The 36th General Assembly of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) is set to convene from July 12to July 24, 2026, at the church’s headquarters in Kanana Fou, American Samoa.  More than 600 delegates, representing over 100 member churches located across the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and American Samoa will gather in fellowship, discernment, and prayer.

The Assembly will convene under the theme, “God Takes Residence in Creation”—a profound theological affirmation drawn from Psalms 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it…”This theme calls the Church to recognize creation not merely as a resource to be used, but as God’s dwelling place—entrusted to humanity with reverence, responsibility, and love. It reminds us that the natural world is woven into God’s own life; therefore, any threat to creation is a threat to the wellbeing of God’s household.

This theme arises in direct response to the growing tension surrounding seabed mining activities currently taking place near the shores of American Samoa. Scientific uncertainty, ecological risk, and the potential for irreversible harm to ocean ecosystems have raised deep concern among the people of American Samoa and across the Pacific.  For the CCCAS—and for all Pacific people whose identity, culture, and spirituality are inseparable from the ocean—this issue is not merely environmental; it is cultural, ethical, and above all, spiritual.

By grounding the Assembly in Psalm 24, the CCCAS affirms that: 1) The Ocean—and all of Creation—belongs first to God, not to industry or profit; 2) The Ocean (moana)is a living sanctuary, not an extractive frontier; 3) Stewardship is a sacred duty, especially when creation is threatened; and, 4) The Church must speak with courage when God’s dwelling place is at risk.

At the conclusion of the Assembly, the CCCAS will draft a resolution and issue a public statement outlining its stance on seabed mining. As the largest self-governing mainline church in the territory, the CCCAS carries a unique moral responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of the people and future of American Samoa, as well as the integrity of God’s creation.

The resolution will articulate a clear theological and ethical position on seabed mining, drawing upon Scripture, the wisdom of Pacific communities, the prayers and support of the worldwide ecumenical community, and the church’s long tradition of stewardship.  It will outline the ecological, cultural, and spiritual risks posed by extractive activities in the ocean, affirm the precautionary principle in the face of scientific uncertainty, and call upon local and federal government leaders, regional partners, and international bodies to uphold policies that protect the Pacific’s fragile marine environments.

The statement will also reaffirm the CCCAS’s commitment to intergenerational justice—recognizing that decisions made today will shape the inheritance of future generations—and will encourage congregations to engage in prayer, education, and advocacy as expressions of faithful discipleship.

Through this resolution, the CCCAS seeks to offer a courageous and unifying voice for the protection of God’s dwelling place, standing in solidarity with Pacific churches and communities who are defending their homelands from ecological harm.

The ocean is our home, our history, our livelihood, and our theological landscape. It is the first sanctuary in which Pacific peoples learned to see God. To protect it is to honor God; to endanger it is to endanger the life of the people God has entrusted to our care.