, and the Church’s teachings have a significant influence on people’s attitudes and behaviours. But ~68% of women and girls experience violence in their homes and communities and climate change is disproportionately affecting women and girls.
Our Church partners are acting as change agents in society to address gender equality through Biblical teaching on gender relations and human dignity. What is preached from the pulpit impacts life within the home. They are challenging traditional views on gender and addressing institutional inequality.
Women and girls will be the ultimate beneficiaries, as churches deepen their commitment to safety, inclusion and the promotion of women’s leadership.
When theology is life-giving and affirms the dignity of all people, it becomes a powerful force for change, says Reverend Siera Bird, UnitingWorld’s Manager for Gender Equality and Safeguarding:
“Churches are already deeply embedded in their communities. By building their capacity and connection across the region, we’re equipping them to lead efforts for gender equality, social justice and family safety in ways that are culturally grounded and sustainable.”
UnitingWorld launches regional initiative to support faith-led collaboration on gender justice
In 2025, UnitingWorld and its partners launched the Oceania Faith Communities Advancing Safety and Equality project, with support from the Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community (PWL at SPC) program. This project builds on years of UnitingWorld’s partnership with Pacific churches and is one of the first regional initiatives of its kind to bring faith-based actors together around these goals.
The project has established a new Community of Practice (CoP) for Pacific churches working to advance gender equality, safeguarding and theological change. The CoP will serve as a regional hub for collaboration, joint learning and advocacy, connecting women leaders, theologians and safeguarding focal points to share and develop resources, strategies and training. There will also be mentoring by theology experts for key gender leaders in the region. Find out more.
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This project was partly funded by the Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community (PWL at SPC) program from 2025.
This project was partly funded through the ACT Alliance Gender Justice program with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency in 2022-2023.
This project was partly funded by the Australian Government through the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development initiative between 2016-2021.
Resources
Storytelling and Learning Events 2023 – Promoting gender justice in and through faith communities in Oceania
In 2023, UnitingWorld supported a group of faith leaders, practitioners and volunteers from across Oceania to gather at a series of storytelling and learning events to ask: what is already working to advance gender equality and gender justice in our region, and why? And how can we apply what is already working to our own contexts? You can read all about the inspiring approaches churches and other faith based organisations are using to tackle gender inequality and moving stories of change in this resource. Download it here.
Use our resources on gender equality theology in your church or Bible study group! Theology of Gender Equality Resource Pack (download link – 12 MB zip file)
UnitingWorld Gender Equality Theology Poster series. Download the high resolution files here.
Our ImpactSeven mainline denominations in PNG officially adopted gender equality as their doctrinal position, and have committed to teaching this theology as part of their ministerial training. In Fiji, the ten denominations that make up the Fiji Council of Churches made a joint public statement condemning violence against women as sinful, played at cinemas around the country. Churches in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati developed and adopted Safeguarding and Protection Policies at the national level including complaints mechanisms and Codes of Conduct for ministers and church workers in line with local protection laws. The Methodist Church in Fiji changed their advice to women seeking help for domestic violence, suggesting they access the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, an organisation previously condemned by the church for supporting divorce. Churches in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati appointed focal points for gender equality and identified trained ministers to resource the church with sermons and bible studies about gender equality. Together, they hold training for leaders across all parts of the church promote key messages on social media, television and radio, and provide school students and young couples with information about gender equality and healthy relationships. In all countries, church ministers, pastors and other leaders have publicly shared anti-violence and gender equality messages in churches and online, including during COVID-19 lockdowns when rates of domestic violence dramatically increased. |
Stories of Change Vanuatu: Pastor Nippy from UnitingWorld on Vimeo.
Stories of Change Vanuatu | Gender Equality Theology from UnitingWorld on Vimeo.
Mary’s Story from UnitingWorld on Vimeo.
Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga
Methodist Church in Fiji, Kiribati Uniting Church, Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu, United Church in Papua New Guinea, United Church in the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu Christian Church, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
Gender Equality
News from the Field
- Tropical Cyclone Harold and COVID-19
In the middle of preparing COVID-19 lockdown measures, Tropical Cyclone Harold hit the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga over 1-11 April. Reaching up to Category 5, the cyclone forced people into evacuation centres where proper physical distancing became impossible. Homes and food supplies were destroyed, resulting in what has been called a “double-disaster” for the people and communities affected. Below are some updates from our church partners. Solomon Islands TC Harold struck the Solomon Islands first as a Category 3 cyclone, damaging ... - Turning tragedy into triumph | Mary’s story
Mary’s father told her not to do it. Her husband told her not to do it. Everyone in her community told her not to do it. She did it anyway… Mary went to college to begin training to become the first woman pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu. It may seem like a small thing, but in a place where the dominant culture says that men are the leaders and women follow, you simply cannot imagine what a triumph this was, or how ... - First female lecturer a win for equality
“90% of people in the Solomon Islands believe in God. When a message about women comes from the Bible, their eyes are open, they feel it has more weight. And that’s why we will see a reduction in gender-based violence and increased respect for women in our society.” If anyone has the insight to comment on what might make a difference to violence against women in the Pacific, it’s Pastor Lima Tura. The sole female lecturer at Seghe Theological College in the Solomon Islands, Lima has ... - Healthy families and safe communities in Kiribati
Project Update: Kiribati Safe Families, Healthy Communities The Kiribati Safe Families, Healthy Communities project has gone through two phases. In the first phase of the project, we worked with RAK (Reitan Aine ki Kamatu – Women’s Fellowship of the Kiribati Uniting Church) to support the establishment of raised vegetable garden beds through resources and training. Kiribati women identified this as important for three main reasons: 1. Food securityWith the increasing effects of climate change on their tiny islands growing food had become more and ... - Turn the other cheek?
Gender Equality Theology changing hearts and minds in Papua New Guinea Salote and Jone have been married 11 years, members of a Christian church, and have two beautiful children. They love one another, but throughout their marriage they’ve had times of conflict and Jone has become angry, abusive and resorted to violence. Each time he pleads for forgiveness, vows to change and for a time makes good on his promise. Each time, violence returns. Salote wants to believe that ...