THE CHURCH IN SAMOA

1. THE CHURCH IN SAMOA Presentation CH 310: Modern Church History Professor: Dr. Dieter Mitternacht Prepared By: Iosefa Lefaoseu Date: 04 May 2010

2. Content • Samoa • History of the Church in Samoa • Acceptance of Christianity • Theological Institutions • Sunday in Samoa • White Sunday • Ecumenism in Samoa

3. The Church in Samoa • Samoa is a Christian Country • Symbolized by her flag

4. The Church in Samoa

5. The Church in Samoa

6. The Church in Samoa

7. The Church in Samoa • Population of Samoa: 219,998 • 97.2% of the Population are Christians

8. History of the Church in Samoa • 1827: Mosese Nusitonga, Wesleyan Faith • 1827: Salote, Wesleyan Faith • 1828: Saivaaia, Wesleyan Faith • 1828: Tongan Missionaries

9. History of the Church in Samoa • 1830: John Williams of the London Missionary Society (LMS) arrived with Tahitian Teachers • Messenger of Peace • Accepted by Malietoa Vainuupo

10. History of the Church in Samoa • In 1835, Peter Turner, a European Missionary from the Wesleyan Missionary Society (WMS) arrived with his wife in Samoa • He found 2,000 people worshipping according to the Lotu Tonga (Methodist Tradition) Samoa Methodist Church

11. History of the Church in Samoa • In 1839, the WMS had to withdraw • LMS and the WMS controversy • John Williams insisted that William Cross and Nathaniel Turner had promised him Samoa would be an LMS field, in return for LMS acknowledgement of Fiji as Wesleyan • There was no such agreement • Mr. Williams stated distinctly that their object was simply to spread Christianity through the islands • This was not to interfere with the operations of the WMS

12. The Church in Samoa: History • Roman Catholicism arrived in Samoa in 1845 • On August 12, French Marist Brothers aboard the 'Etoile de la Mer, arrived in Savai'i • Father Gilbert Roudaire • Father Theodore Violette • Accompanied by Brother Peloux

13. The Church in Samoa: History • The Marist Brothers were met with strong oppositions from the Protestant missions • Marist Brothers from France were able to establish the Roman Catholic Church in Samoa

14. The Church in Samoa: History • In 1857, Wesleyan Missionary Society Resumed the Methodist mission in Samoa • Strong relationship between the Tongans and the Samoans • In 1857, Martin Dyson arrived in Manono to resume the Wesleyan mission

15. The Church in Samoa: History • In 1860, Dyson was joined by George Brown. Brown had played a very important role in the reestablishment of Methodism in Samoa • Learned the local language very quickly • Wrote and translated many hymns in the Samoan language

16. The Church in Samoa: History • In 1863, two missionaries from Hawaii were sent to Samoa to establish the Mormon or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) • At the end of 1920, membership numbered 3,500, about 5 percent of the total population

17. The Church in Samoa: History • At the end of 1920, membership numbered 3,500, about 5 percent of the total population • On Oct. 15, 1977, it was announced that a temple would be built in Apia • Dedicated August 5, 1983

18. The Church in Samoa: History • The Seventh Day Adventists arrived in Samoa onboard the Pitcairn in 1891 • The first generation of Samoan Adventists was largely formed in the 1930s

19. The Church in Samoa: History • 1900, Samoa was officially a German colony • First governor was Wilhelm Solf • Policy to uphold the prestige of the Missions and encourage their work • Under the German rule and authority, there was no real threat to the Church in Samoa

20. The Church in Samoa: History • 1928, the Assemblies of God was established • Became the largest Pentecostal body in Samoa • Different Assemblies of God • Samoan Assemblies of God • Samoan Independent Assemblies of God • Assembly of God Church of Samoa

21. History of the Church in Samoa • Other Christian denominations were established later in the 20th century • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Nazarene • Anglican • Congregational Church of Jesus

22. The Church in Samoa: History • Peace Chapel • Elim Church • Voice of Christ • Baptist • Worship Centre • Full Gospel • Others

23. Acceptance and Growth of Christianity • Christianity was seen as a cargo religion “It is my wish that the Christian religion should become universal among us. I look at the wisdom of these worshippers of Jehovah and see how superior they are in every respect. Their ships can traverse the tempest-driven ocean for months with perfect safety. . . . Now I conclude that God who has given to his white worshippers these valuable things must be wiser than our gods for they have not given the like to us . . . We all want these articles, and my proposition is that God who gave them should be our God”

24. Acceptance and Growth of Christianity • Martin Dyson’s words when he went to Samoa to resume the Wesleyan mission portray the same attitude towards the Christian religion • “We are bound to believe that it was the hope of gifts, and secular gains, which led the chiefs in 1855 to clamor for Wesleyan missionaries” • Arrival of the LDS with gifts of clothes, food, and building material • Arrival of the SDA with medical supplies • Mass Conversion and Family relations

25. Theological Institutions • Malua Theological College • Theological School of the CCCS • Founded in 1844 by Rev. George Turner and Rev. Charles Hardie of the London Missionary Society • Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th.),Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.), and the Bachelor of Divinity (BD)

26. Theological Institutions Piula Theological College

27. Theological Institutions • Piula Theological College is the Methodist theological institution • Founded in 1868 by George Brown of the Wesleyan Missionary Society • Academic Programs: • Cer. Th., Dip. Th. B. Th., BD

28. Theological Institutions • Moamoa Theological College is an archdiocesan institution • Founded in 1877 • For the training of catechists and their wives • Prepare young men who are desiring to be priests

29. Sunday in Samoa • Sunday is considered by almost all Samoans as the Sabbath Day • It is a day of rest, feasts, and especially a day of worship

30. White Sunday • White Sunday is a Holiday in Samoa • Falls on the 2nd Sunday of October • Children’s Day • Special programs are held during church services • Scriptural recitations ("tauloto")

31. White Sunday • Biblical story reenactments • Religious drama • Creative dance performances • Gifts for the children • Special White Sunday feasts • Privileges normally reserved for elders are allowed • Such as being the first to be served

32. Ecumenism • Rivalry between the Missions • Significance of uniting the Churches and the people of Samoa • National Council of Church (NCC)/Samoan Council of Churches (SCC), was established in 1969 • The founding members were the CCCS, MCS, and RCS • Anglican Church in Samoa, Apia Protestant Church, Baptist Church, Church of Nazarene in Samoa, Congregational Church of Jesus in Samoa, and the Pentecostal Church

33. Ecumenism • Some of these Churches are also members of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) • CCCS and MCS are members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) • Jesus prayed for his people to be one (John 17:11) • Ecumenical Worship Service • Relationship of Theological Institutions • White Sunday

34. Concluding Remarks • Samoa is a Christian country • Early establishment of the Church had at times confronted some difficulties and hardships • Towards Ecumenism • Growing in Denominations • Bring the people of God into one flock, under the leadership of one Shepherd

35. Church in Samoa By Iosefa Lefaoseu Thank you and Have a Nice Day