The latter part of the twentieth century was marked by an increasingly diverse set of religious answers to the questioning of traditional forms of Christianity. Disputes over the role of women, family, and sexuality were very divisive. Attendance at worship and involvement fell dramatically, while interest in alternative forms of spirituality increased, military coups and civil wars in the once-stable Pacific Islands were reminders of the fragility of apparently Christian societies and the limitations of their churches. Yet the partnership of government and churches in education, health care, and social welfare had never been stronger. Nor had ecumenism.
Keywords: civil war, ecumenism, education, family, health care, sexuality, social welfare, spirituality, women