A graduate of Malua Theological College, University of Geneva/ Bossey Ecumenical Institute, and the University of Auckland. In addition to his theology degree, Terry also has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Certificate in Adult Tertiary Teaching. Terry has taught at Malua Theological College in Samoa and is currently a lecturer with Laidlaw College.  

Terry loves teaching theology and having ‘talanoa’ (conversations) with his students. This dialogical approach to learning enriches the theological learning with an integration of theory and practice. Terry has taught various courses at level five such as Biblical Theology, Beginning Theology and Church History. He has a special interest in intercultural studies, lecturing in Gospel and culture and Majority world theology. Terry is currently preparing two Pacific courses for teaching in 2023 called ‘A History of Pacific Christianity and Pasifika Theology.’ 

Terry was raised in the Congregational Christian Church Samoa, but in recent years his family have been attending the Presbyterian Church. He has preached at churches across Auckland. Outside of the Laidlaw, Terry likes to get involved in community projects. He is a Board of Trustees member at Roscommon School, and he is the local area co-ordinator for the Cancer Society.

RESEARCH

Terry has published several journal articles exploring various issues in the diaspora Samoan church in New Zealand. Currently, he is writing an article concerning the movement of New Zealand-born Samoans from the traditional Samoan churches to multi-ethnic churches. Other issues he is planning to write about focuses on Pacific Islanders studying theology, and the formation of a contextual diaspora theology for Pacific communities.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal articles and Book chapter

2021

“Taulaga in the Samoan Church: Is it wise giving?” Chapter 12 in Theologies from the Pacific. Edited by Jione Havea. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021.

2017

“Indigenous Language Loss: The Future of Gagana Sāmoa (Samoan language) in diaspora.” In Post Colonial Voices from Downunder: Indigenous Matters, Confronting Readings, ed. Jione Havea, 170-181. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2017.

“Replanting the Transplanted Christian Churches: Missio Dei and the Twenty-First Century Diaspora Samoan Church.” Stimulus, April 2017.

2013

“Teu le Vā: The Samoan Cosmic-community in Aotearoa preserving harmonious relationships…where is the harmony?” Pacific Journal of Theology 2, no. 50 (2013): 88-103.

“Coconut Juice in a Coca Cola bottle. In search of an Identity: A New Zealand-born Samoan Christian in a Globalized World.” Colloquium: The Australian and New Zealand Theological Review 45, no. 2 (2013): 170-184.

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Conference presentations

2018

“Rearticulating a relevant message for Pacific churches in a Global World” Pacific Education Tertiary Forum, Victoria University, Wellington, NZ, September 2018.

“Sacrificial offering in the Samoan Church. Is It Wise Giving?” ANZATS Conference, Emmanuel College, University of Queensland, Australia, July 2018. 

“Beyond Cultural Captivity” Intercultural Church Conference, Laidlaw College, NZ, May 2018. 

“Sacrificial Offering in the Samoan Church. Is It Wise Giving?” Midwinter Manukau Research Conference, Laidlaw College, Manukau, NZ, August 2018.

2017

“First Nations Missiology and Pacific Island Churches.” Paper presented for the First Nations Missiology Conference with Redcliffe College, UK, 10 February 2017.

“Replanting the transplanted Christian churches: Missio dei and the 21^st Century diaspora Samoan church.” Paper presented at the Resistance and Innovation: Empire and Native Christianity in the Pacific Symposium, University of Auckland, 24 March 2017.

“Pacific Island student achievement in Theological Education.” Paper presented at the Christian Theological and Ministries Education Society Annual General meeting. St John’s College – Auckland, 31 March 2017.

“Recapturing the Pacific Mission Heart Today: A Samoan perspective.” Paper presented at the Recapturing the Mission Heart of our Pacific Christian Heritage Seminar, Life Church Manurewa – Auckland, 7-8 July 2017.

2014

“Turn on the TV! Sesame Street is on! Linguistic Post-colonialism and the survival of the Samoan language in a multi-faceted world.” Paper presented at the Postcolonial Engagement: Politics, Religions, Scriptures Conference, United Theological Seminary/ Charles Sturt University Australia, 1-2 August 2014.

2013

“Teu le Vā: Extracting theological understanding of relationships in Samoan culture. Is it ethical?” Paper presented at the ANZATS and Combined Conferences, Laidlaw College Auckland, 29 June 2013.

“Teu le Vā: The Samoan Cosmic-community in Aotearoa preserving harmonious relationships...where is the harmony?” Paper presented at the Oceania Biblical Scholars Association Conference, Fiji, 1-3 August 2013.

2012

“Coconut water in a Coca Cola bottle: In search of an Identity: A New Zealand-born Samoan Christian in a Globalized World.” Paper presented at the STAANZ – Systematic Theology Assn Aotearoa New Zealand Conference, Laidlaw College, 10-11 December 2012.

2019

“Pacific Pedagogy in New Zealand schools: Reality or illusion?” Manukau Mini-Conference, Laidlaw College, Manukau, NZ, October 2019.

2021

“Ua sopo le va: moving beyond boundaries of the Pacific diaspora church towards multicultural churches.” ANZATS Conference, online, 10 June 2021.

“The Digital Vā, Gone Digital: How Digitality Disrupts Theology” Global Network for Digital Theology Conference, online, 15 June 2021. Co-presented with Dr Stephen Garner. 

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Other presentations

2018

“Barefoot Theology” Paper presented at the Presbyterian Youth Ministry – Connect: National Youth Leaders’ Conference, Waikanae, NZ, July 2018.

“Biblical Interpretation” Paper presented at the Presbyterian Youth Ministry – Connect: National Youth Leaders’ Conference, Waikanae, NZ, July 2018. 

2017

“Coconut water in a Coca Cola bottle: In search of an Identity: A New Zealand-born Samoan Christian in a Globalized World.” Paper presented at the Presbyterian Youth Ministry – Connect: National Youth Leaders’ Conference, Waikanae, 22 July 2017.

“Barefoot Theology” Paper presented at the Presbyterian Youth Ministry – Connect: National Youth Leaders’ Conference, Waikanae, 22 July 2017.

2014

“Pacific Nations and Region.” Speaker at the Mission of the Church in the 21st Century Conference, Laidlaw College Auckland, 7-8 May 2014.

2012

“The Effects of Globalization on Samoan Christian Identity.” Paper presented at the Emerging Pasifika Researchers in Theology Fono, St John’s College- Auckland, 23 June 2012.