The ecumenical and theological world has lost one of its most faithful and at the same time irreverent voices. Rev. Dr Jione Havea, pastor, theologian, Biblical scholar and friend, passed away on the 29th of April 2026, leaving behind deep grief and a wide legacy.
Jione was a pastor of the Methodist Church in Tonga and a senior research fellow at the Trinity Theological College in Aotearoa, New Zealand and the Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society at Charles Sturt University in Sydney. But these institutional affiliations afford only a small glimpse of the man. He was a Biblical Scholar whose enthusiasm for contextual Bible hermeneutics can only be described as mischievous delight. He upturned traditional readings of scripture through specific readings from the margins, thereby opening up spaces for those who have long been pushed to the edges of theological conversations.
He was a prolific writer and editor, and his work has become mandatory reading for a generation of theologians. He has uplifted Pasifika theology, bringing its insights to a global scale that no other scholar has. He was best known for his work on Talanoa, a Pacifika concept of inclusive storytelling which he used to prise open Biblical texts.
More than his scholarship, Jione will be remembered for his warmth, his wit, and his wisdom. He was someone who made others feel as though they mattered, that what they said mattered. In a way that lifted up the other at a cost to himself. In his writings, he always used the uncapitalised “i” to refer to himself—a mark of his humility.
During the WCRC’s General Council in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Jione offered a Bible study that blended Talanoa with the scripture story from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14. We look to his parting words at the general council and a reminder of the communion’s shared mission: to continue Christ’s work by healing and caring for others.
His beloved wife, Prof. Monica J. Melanchthon, and their daughter are in our thoughts and prayers. We extend our deepest condolences, sharing in the community’s grief and support during this time.
As we grieve Rev. Dr Havea’s passing, we also celebrate a life that has profoundly shaped the mission and theology of the church in our time. His legacy will continue to live on in the pages of transformative theological writings, in the lives of those he mentored, and in the ongoing struggle for justice, dignity, and life-flourishing communities.
The Talanoa continues, and it will carry his voice for a long time yet.
Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock
General Secretary
World Communion of Reformed Churches
