Church of Tuvalu

The Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu (Tuvaluan: Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, EKT), commonly the Church of Tuvalu, is the state church of Tuvalu, although in practice this merely entitles it to "the privilege of performing special services on major national events".^[5] Its adherents comprise about 97% of the 12,000 inhabitants of the archipelago, and theologically it is part of the Reformed tradition.^[3]

The Constitution of Tuvalu guarantees freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice, the freedom to change religion, the right not to receive religious instruction at school or to attend religious ceremonies at school, and the right not to "take an oath or make an affirmation that is contrary to his religion or belief".^[6]

History

Christianity first came to Tuvalu in 1861 when Elekana, a deacon of a Congregational church in Manihiki, Cook Islands became caught in a storm and drifted for eight weeks before landing at Nukulaelae.^[7][8] Elekana began proselytising Christianity. He was trained at Malua Theological College, a London Missionary Society school in Samoa, before beginning his work in establishing the Church of Tuvalu. In 1865, the Rev A. W. Murray of the London Missionary Society – a Protestant congregationalist missionary society – arrived as the first European missionary where he too proselytised among the inhabitants of Tuvalu.

By 1878, Christianity was well-established with preachers on each island. At the end of the 19th century, the ministers of what became the Church of Tuvalu were predominantly Samoans, who influenced the development of the Tuvaluan language and the music of Tuvalu.^[7][9] In 1969, the Church acquired its independence from the LMS, since which time it has sent some missionaries to serve Tuvaluan migrants in Fiji, New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia, and the Marshall Islands.^[10][11]

The former Governor-General of Tuvalu, Rev Sir Filoimea Telito, presided most recently over the Church until his death in July 2011.^[12][13] The Church currently publishes a bulletin in the Tuvaluan and English languages.

Currently the president of the church is Reverend Penitusi Taeai and the seceretary general is Rev. Tafue Lusama.^[14]

Beliefs

The Church is Calvinist in doctrine and congregational in organisation. There is no women's ordination. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are generally accepted. Being the de facto state church, the Church of Tuvalu dominates most aspects of social, cultural and political life in the country. The Church operates Fetuvalu High School, a day school which is located on Funafuti.^[15][16][17]

Relations

The Church is a member of the World Association for Christian Communication, the Boys' Brigade International Fellowship,^[1] the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Pacific Conference of Churches. It also has ties with the Methodist Church in Fiji, the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa, the Kiribati Uniting Church, the Uniting Church in Australia and the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in New Zealand.^[4]

References