United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
Encyclopedia
The United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands is a merged denomination dating from 1968 consisting of the former London Missionary Society
(operating exclusively in Papua), the relatively marginal Presbyterian church (largely confined to Port Moresby
itself) and the Methodist mission (largely operating in the New Guinea Islands, the western and northern Solomons and the islands of eastern Papua
).
but such cross-denominational mergers were common throughout the 20th century, particularly in Commonwealth countries: for example, the United Church of Northern India (1924) (now merged in the later and wider Church of North India
, Church of Pakistan
and Church of Bangladesh
); the United Church of Canada
(1925) and the Church of South India
(1947). It is particularly strong on the Papuan coast, the Southern Highlands, eastern Papua, the New Guinea Islands (including Bougainville
, also known as the North Solomons) and the Western Solomons.
, Melanesian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches
. In matters of social policy it tends as with its sister denominations in other Commonwealth
countries to be largely in accord with the Anglican and Lutheran churches.
Traditionally many of the United Church's personnel were recruited from earlier-established Methodist and Congregationalist churches in Fiji
, Samoa
and Tonga
and the United Church continues to have close relations with sister churches in these neighbouring island countries. Its theology and social policy tends to be somewhat more akin to these theologically conservative neighbouring countries' long-established evangelical Protestant churches than to those in Australia. On the other hand the Church is considerably more broad-minded in such matters than more recently arrived fundamentalist
groups and it maintains the historic Methodist and Congregational strong emphasis on education and literacy in the broadest sense. As with the Anglican and Lutheran churches, the United Church has suffered some attrition in recent decades as a result of aggressive proselytising among its constituents by fundamentalist and pentecostalist
groups originating in the United States of America and to a lesser extent Australia
.
Many of Papua New Guinea's leaders have had a United Church background.
London 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...
(operating exclusively in Papua), the relatively marginal Presbyterian church (largely confined to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
itself) and the Methodist mission (largely operating in the New Guinea Islands, the western and northern Solomons and the islands of eastern Papua
Papua (Australian territory)
The Territory of Papua comprised the southeastern quarter of the island of New Guinea from 1883 to 1949. It became a British Protectorate in the year 1884, and four years later it was formally annexed as British New Guinea...
).
History
The formation of the United Church pre-dates the merger of its corresponding (and missionary parent) denominations in Australia in 1977 in the Uniting Church in AustraliaUniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
but such cross-denominational mergers were common throughout the 20th century, particularly in Commonwealth countries: for example, the United Church of Northern India (1924) (now merged in the later and wider Church of North India
Church of North India
The Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
, Church of Pakistan
Church of Pakistan
The Church of Pakistan is a united church in Pakistan, which is part of the Anglican Communion and a member church of the World Methodist Council. It was established in 1970 with a union of Anglicans, Scottish Presbyterians , Methodists, and Lutherans. It is the only United Church in the South...
and Church of Bangladesh
Church of Bangladesh
The Church of Bangladesh is a church of the Anglican Communion in Bangladesh. It is a united church formed by the union of various Christian churches in the region.The Church of Bangladesh came into being as the outcome of the separation from Pakistan...
); the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
(1925) and the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
(1947). It is particularly strong on the Papuan coast, the Southern Highlands, eastern Papua, the New Guinea Islands (including Bougainville
Bougainville Province
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, previously known as North Solomons, is an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea. The largest island is Bougainville Island , and the province also includes the island of Buka and assorted outlying islands including the Carterets...
, also known as the North Solomons) and the Western Solomons.
Local and overseas affiliations
The United Church is a member of the Papua New Guinea Council of ChurchesPapua New Guinea Council of Churches
The Papua New Guinea Council of Churches is a Christian ecumenical council in Papua New Guinea.The Council has four major programs:*Social Concerns Desk*Women’s Desk*Theological programs*Administration.Its members comprise:...
, Melanesian Council of Churches and 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...
. In matters of social policy it tends as with its sister denominations in other Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries to be largely in accord with the Anglican and Lutheran churches.
Traditionally many of the United Church's personnel were recruited from earlier-established Methodist and Congregationalist churches in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and the United Church continues to have close relations with sister churches in these neighbouring island countries. Its theology and social policy tends to be somewhat more akin to these theologically conservative neighbouring countries' long-established evangelical Protestant churches than to those in Australia. On the other hand the Church is considerably more broad-minded in such matters than more recently arrived fundamentalist
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
groups and it maintains the historic Methodist and Congregational strong emphasis on education and literacy in the broadest sense. As with the Anglican and Lutheran churches, the United Church has suffered some attrition in recent decades as a result of aggressive proselytising among its constituents by fundamentalist and pentecostalist
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
groups originating in the United States of America and to a lesser extent 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...
.
Many of Papua New Guinea's leaders have had a United Church background.
Eminent United Churchmen and Churchwomen
- Rabbie NamaliuRabbie NamaliuSir Rabbie Langanai Namaliu, GCL, CSM, KCMG is a Papua New Guinea politician. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1988 to 1992 as leader of the Pangu Party...
- Mekere MorautaMekere MorautaSir Mekere Morauta, KCMG is a Papua New Guinean political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1999 and 2002, and later as Leader of the Opposition. He is the sitting member for Moresby North-West in the national parliament, and he was until recently the...
- Paulias MatanePaulias MataneSir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL, GCMG, OBE, KStJ , formerly a career civil servant, was the eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010.-Personal life:...
- Bill SkateBill SkateSir William Jack Skate KCMG was a Papua New Guinea politician and statesman. He was the son of an Australian father and a native PNG mother...
- Buri KiduBuri KiduSir Buri Kidu Kt was the first national Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea.-Biography:Buri Kidu was educated at Toowoomba Grammar School, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, where he was School Captain and at the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland . His entire professional life was spent...
- Mari KapiMari KapiChief Sir Mari Kapi, GCL, KCMG, CBE was a Papua New Guinean judge who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea from August 16, 2003 until his retirement in 2008 due to health regions...
See also
- Anglican Church of Papua New GuineaAnglican Church of Papua New GuineaThe Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea became a discrete province of the Anglican Communion when the Anglican Province of Papua New Guinea was separated from the Anglican ecclesiastical Province of Queensland, Australia, in 1976 following Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia in 1975. Its...
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New GuineaEvangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New GuineaThe Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea is a Protestant church denomination located in Papua New Guinea that professes the Lutheran branch of the Christian faith...