The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, 1962–2002: A Study of the Issues and Policies that have Shaped the Independent Church A Thesis Presented to the School of Theology in the Faculty of Arts at Charles Sturt University Aukilani Tuiai [BSc (Auckland), BD(MTC), MTh(Geneva)] A thesis submitted to Charles Sturt University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 2012 . CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at Charles Sturt University or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by colleagues with whom I have worked at Charles Sturt University or elsewhere during my candidature is fully acknowledged. I agree that this thesis be accessible for the purpose of study and research in accordance with the normal conditions established by the Executive Director, Library Services or nominee, for the care, loan and reproduction of theses. ……………………………………….. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge first and foremost our Heavenly Father for the life and blessings not only for myself and loved ones but for all those who have contributed to complete this study. I would like to acknowledge the following with thanks: The Congregational Christian Church in Samoa for the tapuiaga of our church leaders and permission to research the church archives. Malo Tapuai. Associate Professor William Emilsen and Dr. Andrew Thornley for their tireless efforts reading my many drafts and clarifying my train of thoughts. I am also indebted to Carolyn Emilsen for her assistance with English expression. The library staff of the Camden Theological Library at North Parramatta for their assistance with my research. Professor Otele Perelini and the current principal Rev. Dr Afereti Uili for their faith in me, as well as the staff and students of Malua Theological College for their continuous prayers. Faamalo Tapuai. My parents Rev Elder Samuelu and Tima Tuiai for their love and spiritual guidance at all times in my life. All our famalies and friends who have contributed one way or another, faafetai tele lava. My wife Mauinuuese and son Samuelu for their patience and moral support. AT 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ii Abbreviations iii-iv Glossary of Samoan Terms v List of Illustrations vi Introduction 1 1. Factors Contributing to Independence 8 2. Challenges of Educational Growth and Church Polity, 1962–71 42 3 Preserving Church Unity: Promoting Pacific Ecumenism, 1961–1972 79 4. An Independent Church Finding Its Feet, 1972–1980 112 5. Crises in the Church 1981 – 1992 146 6. Financial Stability and Spiritual Decline, 1993–2002 178 Conclusion 211 Bibliography 220 Appendix 253 ii ABSTRACT This thesis examines the major issues and policies of the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS) in the first forty years of independence, from 1962 to 2002. The study is more-or-less arranged chronologically in order to identify the progression of key issues such as education within the Church. Much of the study draws upon CCCS archives and therefore the thesis takes a distinctive and unavoidable institutional perspective. The thesis gives particular attention to the impact of the Samoan village upon the organisation of the Church. There are six chapters in this thesis. Chapter One deals with the cultural, ecclesiastical and political factors that contributed to the independence of the CCCS from the London Missionary Society in 1962. Chapters Two to Six cover a forty-year period in approximately ten year intervals. Chapters Two and Three cover the evolution of the structure of the CCCS and the major challenges it faced from 1962 to 1971. Chapter Four deals with a pivotal period from 1972 to 1980 when the optimism of the Church was bolstered by increasing overseas remittances, leading to ambitious building projects such as the University of Samoa and the six storey John Williams Building. The chapter concludes in 1980 when the American Samoa district split away from Western Samoa. Chapter Five covers the financial crisis of the 1980s brought about by the debt on the John Williams Building. The continual demand to pay off the loan on the John Williams Building led to the closure of the University of Samoa and seriously affected the academic standards of CCCS schools. Even after the John Williams loan was paid off, there was further demand for finances which, ironically, resulted in a surplus at the end of the third decade. Chapter Six covers the fourth decade, a period marked by greater financial accountability, financial assistance from overseas thereby strengthening the financial state of the Church. Yet, paradoxically, it was also a period characterised by a sharp decline in membership. iii ABBREVIATIONS AT Au Toeaina (Elders Committee) CCCAS Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa CCCS Congregational Christian Church of Samoa CCCSA Congregational Christian Church of Samoa Archives CCWM Congregational Council of World Mission CWM Council of World Mission EC Elders Committee EFKS Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano i Samoa (Congregational Christian Church in Samoa) FT Fono Tele (General Assembly) FTF Fono Tele Faafuasei (Emergency General Assembly) GA General Assembly KA Komiti A’oga (Education Committee) KAT Komiti Au Toeaina (Elders Committee) KFE Komiti Feau Eseese (General Purpose Committee) KFET Komiti Feau Eseese & Tupe (General Purpose and Finance Committee) KNE Komiti Nuu Ese (Overseas Committee or Missionary Committee) KT Komiti Tupe (Finance Committee) LMS London Missionary Society MEKS Mafutaga Ekalesia Kerisiano Samoa (Fellowship of Christian Churches in Samoa) PAC Pacific and Caribbean PCC Pacific Conference of Churches PTC Pacific Theological College (in Suva) SMM Samoa Missionary Meeting UNO United Nations Organisation iv WARC World Alliance of Reformed Churches WCC World Council of Churches v GLOSSARY OF SAMOAN TERMS aiga A family; a relative alii High Chief, Lord. One of the two orders of matai, a 'high chief' as opposed to an 'orator chief, also a polite word for men —'gentleman/men' aualuma Fellowship of unmarried/widowed/separated girls and women of the village dedicated to the maintenance of the village and led by the wives of chiefs. aumaga Society of untitled men in the village, an institution in every nu‘u Au Taumafai Christian Endeavour Au Leoleo Prayer Watchers aganuu culture Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Congregational Christian Church Samoa Kerisiano Samoa Fa’alupega A formal expression of recognition associated with a matai title. Each village and district has a set of fa‘alupega which acts as a constitution by expressing the rank of the chiefly titles. faaleagaga spiritual Fono meeting; confer with; meet Fono Tele General Assembly Komiti A’oga Education Committee Komiti Feau Eseese General Purpose Committee Komiti Tupe Finance Committee Mafutaga Tina Mothers Fellowship mana power matai chief nuu village taulaga annual church donations Tulāfale Orator Chief vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig 1 Structure of the CCCS in 1961 43 Fig 2 The seven districts of the CCCS in 1962 44 Fig 3 Location of the seven main CCCS schools in Western Samoa 49 Fig 4 Structure of the CCCS in July 1962 56 Fig 5 Structure of the CCCS in 1968 59 Fig 6 Prime Minister’s wife Fetaui Mataafa and Vavae Toma (circa 1962) 101 Fig.7 The original design of the three storey John Williams Building 124 Fig. 8 The six storey John Williams Building which was eventually built 126 1 Introduction This thesis is an institutional study of the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS). The CCCS is the largest church in Samoa with a long and proud tradition reaching back to its London Missionary Society origins in the early nineteenth century. The 2006 census recorded that the Church had a membership of 52,664 members, some 33.8 percent of the total population.1 It has approximately 200 ordained minsters and 202 churches in Samoa proper. It has six districts outside Samoa—three in New Zealand and one each in Australia, Hawaii and North America. The CCCS is a recognised leader in education in Samoa. It was once described by the London Missionary Society historian, Richard Lovett, as ‘famous among nineteenth-century missions for educational work’.2 This thirst for educational excellence continues to the present. It administers the second oldest theological college in the South Pacific, Malua Theological College, with a current staff of 17, and seven secondary schools which employ approximately 125 teachers.3 The CCCS is prosperous in comparison to other mainline churches in Samoa. It receives generous offerings from its people. It has large land holdings valued at $2.5 million, real estate worth $15.2 million, and in 2002 accumulated funds of $22.2 million.4 The CCCS has been a pioneer in ecumenism. In 1961 the CCCS hosted the first ecumenical meeting in the South Pacific at Malua and was instrumental in the creation of the Pacific Theological College (PTC), the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) and the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS). Many leaders of the CCCS have gained international prominence: most notably, Faitala Talapusi and Elia Taase. Talapusi was a prominent theological educationalist, who was principal of PTC from 1991 to 1994 and who later was the academic dean at Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Switzerland from 2000 until 2005.5 Taase, a lecturer from Malua College, was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the Council of World Mission in 1977. Such has been the impact of the CCCS in the Pacific that the Pacific Church historian, Charles Forman, observed: 1 Reupena Muagututia, ed., Samoa Population and Housing Census Report 2006. Apia: Samoa Bureau of Statistics, 2008, 14 Table 3.3a.