Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: We have a pastoral committee for Kawaiahao Church, but I can't find out why we don't have a senior pastor. What is the status of the search for a new pastor? Church’s search for
kahu goes onAnswer: "We are still engaged in a pastoral search," but there is a candidate in mind, said Brickwood Galuteria, a church moderator serving as spokesman.
However, because of concerns about the need for confidentiality, he declined to say who that person might be. He also would not speculate on when a new pastor might be announced, declaring that such decisions are left to "a higher power."
The church's bylaws are such that the pool of candidates is very limited, Galuteria noted. First off, the kahu, or senior pastor, must have Hawaiian blood. Another requirement used to be that the kahu must speak fluent Hawaiian, but "the congregation has loosened the interpretation of that," Galuteria said, so that "widened the list."
Now, the candidate must "be able to communicate in the Hawaiian language." If fluency is limited, the church will help the kahu learn the language, Galuteria said.
The committee is looking for someone who has the qualities of a spiritual and administrative leader, although the church is willing to bring in associate pastors to help in such areas as youth work, visitations and different ministries, he said.
The ad hoc pastoral committee's job is to come up with one candidate only. That candidate will be introduced first to church officers and trustees, but it's the congregation that will decide on who the next kahu will be, Galuteria said.
The process: A letter will go out to the congregation, saying a kahu has been chosen. Parishioners will be able to meet the candidate in a social setting, then hear him/her preach a sermon.
After that, a special meeting will be held by the congregation, at which time a new pastor is elected by a two-thirds vote of those in attendance.
If there is not a two-thirds vote of approval, the pastoral committee will be disbanded and a new one formed to conduct another search, Galuteria said.
Kawaiahao Church's last permanent kahu was the Rev. William Kaina, who retired in November 1997. The Rev. Ron Ching served as interim kahu for six months, but his contract was not renewed by the trustees and church officers in a reportedly controversial action. Since then, there have been several guest pastors.
Galuteria invited the public to attend Kawaiahao services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays.
Auwe
To people who failed Mother Nature 101: When you feed the pigeons, you're training them to depend on you. They need to depend on Mother Nature! -- Punahou Street
Mahalo
To the kind gentleman who helped an elderly man back to Queen's Medical Center on May 28, after he had walked downtown. Being from Kauai, he got disoriented and couldn't find his way back. The angel brought him back, safe and sound, and returned the $20 given him. May he be blessed in other ways. -- The Arakaki family
Auwe
To the woman in the four-door, burgundy Volvo driving townbound on Likelike Highway the morning of June 4. I hope the article in your magazine was good; for those of us behind you, it was a traffic stopper! -- No name
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com