The Island Churches Of The South Pacific

"Out of deep and wider personal experience of the Pacific Island churches, as well as a mastery of the documentary sources, Charles Forman has produced a very valuable and interesting book. The Pacific Basin assumes an increasingly central place in world history. The scattered Christian communities of that ocean are entering vigorously into worldwide ecumenical relationships. It is increasingly important to understand these churches and their potential contribution. Much of the popular mythology, not to say demonology, of missionary Christianity is linked with these Pacific Islands. This book puts the whole story in perspective as it brings us up to date and suggests the issues of today and tomorrow."David M. Stowe, Executive Vice President, United Church Board of World Ministries"This book covers the whole are of the Pacific Churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, and the English and French. It states the historical facts and has a prophetic outlook to the changing Pacific Christianity of tomorrow."S. 'Amanaki Havea, Principal, The Pacific Theological College, Suva, Fiji Islands"The nineteenth century story of Christianity in the Pacific is well known especially through the biographies of its heroes. Charles Forman has written the twentieth century story, with careful attention to the sources, and with great clarity. We see the steps from mission to church, and from village congregation to ecumenical involvement. Particularly helpful are the thematic treatments of cargo cults, modern sects, the effects of World War II, independence, and nation building. Can these traditionally minded Christian communities respond effectively to modern secularism and the mixture of cultures? The author shows that they can, and so enables the small Pacific Island Churches to contribute further to the world church. The bibliography is an excellent tool, and the footnotes repeatedly reveal how well the author knows the churches and the people who have led them."Bernard Thorogood, General Secretary and Clerk of the Assembly, The United Reformed Church, London

This collection relates the history of three churches in the Pacific, the Methodist Church in Rotuma, the Kiribati Protestant Church, and the Maamafo'ou Movement, a break-away group from the Free Wesleyan Church in Tonga.

An encyclopaedia of information on major aspects of Pacific life, including the physical environment, peoples, history, politics, economy, society and culture. The CD-ROM contains hyperlinks between section titles and sections, a library of all the maps in the encyclopaedia, and a photo library.

"Presented in narrative form and moving across the Pacific from east to west, the history follows the chronological movement of Christianity across Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia". ... "The author explores the extent to which the role of minister in this almost universally Christian region is rooted in traditional Pacific culture and society".--BOOKJACKET.

This book engages with a widespread contemporary dilemma--how do we do theology in a context where the cultures of the people are oral and not literate? The nations of the South Pacific, from their missionary beginnings, inherited an approach to theology that was dominated by Western cultural categories. The global movement of contextualization began to impact upon Pacific churches in the 1960s, and challenged this inherited approach. Significant changes have resulted, but the dilemma has remained. The dominant approach is still one that is defined by and better suited to literate cultures. The consequence is that theology remains an alien enterprise, distant from the life of the local churches, and distant from the hearts and minds of the indigenous people. In facing the dilemma, this book exposes the fundamental differences between primary oral cultures and primary literate cultures, and identifies the key factors that lie at the heart of the theological problem. By addressing each of these in turn, the author then paves the way ahead. He offers a methodology for theology that is rooted within the oral cultural context of the South Pacific . . . and potentially in any context where oral cultures are the norm. The consequences for theology and for theological education are profound.

Focusses on the newer forces on the political scene within the Pacific Islands, examining the evolving impact of women in politics and relations with the wider world.

A collection of essays which focuses upon local perceptions of the state, efforts to ground nationhood in tradition, the character of national narratives and recent transformations of the Pacific nationalism. Case studies are included from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and the Cook Islands.

This book with its narratives occurring chronologically records the birth, growth, struggles, and triumphs of the Adventist Church in the Samoan Islands and of Samoan congregations in faraway lands. It spans a period of well over hundred years commencing in 1891.