PresentationCH 310: Modern Church History

Professor: Dr. Dieter Mitternacht

Prepared By: Iosefa Lefaoseu

Date: 04 May 2010

ContentSamoaHistory of the Church in SamoaAcceptance of ChristianityTheological InstitutionsSunday in SamoaWhite SundayEcumenism in Samoa

The Church in SamoaSamoa is a Christian

Country

Symbolized by her flag

The Church in Samoa

The Church in Samoa

The Church in Samoa

The Church in SamoaPopulation of Samoa: 219,99897.2% of the Population are Christians

History of the Church in Samoa1827: Mosese

Nusitonga, Wesleyan Faith

1827: Salote, Wesleyan Faith

1828: Saivaaia, Wesleyan Faith

1828: Tongan Missionaries

History of the Church in Samoa1830: John Williams

of the London Missionary Society (LMS) arrived with Tahitian Teachers

Messenger of PeaceAccepted by

Malietoa Vainuupo

History of the Church in SamoaIn 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

Villages in Savaii

Villages in Upolu

Villages in Manono

Teachers

40 25 3 40

History of the Church in SamoaIn 1839, the WMS had to withdrawLMS 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 agreementMr. 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryRoman Catholicism

arrived in Samoa in 1845

On August 12, French Marist Brothers aboard the 'Etoile de la Mer, arrived in Savai'i

Father Gilbert RoudaireFather Theodore

VioletteAccompanied by

Brother Peloux

The Church in Samoa: HistoryThe 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryIn 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryIn 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryIn 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryAt 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

The Church in Samoa: HistoryThe Seventh Day

Adventists arrived in Samoa onboard the Pitcairn in 1891

The first generation of Samoan Adventists was largely formed in the 1930s

The Church in Samoa: History1900, Samoa was officially a

German colonyFirst governor was Wilhelm

SolfPolicy 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

The Church in Samoa: History1928, the Assemblies of

God was establishedBecame 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

History of the Church in SamoaOther Christian

denominations were established later in the 20th century

Jehovah’s WitnessesNazareneAnglican Congregational

Church of Jesus

The Church in Samoa: History

Peace ChapelElim ChurchVoice of ChristBaptistWorship CentreFull GospelOthers

Acceptance and Growth of ChristianityChristianity 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”

Acceptance and Growth of ChristianityMartin 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 suppliesMass Conversion and Family relations

Theological InstitutionsMalua Theological CollegeTheological School of the

CCCSFounded 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)

Theological Institutions

Piula Theological College

Theological InstitutionsPiula 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

Theological InstitutionsMoamoa 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

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

White SundayWhite Sunday is a

Holiday in SamoaFalls on the 2nd

Sunday of OctoberChildren’s DaySpecial programs

are held during church services

Scriptural recitations ("tauloto")

White SundayBiblical story reenactmentsReligious dramaCreative dance performancesGifts for the childrenSpecial White Sunday feastsPrivileges normally reserved

for elders are allowedSuch as being the first to be

served

EcumenismRivalry between the MissionsSignificance of uniting the Churches and the

people of SamoaNational 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

EcumenismSome 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 ServiceRelationship of Theological InstitutionsWhite Sunday

Concluding RemarksSamoa is a Christian countryEarly establishment of the Church had at

times confronted some difficulties and hardships

Towards EcumenismGrowing in DenominationsBring the people of God into one flock, under

the leadership of one Shepherd

By Iosefa LefaoseuThank you and Have a Nice Day