At PTC since January 2018

Dr Aiava, a Congregational pastor from Samoa, is Senior Lecturer at the Pacific Theological College where he completed his PhD in the fields of trinitarian and diaspora theology. After completing his Bachelor of Theology from Malua Theological College in 2011, he was awarded a scholarship to pursue his Master’s degree at PTC and thereafter received a second scholarship through its PhD Faculty Development program. He currently serves as the Head of Department for Theology and Ethics, is a facilitator for the Institute for Mission and Research at the College, and sits on the Editorial Board for the Pacific Journal of Theology. In addition to teaching and supervising research dissertations, he has presented in international forums, contributed to curriculum design and published articles around the intersections of biblical interpretation, cultural identity, and the widespread issues affecting human and non-human life in the Pacific.

• Completed the “SPATS Accreditation Workshop” hosted by the South Pacific Association of Theology Schools, Suva, Fiji (February 2021).
• Facilitated for the Social Analysis Diploma Course: Unit 3 on Globalisation, hosted online by the Institute for Mission and Research in collaboration with the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (13–17^th July 2020).
• Presented on Contextual Theology at the Council for World Mission’s Discernment and Radical Engagement (DARE) Global Forum held in Luodong, Taiwan (18–22 June 2019).
• Facilitated a capacity-building workshop in Funafuti (Tuvalu) on “Changing the story: Leadership and Management,” hosted by the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu in collaboration with the Institute for Mission and Research, PTC (19–23 August 2019).
• Facilitated in a workshop on “Churches Tackling Gender-Based Violence: Preventing Violence, Reporting Perpetrators, Restoring Survivors” hosted at the Jovili Meo Mission Centre by the New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research and PTC (12–13 April 2018).
• Presented a paper titled “A Vineyard Tupua: Contextual Reflections on Isaiah 5:1-7 and Deep Sea Mining” at the Council for World Mission’s Regional Assembly themed, Healing the Broken Body: Hoping for Renewal, held at Novotel Nadi, Fiji (30 April–4 May 2018).
• Facilitated and was an event-planner for the “Inaugural Pacific Philosophy Conference” organised by PTC, USP, PIANGO and FNU, held at Studio 6 and PTC in Suva, Fiji (11–14 June, 2018).
• Panelist at the Vaka Pasifiki Education Conference themed “It takes an Island and an Ocean” hosted by the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji (5–6 July, 2018).
• Completed the Asia-Pacific Workshop on “Imagining Worship as Acts of Defiance and Alternatives in the Context of Empire,” organised by the Council for World Mission with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines held in Manila, Philippines (2–8 August 2018).
• Completed a workshop on “Integrity and Ethics as the Foundation for our Youth – Anti-Corruption Integration into Education Curricula in the Pacific” organized by United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project in Partnership with the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption, Novotel, Nadi Fiji (11–12 December 2018).
• Completed a workshop in Tuvalu on, “Standing with Climate Warriors: A Face-to-Face with Climate Injustice” organized by Council for World Mission in association with the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (21 Apr – 3 Jun, 2015).
• Completed a summer workshop in Germany on the “Role and office of a Pastor in Lutheran Churches worldwide,” organised by Mission Eine Welt held in Neuendettelsau (13 – 24 July, 2015).

1. “Eleele interrupts the Eden Wedding: From Mother Earth to Mistress.” In Decolonizing Eco-theology: Indigenous and Subaltern Challenges, edited by S. Lily Mendoza and George Zachariah. Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2022.
2. “Pacific Christianity Online or On the line?: Renewing church, sacrament and worship amidst the Pandemic.” In World Christianity and Covid-19: Pathways for Faith. London: Routledge, 2021.
3. “Mission and Evangelism” In Christianity in Oceania, edited by Kenneth Ross, Katalina Tahaafe-Williams, and Todd M. Johnson. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Press, 2021.
4. Book Review: “Randall G. Prior. 2019. Contextualizing Theology in the South Pacific: The Shape of Theology in Oral Cultures. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.” Pacific Journal of Theology, Series II No.59 (2020).
5. “Si’i le Tu?’oi: Shifting Perceptions on Exodus 1:8-2:10 through a Samoan/Pasefika Reading.” Pacific Journal of Theology, Series II No.58 (2020)
6. “Take the Staff…Command the Rock: A Healing Paradox for Moses’ pain through a Fofo Alamea reading.” Pacific Journal of Theology, Series II No.57 (2019).
7. “From Inbetween to Inness: Dehyphenating Diasporic Theologies from a Relational Perspective.” In Relational Hermeneutics: Decolonising the Mindset and the Pacific Itulagi, edited by Upolu Luma Vaai and Aisake Casimira. Suva: University of the South Pacific and the Pacific Theological College, 2017, 121-142. (Peer reviewed)
8. “Taking Selfies: Honouring faces (Alo) in Theology and Hermeneutics.” In The Relational Self: Decolonising Personhood in the Pacific, edited by Upolu Luma Vaai and Unaisi Nabobo-Baba. Suva: University of the South Pacific & Pacific Theological College, 2017, 257-270. (Peer Reviewed).
9. Book Review: “The Trinity: Global Perspectives, Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. Lousville, London: Published by Westminister John Knox Press.” Pacific Journal of Theology, Series II No.54 (2015)