The Samoan government has begun to seize money from the accounts of church ministers who have failed to submit a monthly tax return as required by recently enacted legislation. The Minister for Revenue, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, said his ministry estimated more than 250 ministers of the church owed $US2500 each in unpaid tax for the first Read more
The General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (EFKS), says the demand that Church ministers pay tax is part of a colonial mindset that the government seems to have revived. Reverend Vavatau Taufao says taxing church ministers is just the first step. “If this colonial mindset is allowed to continue, when will it Read more
This week a bill was rushed through the Samoan parliament exempting monetary gifts (alofa) received by ministers during funerals, weddings and other traditional occasions from the new taxes. The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) General Secretary, Vavatau Taufao, said the changed section should never have been a part of the law. Taufao said the Prime Read more
The stand-off between the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS/EFKS) and the Samoan government over taxation is getting worse. The General Assembly (Fonotele) of the church has rejected outright the government’s new law which imposes taxes on all church ministers. One speaker at the Fonotele has gone so far as to predict that Government’s decision Read more
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) is making an annual payment of $1.7 million to the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) on a $15.11 million loan. The loan from the was taken out to assist with the building of their $17.39 million Jubilee Church and for and other developments. The Church’s Komiti o Feau Eseese Read more
Last Saturday the Samoan Congregation Christian Church’s (CCCS) media officer sent out a news item to the effect that the chairman of the Church would be holding a press conference at 6 pm to announce he was stepping down. The item came in the form of a text from EFKS TV’s reporter and media officer Rula Read more
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S), the largest christian denomination in Samoa, has rejected a proposal by the government to tax church ministers. At its annual conference last week a resolution was passed to present a letter to the government outlining the church’s objection. The rejection of the government’s plan was widely supported by the Read more
The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) dedicated their new Jubilee church (Fale Iupeli) at the headquarters Malua last Thursday. The dedication ceremony started with various church district presenting gifts in a traditional Ta’alolo and the Mafutaga Aoao a Tina – the Church Women’s Council presented fine mats, siapo and a monetary gift of $2 million Read more
The biggest denomination in Samoa, the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS), has borrowed $15 million from the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F). The Chairman of the Church’s Finance Committee, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia, said the loan is to fund the construction of the Jubilee Church at Malua and “other developments”. Le Mamea could not Read more
The Samoa Congregational Christian Church, CCCS/EFKS has objected to the new London Missionary Society church, LMS Toe Fuata’ina, becoming a member of the National Council of Churches. The General Secretary of the Council Reverend Ma’auga Motu says a letter of objection has been received and will be discussed in next month’s executive meeting. He says Read more