Cook Islands Christian Church
Encyclopedia
The Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) is the largest religious denomination
in the Cook Islands
. The CICC is a Christian
Congregationalist
church and has approximately 18,000 members, including 56% of the residents of the Cook Islands. The church also has congregations in New Zealand
and Australia
.
(LMS), which began work in the Cook Islands in 1821. In 1852, the LMS founded the Cook Islands LMS Church. The church became autonomous in 1968 with the passage of the Cook Islands Christian Church Incorporation Act by the Parliament of the Cook Islands
. This Act officially changed the church's name to the Cook Islands Christian Church. The first president of the CICC after the Act was passed was Bill Marsters
, who in the late 1970s was forced to resign his position when he became involved in a scandal involving church funds that went missing.
in order to accommodate church members that had emigrated to New Zealand. Today, there are 19 congregations of the CICC in New Zealand and 11 in Australia. There are 24 congregations in the Cook Islands. The church employs 74 pastor
s, who are trained at Takamoa Theological College
on Rarotonga
. The CICC is a member of the World Council of Churches
.
With the passage of the Cook Islands Christian Church Amendment Act by the Parliament of the Cook Islands in 2003, the CICC is permitted to alter its constitution without any action from Parliament.
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. The CICC is a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
Congregationalist
Congregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
church and has approximately 18,000 members, including 56% of the residents of the Cook Islands. The church also has congregations in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
The CICC has its origins in the work of the London Missionary SocietyLondon Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
(LMS), which began work in the Cook Islands in 1821. In 1852, the LMS founded the Cook Islands LMS Church. The church became autonomous in 1968 with the passage of the Cook Islands Christian Church Incorporation Act by the Parliament of the Cook Islands
Parliament of the Cook Islands
The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....
. This Act officially changed the church's name to the Cook Islands Christian Church. The first president of the CICC after the Act was passed was Bill Marsters
Bill Marsters
William "Bill" Marsters was the first president of the Cook Islands Christian Church , the largest religious denomination in the Cook Islands....
, who in the late 1970s was forced to resign his position when he became involved in a scandal involving church funds that went missing.
Status
In 1978, the CICC established its first congregation in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in order to accommodate church members that had emigrated to New Zealand. Today, there are 19 congregations of the CICC in New Zealand and 11 in Australia. There are 24 congregations in the Cook Islands. The church employs 74 pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, who are trained at Takamoa Theological College
Takamoa Theological College
Takamoa Theological College is a Bible school located in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It was founded by the noted Congregationalist missionary Aaron Buzacott . It offers a Diploma of Theology and a Certificate of Bible Studies. The college trains pastors for the Cook Islands Christian Church...
on Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
. The CICC is a member of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
.
With the passage of the Cook Islands Christian Church Amendment Act by the Parliament of the Cook Islands in 2003, the CICC is permitted to alter its constitution without any action from Parliament.