The South Pacific Association of Theological Schools is an ecumenical partnership serving theological education in the Pacific region.  SPATS seeks to strengthen its member schools and their churches by facilitating networking and information-sharing. •    Task SPATS’ challenge is to bring together a multi-lingual, multi-cultural and geographically scattered membership.  The twenty-five member schools are spread across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, from Tahiti in the east to Vanuatu in the west, from the Marshall Islands in the north to the Aotearoa in the south.  The area encompasses the three major Pacific regions: Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. •    History The Association was established by Pacific churches in 1969.  It is governed by the SPATS Council, the Executive Committee and the General Secretary, who has overseen the day-to-day operation of the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, on a full time basis since 1998.  The Secretariat staff gives administrative support to each of our programmes preparing our publications and newsletters in the Secretariat using desktop publishing computer software. •    Affiliations SPATS enjoys an information-sharing relationship with the Associations of Theological Schools (ATS) http://www.ats.edu  of North America, the Australia-New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) secretary@anzats.edu.au and the Associations of Theological Education in the South East Asia (ATESEA) atesea@info.com.ph .   SPATS is a member of the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) http://www.wocati.org and the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) http://www.waccglobal.org .   The Association is registered as a Charitable Trust under the laws of Fiji, and is guided by a Constitution and By-laws. •    Funding Member schools pay an annual fee, plus registration fees for seminars and workshops.  Member schools also host council meetings and seminars at their cost.  The balance of funding for special events, administration and programme costs is provided through the generosity of overseas agencies.  However, SPATS aims to become financially autonomous, and has set up a theological education trust fund in order to decrease the aid contributions required. •    Officers of SPATS President: Rev. Dr. Tevita Tonga Mohenoa Puloka, Email: info@spats.org.fj Vice President: Rev. Dr. Epineri Vakadewavosa, Email: info@spats.org.fj  General Secretary: Rev. Rusiate Tuirabe Tuidrakulu, Email: gensec@spats.org.fj Treasurer: Livai D. Tuisaravere, Email: info@spats.org.fj  •    Programme Chairs Accreditation: Dr. Kafoa Solomone, Email: info@spats.org.fj Pacific Journal of Theology: Tessa Mackenzie, Email: info@spats.org.fj Weavers: Rev. Amy Chambers: Email: info@spats.org.fj  or  weavers@spats.org.fj   Institutional Strengthening: Email: gensec@spats.org.fj •    Secretariat Staff General Secretary: Rev. Rusiate Tuirabe Tuidrakulu, Email: gensec@spats.org.fj Weavers Coordinator: Ms. Titilia D. Vakadewavosa, Email: weavers@spats.org.fj Financial Secretary: Ms. Sulu Hughes-Casimira, Email: finance@spats.org.fj  Administrative Secretary: Ms. Kalesi Daunabuna, Email: admin@spats.org.fj •    Application for membership of SPATS Institutions seeking membership in the association should apply in writing to the General Secretary of the Association and membership will commence from the day of approval by the SPATS Council.  Before approval is given and in response to the membership application letter a member of the Executive Committee will visit the school for fact-finding and his/her recommendation be presented to the Council.

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