Cook Islands Christian Church

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,^[1] including 56% of the residents of the Cook Islands.^[2] The church also has congregations in New Zealand and Australia.^[1]

History

The CICC has its origins in the work of the London Missionary Society (LMS), which began work in the Cook Islands in 1821. In 1852, the LMS founded the Cook Islands LMS Church.^[1] The church became autonomous in 1968 with the passage of the Cook Islands Christian Church Incorporation Act by the Parliament of the Cook Islands.^[3] This Act officially changed the church's name to the Cook Islands Christian Church.^[1] 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.

Status

In 1978, the CICC established its first congregation in Auckland 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 pastors, who are trained at Takamoa Theological College on Rarotonga. The CICC is a member of the World Council of Churches.^[1]

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.^[3]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Cook Islands Christian Church, oikoumene.org, accessed 2008-03-19.
2. ^ Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Cook Islands, cia.gov, accessed 2008-03-19.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Bill signals change for Cook Islands Christian Church", press release, 3 July 2003, cook-islands.gov.ck, accessed 2008-03-19.