The Methodist Church in Fiji nemains opposed to the legalisation of same sex unions. The Church’s general secretary, Reverend Tevita Nawadra, says the church will continue to stand firm against homosexuality because it is not scriptural. Nawadra said the church would not accept same sex unions because it was against its theology. “The church is Read more
The Methodist Church has criticised the abolition of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), saying national consultation should have been held before it was abolished. The Church’s general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra made the comment after Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama announced a new body would be appointed to replace it. Mr Nawadra said it Read more
A hearing has been set for four senior Methodist leaders in Fiji to face charges of organising and participating in a meeting in contravention of the Public Emergency Regulations in 2009. Suva lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma, who is representing Methodist leaders Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi and Reverend Manasa Lasaro, submitted an affidavit with Reverend Kanailagi’s medical report, Read more
The Methodist Church in Fiji needs some of its practices reformed to suit 21st Century believers, says Education Minister Filipe Bole. Mr Bole, who was chief guest at the Davuilevu Methodist Theological College graduation on Wednesday, told the gathering many Methodists were joining Pentecostal churches which, according to him, was an indication of “something missing”. Read more
A call by a former President of the Fiji Methodist Church for soldiers not to obey the coup installed military government has been called hypocritical by an overseas democracy campaigner.
Reverend Josateki Koroi says that Christian soldiers in the Fiji Military Forces should carefully weigh up their religious obligations if ordered to shoot at people.
Read the article...The Fiji Government has granted permit to a 27 member Methodist Church group from California, to have meetings in Fiji.
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Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, Richard Marles, was recently interviewed about the relationship between Australia and Fiji. He said that Australia’s beef is not with the the Fiji people, “in fact quite the opposite. We want to stand with the people of Fiji in what is a very difficult time for them.” He said Australia took issue Read more
Representatives of the Fiji Methodist Church say they are managing to cope with a government ban, but it is not easy. It has been almost a month since the church was stopped from holding any events other than ordinary Sunday worship. The ban was imposed after the cancellation of the influential church’s annual conference. The interim government had wanted to prevent the President and General Secretary of the church from taking part in the conference, but the church authorities refused to comply. The associate director of church solidarity in the Pacific for Australia’s Uniting Church, Bruce Mullen, has told Pacific Beat he has been in contact with his counterparts in Fiji.
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The Fiji Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum says there are no restrictions on religion in Fiji. Sayed-Khaiyum responded to comments by Jonathan Temm , president of the New Zealand Law Society by saying his comments are “obtuse, lack any substance and it is clear that he is seriously misinformed on events in Fiji.” On August 26 Radio New Zealand International reported Read more
The General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches is concerned that leaders of the Fiji Methodists Church were told to stand down by the government ahead of their annual conference, that was to start this week and told not to talk about politics.
The military banned the church’s meeting for the third year in a row because the church leaders would not comply with orders to stand down.
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