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State Societyand Governancein Melanesia

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State Societyand Governancein Melanesia Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies State, Society and Governance in Melanesia StateSociety and in Governance Melanesia DISCUSSION PAPER Discussion Paper 2008/11 CHURCH AND STATE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS INTRODUCTION that can be usefully made to guide thinking. KEITH One of these is that spiritual and religious JOSEPH aspects of life are far more obvious in Religion is a major part of Melanesian the daily life of Melanesians than they are & culture, especially in contrast with Western for Westerners. Additionally, it could be CHARLES culture where an ethos of secularism argued that in the Solomon Islands the only BROWNE and separation of religion from state is national institutions that command a loyalty increasingly seen as normative. However, and respect that transcend provincial and BEU Western governments and nations such as tribal boundaries are the churches and other Australia are now once again involved in organisations in civil society, and possibly Melanesia in way that could be characterised the Solomon Islands Football Federation as “neo-colonial”, some twenty to thirty years (SIFF – the national game is soccer). As a after relinquishing colonial responsibility for generalization, the churches command much countries such as Papua New Guinea. The more respect than government (White 2006, Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon 6). The Western separation of religion and Islands (RAMSI) in particular involves daily life, and subsequently the separation Australia and New Zealand in intervention of Church and State, are not features of in the Solomon Islands, which after the Melanesian culture. In the experience of the ethnic tensions of 1998-2003 came to be authors, whilst many academics and officials categorised as a “failing state.” Inevitably are aware of this (for example, the discussion they bring into this environment the political by Nelson 2006, of the churches as an and social philosophies and understandings “alternate state”) others seem oblivious. For of their own culture, and at times these example the then Australian Deputy High are in significant variance from Melanesian Commission, Anita Butler, at the workshop culture. Solomon Islands: Where to now? (Australian National University, 5th May 2006) made Whilst one should be cautious in no references to the churches or religion generalising about Melanesian culture, in her discussion (admittedly brief) of the which is as varied as European or Asian challenges in rebuilding the Solomons.1 cultures, there are some generalisations Church and State in the Solomons Therefore in this paper the relationship the establishment of the Protectorate was 2 of Church and State in the Solomon Islands generally welcomed by the missions. will be discussed, both historically, in the present context, and with a view to future After the establishment of the Protectorate involvement of the churches in governance. the missions generally cooperated with the The role and position of the Anglican Church BSIP administration and supported British of Melanesia (ACOM) of which both authors rule (Hilliard 1978, 239), but there was are ministers is especially relevant as it is the also often some tension: the first Resident largest church in the Solomon Islands, and is Commissioner (Charles Morris Woodford) the majority denomination in Isabel, Central was “wary of the activities of the Melanesian and Temotu Provinces, with substantial Mission” (Heath 1978, 202). At times this minorities in the other provinces. Therefore surfaced as competition for power. For observations about the Anglican Church, example, through the Anglican Bishop of even where they are not applicable to other Melanesia the Catechists (village religious denominations, nevertheless have a broad leaders) on Isabel complained about application in Solomon Islands. usurpation of the role of the Chiefs in 1921 (White 1991, 188), and the 1930’s saw even greater competition. In 1929 the Revd Richard Fallowes was appointed as District HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Priest for Isabel. He appointed “Church Chiefs” for each village, who were soon at loggerheads with government appointed Often there is a tendency to think that headmen. Lonsdale Gado was appointed formal colonisation was the first step in as Paramount Chief by Fallowes for Isabel. the process of Western Imperialism in the Geoffrey White described the situation thus nineteenth century, followed by missionaries (White 1991, 191): called in to support the imperial power. In Melanesia, as elsewhere, this is not the case. Formal annexation of the islands of Gado became the church counterpart of Melanesia was the last step, and occurred the senior government headman Walter well after missionary activity started in the Notere. Given the rather unique situation islands. The Solomon Islands is a case in Santa Isabel of one church (Anglican) in point: by the end of the 1880’s large and one government for the entire island, parts of the Solomons (such as Isabel and the status of Gado and Notere constituted Gela) had largely been converted to Anglican comparable positions of island-wide Christianity, and the Anglicans and other leadership, representing the separate but missions were active in most of the other parallel institutions of church and state. island groups of the Solomon Islands. Furthermore, each of these positions was linked to parallel (and at times intersecting) networks of village-level leaders (church Before the establishment of the British chiefs and headmen). Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP) in 1893 a power vacuum existed, as Christian Before World War II the “Chair and Rule” conversions undermined the previous movement guided by Fallowes (modelled on political structures. Warfare between tribes the 1880’s experimental “parliament” on Gela) and clans was no longer an acceptable way caused tension for the BSIP Government, of maintaining order, and in any event with as it articulated the grievances of Solomon the advent of firearms had become a far more Islanders against the fairly haphazard British dangerous practice. For the protection of their administration. The government eventually converts, the missions started to engage in dealt with the problem by deporting Richard forms of political governance. For example, Fallowes. there were moves to establish a “Parliament” on Nggela with the encouragement and superintendence of the Melanesian Mission The Pacific War had a great impact on in 1888 (White 1991, 184). The role of the Solomons, and after the war Ma’asina this “parliament” was to provide for some Ruru (also known as the “Marching Rule” form of governance in the absence of any movement) arose, initially in Malaita, where formal state, but it was a mixed success and it challenged British rule (Whiteman 1983, 250ff). Ma’asina Ruru was most active among Church and State in the Solomons South Sea Evangelical Church adherents, with only one passing reference to God in whose expatriate leadership had fled before the preamble. The only other references 3 the Japanese invasion and therefore had less to religion in the Constitution are found in influence amongst its adherents (Whiteman Section 11, which is concerned with human 1983, 267-273). In contrast the Anglican rights such as freedom of conscience, but Bishop and his staff had stayed in the also permits the Churches to operate schools islands with the British administration during as long as they do not enforce religious the war, and exercised more control; the observance. veteran Anglican missionary the Revd Dr. Charles Elliot Fox successfully prevented the spread of Ma’asina Ruru to Gela. These experiences increased the identification of THE POST-COLONIAL ERA the Anglican Melanesian Mission with the British administration. The formal structure of the new nation of the Solomon Islands, which was granted However, this identification with the independence by the United Kingdom in administration lessened during the twilight 1978, was of a western style Westminster of colonial rule. The Anglican Church democracy. Since then it has been said that became increasingly indigenised and gained Solomon Island politicians have done little ecclesiastical independence from the Anglican more than “tinker” with the political structures Church of New Zealand in 1975, electing bequeathed by the British (Moore 2004, 90). the first Melanesian Archbishop that same However, whilst the formal structures are year (Whiteman 1983, 298-301). Today there little changed, the relationship of Church are over 500 stipendiary clergy, with only and State has evolved, reflecting underlying three expatriates in active ministry. Similar culture rather than the imposed colonial developments took place in the Protestant structure. denominations, though the Roman Catholic Church remains more tightly tied to overseas governance. In the period from 1978 to 1998 the churches tended not to be involved in politics, though individual pastors and priests often Importantly, the Churches began to hand took elected office. However, there were two over their education and health services important developments. The first was that the to the colonial government. Previously the churches ventured back into education: there BSIP government had been content to leave was a clear feeling that leaving education to education and health to the missions; but the secular authorities was not necessarily with increasing intervention in the 1950’s in the best interests of the churches, and and 1960’s, accompanied by an ideology in that in terms of raising young
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