Canon John Pinder writes:
THE Rt Revd David Vunagi served with great distinction as Archbishop of Melanesia and, in retirement, as Governor General of the Solomon Islands.
David’s background was in secondary education. After graduating with a science degree from the University of Papua New Guinea, he was appointed deputy head of Selwyn College, Honiara, and then, in 1985, head. He returned to this post several times, the last time in retirement, to rescue the college, which was in decline academically and from indiscipline.
David’s greatest challenge was in 1986, when the college was overwhelmed by Cyclone Namu. Although the college was several feet under water, he ensured the safety of all the students, through great leadership qualities.
The next year, David went, with his young family, to study for a theology degree at St John’s College, Auckland. He was ordained in 1992, and was sent back to Selwyn College as priest headmaster. After further study in Canada, he was appointed a parish priest in the western Solomons, but soon Selwyn again beckoned. By 1999, there was virtual civil war in the Solomons, and David had a difficult time protecting his students from attacks by the militants.
In 2000, David was asked to head the Melanesian Board of Mission, in Honiara, but it was a dangerous place for David and his family. One night, some armed militants attacked him at home at knife point, and he was fortunate to escape. His dealings with the militants clearly demonstrated David’s diplomatic skills, which undoubtedly saved lives.
The next year, he was elected Bishop of Temotu, probably the most isolated diocese in the Anglican Communion. Temotu was a totally alien culture for him, and many were opposed to his election, but David gradually won the people round with firmness and devotion to pastoral care. As a teacher and headmaster, David had shown the highest standards of not just leadership and discipline, but also compassion and integrity.
He continued to exercise these gifts as Bishop of a poor struggling diocese. He would regularly travel by canoe, at great personal danger to visit the many outlying islands of his diocese He regarded his eight years as Bishop as the happiest and most fulfilling period of his ministry.
Looking back on his time as Bishop, David wrote: “After eight years in Temotu it was difficult to leave. The day we left was the saddest day of our life in Temotu. Men and women cried openly at the wharf, and it was difficult even to shake hands with them. The ministry of the church is about serving the people in every aspect of life in both good and bad times.”
In 2009, David was elected Archbishop of Melanesia. He was insistent that the Church of Melanesia had to become more self-sufficient and not always reliant on handouts from overseas. He was concerned about levels of alcohol abuse and domestic violence and regretted that traditional values of village community life were breaking down. In his autobiography, David wrote: “Many members of the church were not happy with me, but I did not mean to degrade the church but to encourage the church to be more proactive in running programs to address social issues that affect families and young people. We encouraged the different ministries of the church to be involved in teaching stewardship, bible studies, meditation, good parenting programs, literacy, alcohol dry-out etc.”
In 2015, David and Mary, his wife, retired to their home island of Ysabel, where he was looking forward to establishing various environmental projects and campaigning against logging. But he was not in retirement very long before he was called back to rescue Selwyn College again. He was not happy with the attitude of many of the teachers and the decline in academic standards.
The next year, David reluctantly accepted the nomination for Governor General of the Solomon Islands, and was appointed KCMG. Although he was undoubtedly the right man for the job, he and Mary found the atmosphere at Government House somewhat stifling and restrictive. They missed being able to mix freely with their many friends and the people of Honiara. During his five-year term, he and Mary attended both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the King’s Coronation.
David is survived by Mary, together with their children, Dudley, Rusilla, and Douglas.
The Rt Revd David Okete Vuvuiri Vungai KCMG KStJ died on 7 March, aged 74.
