Apimeleki Qiliho

Apimeleki Qiliho (Bishop of Vanua Levu and Taveuni)

Apimeleki Nadoki Qiliho is an indigenous Fijian from the Province of Nadroga-Navosa in the Fiji Islands. He is the Anglican "Bishop in Vanua Levu and Taveuni"[1] in the Diocese of Polynesia or Tikanga Pasefika under the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. He made church history by becoming the first indigenous Fijian Bishop in the Anglican Church[2] in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. He is one of three Anglican Church or suffragan bishops who serve under the Archbishop of Polynesia, Jabez Bryce. This diocese covers Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Apimeleki Qiliho serves as area bishop over the Vanua Levu and Taveuni Episcopal Area. The other two Bishops in the Diocese of Polynesia are Gabriel Sharma, Bishop of Viti Levu West and Winston Halapua, the diocesan bishop who serves Polynesians in New Zealand.

Background

Qiliho comes from the village of Rukurukulevu in the district of Cuvu in Nadroga,[2] located in Fiji's Western Division. He then spent some time living in Lautoka, the capital of the Western Division, at which time he changed denomination from being Methodist to an Anglican. He then decided to become a priest and eventually was made a Bishop after serving for some time as the Vicar general at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva. Apimeleki Qiliho lives in Labasa on Vanua Levu and is currently married to Taomi Tapu Qiliho. He was previously married to Litiana Rika who died in 1997. He has four children and eight grandchildren.

Career

Qiliho began training to be an Anglican priest in the early 1960s and during the course of his training stayed in Suva and Hamilton, New Zealand. After becoming a priest he had postings to parishes around Fiji such as Levuka, etc. He then went on to become Vicar General under Bishop Jabez Bryce and then Bishop of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. He also has served on many church and non church organisations such as the Pacific Council Of Churches,The Fiji Council of Churches and the President of the Pacific/ Fiji Bible Society. He also does work with certain AIDS, youth and non governmental organisations in Fiji and the region. Apimeleki Qiliho also, on occasion, writes columns for the Fiji Times newspaper.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Directory: Diocese of Polynesia
  2. 1 2 "First indigenous Fijian bishop for Anglican Church". Scoop. 2005-07-04. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  3. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "Passion for nation, not party", , Fiji Times, Suva, 26 October 2007. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "Hallmarks of a Christian family", Fiji Times, Suva, 10 December 2007. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "The sanctity of life", Fiji Times, Suva, 3 October 2008. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
  6. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "Politics and forgiveness", Fiji Times, Suva, 3 December 2008. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "Respect human rights", Fiji Times, Suva, 8 December 2008. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Qiliho, Bishop Apimeleki. "Issue of human rights", Fiji Times, Suva, 14 March 2009. Retrieved on 12 November 2012.
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