Jesus Christ, the Earth’s Womb, and the Tree of Life: A Coconut Communion

Abstract

This article explores the legacy of Dr Sione ’Amanaki Havea (1922-2000) and his distinctive Pasifika contribution of “Coconut Theology” with its proposals about “Coconut Communion.” The article begins from attention to how Havea’s ideas were initially received in World Council of Churches’ deliberations about eucharist. It proceeds by considering the ongoing vitality of coconut theology, correlating coconut communion with eucharistic praying in Uniting Church resources for worship. To this end, it suggests a eucharistic prayer, with commentary. As it advances, the article articulates the view that coconut communion may be a means of grace in any context, a gift of tradition relevant to the whole world Christian community, in which it may yet sound yearning for “spring” in the chill of “ecumenical winter.”