At our Annual Meeting on July 16, 2023, the members of Pukaʻana Congregational Church voted to request that Keoki Kiwaha be approved by the Hawaiʻi Island Association UCC's Committee on Ministry as a Member in Discernment (towards ordination in the UCC) and to be the licensed minister of the church.
Keoki, who has attended our church since 2014 (and been a member since 2016) has been actively engaged in the life of the local church where he has served in various leadership roles; and, regularly supplied the pulpit while we have been seeking a pastor.
Keoki has also been actively engaged in the life of the wider United Church of Christ - including various leadership roles in the Hawaiʻi Conference UCC, Hawaiʻi Conference Foundation, the State Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches, and both the Hawaiʻi Island Association UCC and the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches. Most recently, he was a delegate to the 34th UCC General Synod in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was here that he decided to pursue ordination and pastoral ministry in the UCC.
In his letter to the Rev. Larry Walter, chairperson of the Committee on Ministry, our moderator Boyd Matsuyama wrote: "In affirmation of Mr. Kiwaha's gifts as a pastoral leader, teacher, and preacher; and, in recognition of his contributions and service to the local church and community, and his continued engagement in the wider United Church of Christ, we are in full support of this call. We intend to offer our support in this pursuit; and look forward to being fully engaged in this process with him and the Committee on Ministry."
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