Church of Tuvalu

The Christian Church of Tuvalu, in Tuvaluan - Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu - is the national church of Tuvalu. It comprises 92% of the 12,000 inhabitants of the archipelago.

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 8 weeks before landing at Nukulaelae.^[1] Elekana began proselytizing Christianity. He was trained in a London Missionary Society school in Samoa before beginning his work in establishing the Church of Tuvalu. 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.^[2]

The church is Calvinist in doctrine and congregational in organization. Being the de facto established church, the Church of Tuvalu dominates most aspects of social, cultural and political life in the country.

The church is a member of the World Association for Christian Communication, the Boys' Brigade International Fellowship^[3], the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Pacific Conference of Churches.

The church publishes a bulletin in the Tuvaluan and English languages and operates a school in the capital city Funafuti.

Rev. Sir Filoimea Telito, a former Governor General, presided most recently over the Church until his death in July 2011.^[4]

References

1. ^ Laumua Kofe, Palagi and Pastors, Tuvalu: A History, Ch. 15, U.S.P. & Tuvalu (1983)
2. ^ "Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu" http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=13338&lg=eng
3. ^ :- Global Fellowship of Christian Youth / ORGANISATION -:
4. ^ "The Rev. Filoimea Telito passed away", Tuvalu News, 22 July 2011