The Diocese of Guadalcanal in the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACoM) hosted a transformative four‑day training workshop led by Reverend Malcolm Dunnit, Chief Executive Officer of Garden of Gethsemane Ministries (GoGM) from Australia.
The program, held from Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th June at the ACoM Headquarters conference room in Honiara, brought together 12 clergy and women leaders for an intensive time of learning, reflection, and renewal.
Garden of Gethsemane Ministries is a registered charity in both Australia and the Solomon Islands, dedicated to nurturing spiritual growth and community well‑being. Its mission is to provide a sanctuary where individuals can experience the transformative power of faith, hope, and love.
The workshop focused on two key programs — Vision, Values, and Vulnerability and Trauma & Grief — designed to strengthen leadership and pastoral care within the Church. Reverend Dunnit explained that these programs are dynamic and interactive, allowing participants to share experiences and adapt lessons to their local ministry contexts.
“Our vision‑based leadership program encourages empowering and Christ‑centered leadership,” Reverend Dunnit said. “We explore how leaders can embody faith through the five marks of mission — empower, enthrone, enlighten, encourage, and engage — and apply these principles in their parishes and communities.”
The training also emphasized emotional resilience and compassionate ministry, helping participants address grief and trauma within their congregations. Reverend Dunnit noted that the initiative will continue for the next three to five years, with GoGM returning twice annually to support ongoing leadership development across dioceses.
The Right Reverend Benedict Loe, Bishop of Guadalcanal, expressed deep appreciation for Reverend Dunnit and his team.
“We are looking forward to more training of this kind that will truly help our clergy and lay leaders in their parishes, ministries, and communities,” Bishop Loe said.
Garden of Gethsemane Ministries has previously partnered with the Diocese of Ysabel, conducting similar workshops that have strengthened pastoral leadership and community outreach. The ministry also leads educational and health initiatives, providing learning resources to schools and medical supplies to remote communities.
In both Australia and the Solomon Islands, GoGM continues to expand its mission through spiritual retreats and the development of palliative care retreats, offering spaces for reflection, renewal, and compassionate end‑of‑life care.
The training workshop in Honiara marks another milestone in GoGM’s ongoing commitment to empower leaders, heal hearts, and foster communities rooted in faith and flourishing in God’s grace.