Samoa

The Methodist Church of Samoa

The Methodist Church of Samoa (MCS) sees itself as an evangelistic and missionary church, believing that the Methodist people around the world are all interconnected to their primary and common purpose for “winning souls for Christ”.

The life of the Church is based on the tradition and culture of the people, and Samoan language is important. Education at all levels is a priority.

The MCS has many pre-schools, a primary school and three secondary schools, a technical college and Piula Theological College near the capital, where the ministers are trained.

It also has very active women and youth departments, and the involvement of lay people in the life and decision making of the Church is encouraged.

The Church wishes to maintain its identity as Methodist in life and worship amid the challenges and changes affecting Samoa, one of which is migration.

However, migration has also been a catalyst for mission with the Church seeing its task to be a sending Church, not only a receiving Church.

Of the 194 parishes of MCS, 92 are overseas, in American Samoa, New Zealand, USA, Hawaii and Australia, so that of the total MSC membership of around 37,600, there are 23,600 in Samoa and 14,000 in overseas congregations.

History

Methodism in Samoa was first established in 1828 by a Samoan chief named Saivaaia, who had embraced Christianity in Tonga, followed by the first overseas missionary in 1835.

Although in 1839 it was ordered that Methodism be abandoned, and the missionary left the country, Methodism survived, served by Tongan and Samoan teachers.

The conference in Australia decided to resume the work in Samoa in 1856.

By the beginning of the 20th century the church was seeking to become financially independent and to become a missionary church itself, and the political independence of Samoa in 1962 was followed by the autonomy of the Methodist Conference in 1964.