The Island Churches of the South Pacific

＂Out of deep and wider personal experience of the Pacific Island churches, as well as a mastery of the documentary sources, Charles Forman has produced a very valuable and interesting book. The Pacific Basin assumes an increasingly central place in world history. The scattered Christian communities of that ocean are entering vigorously into worldwide ecumenical relationships. It is increasingly important to understand these churches and their potential contribution. Much of the popular mythology, not to say demonology, of missionary Christianity is linked with these Pacific Islands. This book puts the whole story in perspective as it brings us up to date and suggests the issues of today and tomorrow.＂ David M. Stowe, Executive Vice President, United Church Board of World Ministries ＂This book covers the whole are of the Pacific Churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, and the English and French. It states the historical facts and has a prophetic outlook to the changing Pacific Christianity of tomorrow.＂ S. ’Amanaki Havea, Principal, The Pacific Theological College, Suva, Fiji Islands ＂The nineteenth century story of Christianity in the Pacific is well known especially through the biographies of its heroes. Charles Forman has written the twentieth century story, with careful attention to the sources, and with great clarity. We see the steps from mission to church, and from village congregation to ecumenical involvement. Particularly helpful are the thematic treatments of cargo cults, modern sects, the effects of World War II, independence, and nation building. Can these traditionally minded Christian communities respond effectively to modern secularism and the mixture of cultures? The author shows that they can, and so enables the small Pacific Island Churches to contribute further to the world church. The bibliography is an excellent tool, and the footnotes repeatedly reveal how well the author knows the churches and the people who have led them.＂ Bernard Thorogood, General Secretary and Clerk of the Assembly, The United Reformed Church, London

Charles W. Forman was D. Willis James Professor of Mission, Yale University Divinity School where he taught for many years. He was born in India into a family of missionaries who together have contributed over a thousand years of service to India and Pakistan. After earning his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin and his S.T.M. at. Union Theological Seminary, New York, he taught for some years in India. His work for the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches took him to the Pacific Islands to study the churches and theological schools there. In 1980-81 Professor Forman was president of the American Society of Missiology.