Problems In Solomons Of Church And Govt.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 26

Problems In Solomons Of Church And Govt.

World pressures were forcing the Solomon Islands towards political independence faster than the islanders wished it, or was desirable, the Bev. G. G. Carter, general secretary of the overseas missions department of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, said in Christchurch yesterday.

Mr Carter, who worked as a missionary for 10 years in the Australian Solomons, and seven years in the British Solomons, is visiting Christchurch to lead a missionary deputation for funds to expand Methodist work in the Solomons. The Methodist Church of New Zealand had bad responsibility for the area since 1922, and was facing a critical period of development in the Solomons as they moved towards an independent church, Mr Carter said. The Methodist Church was also faced with expansion of work Caused by an upsurge in population, coupled with the problem of having to draw its present leaders from these born during the war, when the birth-rate was very low. On top of growing numbers, and lack of leaders, there was the lack of adequate finance—which was a limiting factor for both the Government and the Church, Mr Carter said. Medical work formed an important part of his Church’s work in the Solomons .and was “kept afloat” )

by the support of the Lepers’ Trust Board, centred in Christchurch, Mr Carter said. The Solomon Islands were facing economic problems because some of their basic products, such as coconuts and coffee, were not in as great demand as previously. Efforts were being made, however, to develop other resources such as timber and mineral deposits, Mr Carter said. The islanders were much more religious than Europeans, and sought a religious explanation for every happening in their lives. They carried their religion into every aspect of life. Missionaries I tried to accept aspects of the local culture which helped them in the understanding of Christianity. The Methodist Church in the region w r as expected to be an independent church within 12 months, Mr Carter said- There were at present twice the number of indigenous ministers as missionaries working in the islands, and this number was growing. There was also a considerable growth in the number of trained local people active in the fields of education and medicine.

Many ministers from overseas were finding that they were working under indigenous superintendents, and this was one indication that modern missionary work was not a matter of one church helping another, but of two working together.