ADDRESS TO GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF THE ANGLICAN ORTHODOX COMMUNION WORLDWIDE - by Bishop Zephaniah Legumana of the AOC - Solomon Islands and Pacific Basin (1 October 2025):

SPEECH FOR THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AT STATEVILLE

WEDNESDAY 1st OCTOBER 2025

SALUTATION

Metropolitan and Presiding Bishop Jerry L Ogles

Bishops and Clergy (in attendance of this National Convention in Statesville) and those in

Zoom throughout the world

Cinder Carrol and Staff at our Statesville National Office NC

(May i call the Convention in attendance and in Zoom for 3minutes in the silence of our hearts and

spirit, the Soul of our dear mother, sister the late Betty Hofman

who with our Metropolitan Bishop L Ogles had visited us twice to establish AOC before her passing

which leaves a great memory of her great contribution in Melanesia “May her Soul rest in peace

with our Lord in glory forever and ever” Amen)

INTRODUCTION

On behalf of my leaders, ie Diocesan Bishop Mostyn Prana, Clergy, Laity, Chiefs, Mothers

Fellowship and Communities both in Isabel and Honiara Dioceses; I am appreciative of this

opportunity given me to speak before your dignified gathering in Statesville as well as AOC

Worldwide.

BODY

To date, AOC Solomon Island is only 19 years old since our establishment in 2006. Yet it is

slowly gaining momentum of strength, solidarity and growth.as we journeyed through these

19 years. Yet if i am to cover in detail the ministerial and spiritual aspect of these 19 years, it

would be a great Thesis work to produce.

Therefore i shall confine to the momentum of impact, strength, solidarity and growth up to

this 19 year 2025. Thus the momentum of impacts from the beginning thus expressed below

Well firstly, when i invited Bishop Jerry Ogles and Betty to Solomon Islands; they made that

long flight with their own expenses from Statesville USA arriving at Henderson Airport,

Honiara 18th January 2006; the only contribution we prepared was hiring a speedy boat

travelling for Kolotubi village Isabel Island Province arriving Kaevanga Port; then by a tractor

for Kolotubi village in 19th January 2006.

The next day 20th January within the Service of Holy Eucharist; Bishop Jerry Ogles Reinstate

my Episcopal Duties (rites of 1) Ordination of Deacons and Priests;

2) Confirmation of Children, 3) Consecration of Church Buildings; 4) Consecration of

Bishops etc.) Then above all our signing of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)

between the two Churches the then Independent Episcopal Church of Solomon Islands

(ECOSI) and AOCSTATESVILLE USA North Carolina.

Then returning to Honiara the SIBC came and interviewed Bp Jerry Ogles and broadcasted

the interview which then they started calling me Bishop again and not Mr; This event was

the Foundation Stone of AOC establishment in Solomon Island

Then the coming of Richard Davis and Simon Fisher in 2007 was also a greater impact to the

people because given the impression that we are no longer a local church but having

affiliation with Church body’s overseas realising that AOC is a worldwide church.

Then the continuing coming of Bishop Jerry Ogle and Betty Hofman in 2012 at Biluro when

they came to assist me Consecrate Rev Mostyn Prana as my Assistant Bishop another added

stone to the episcopal leadership of AOC Solomon Islands.

Then February 2025 Bishop Mostyn Prana was installed by me into his Diocesan Chair and

become the Diocesan Bishop of Honiara while for me Bishop Dr Joshua Raj installed me into

my Presiding as well as Diocesan episcopal Chair etc. These are chairs of responsibility and

overseer of the 2 new Dioceses namely the Diocese of Honiara and the Diocese of Isabel

Also the coming of Bishop Dr Joshua Raj and Elizabeth Raj came with a plan from God’s Care

International (GCI) to assist AOC in the Solomon Islands with Schools and perhaps Clinics etc

For such assistant i very much appreciate because i believe its the plan of both Bishops Jerry

Ogles and Bishop Dr Joshua Raj helping hands which we cannot be able of ourselves

Then there was the Doklu/Diklo a custom feast of food as well as 10 pigs. Given to so called

land owners to avoid land dispute. This was done at Biluro Head Office 30th June 2024

Therefore the Cathedral and Head Office are totally belongs to the AOC Community

Finally, but not the least the 2 Dioceses which have been established by the

Inauguration/Installation in February 2025 were Isabel Diocese which is under my

jurisdiction which is made up of 16 villages; while Honiara Diocese which is made up

Toganago Parish (Isabel Island) Banolepi Parish (Santa Cruz) and Honiara City under

Diocesan Bishop Mostyn Prana

Presiding Bishop of the Pacific

I am also given an assignment or jurisdiction of being as a Presiding Bishop by our

Metropolitan Bishop Jerry Ogles over AOC Fiji and AOC Philippines. So, i visited Philippines

and Fiji early 2006. In those visits i hold meetings with their leaders. In the Philippines i met

the Archdeacon Curiano, his Clergy and their Secretary Evelyn Massaway

The highlight of my plan was to establish missionary exchange between the 3 countries;

AOC Solomon Islands, AOC Philippines and AOC Fiji. The body that would have oversight will

be a Mission Board based and centralised in Honiara. The Mission Board will made up 3

staff; Solomon Islander, Philippines and Fijian

Besides the missionary exchange; i want to establish a Bible College for training our

future leaders; but above all, i want to write about my life which begun with a dream in

1977 which guided and directed my entire life and ministry into my joining and establishing

AOC Church in Solomon Islands

CONCLUSION

To conclude therefore i would finally wish to appreciate the attention of the members of

those currently meeting in Statesville and worldwide zoom members. May God bless us all

in our Endeavor for His Glory and Honour in our AOC World wide Amen