Church of Tuvalu

Te Ekalesia Kelesiano Tuvalu
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCalvinist
PolityCongregational
Associations
RegionTuvalu
HeadquartersFunafuti
FounderElekana
Origin1861
Separated fromLondon Missionary Society, Christian Congregational Church of Samoa
Congregations18[3]
Members9,715[4]

The Christian Church of Tuvalu (Tuvaluan: Te Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, EKT), is a Christian church and is the largest religious denomination in the country. This status entitles it to "the privilege of performing special services on major national events";[5] its adherents comprise about 86% of the 11,600 inhabitants of the archipelago.

Theologically, it is part of the Calvinist tradition.[3]

Section 23 of the Constitution of Tuvalu guarantees freedom of belief, including the freedom of thought, religion and belief, the freedom to change religion or belief, the right not to receive religious instruction at school or to attend religious ceremonies at school, and the right not to "take an oath or make an affirmation that is contrary to [one's] religion or beliefs".[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference globalfellowship was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "World Communion of Reformed Churches". Archived from the original on 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  3. ^ a b "Reformiert Online website, Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions".
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference oikoumene was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
  6. ^ "Constitution of Tuvalu" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.