This follows the passing of a motion at the church's annual Bose ko Viti conference at the Centenary Church in Suva last month.

The president of the Methodist Indian Division, Reverend Emmanuel Rueben, supported the proposal to teach the language but proposed an amendment.

He suggested educating students in the customs and traditions of Indo-Fijian also be included in the Davuilevu Theological College's programme.

The church sees this as important because of the number of Indo-Fijians who are members of circuits headed by leaders not well versed in Indian traditions and culture.

The Indian Division of the Methodist Church of Fiji has eleven circuits with more than 3000 members.

Reverend Tevita Vanua said they needed to teach students and pastors the Indo-Fijian language, so it could make their church services easier to understand.

He said looking back at open-air sessions, Indo-Fijian brothers and sisters would often attend the service but the message was not delivered in the language they understood.

Secularism and postmodernism were having a powerful impact on the church's growth according to the church's president Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa.

In his opening address, he said Pacific Methodist leaders had been deliberating seriously on how best to advise local churches to withstand the challenge of declining membership.

"There is a very real need to revisit the first church in Jerusalem and recapture what we have lost," he said.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• fijisun.com
• fbc.com.fj
• Image: fijisun.com.fj

The church leaders and church members' resolution on kava was that it was not to be consumed on Sunday until after the Sunday afternoon worship or sermon.

Methodist Church secretary for communication and overseas mission Reverend James Bhagwan said this followed various reports coming in from the church on the abuse of kava consumption. Continue reading

He replaces the late president Tuikilakila Waqairatu who passed on Tuesday. He will preside over this year's annual conference when a new president is expected to be elected.

Ratabacaca was elected at the church's standing committee meeting last Thursday. He is currently Divisional Superintendent of the Church's Nabua Division previously served as president of the Methodist Church in Fiji from 2002 to 2004.

He said the church must continue the work started by Dr Waqairatu in terms of unity both in the church and the nation, and strengthening the moral fibre of society, especially in respect of women and children.
Source

• Fiji Times
• Image: FijiLive

In his opening address to the "Bose ko Viti", Reverend Dr Waqairatu highlighted the 12 pillars that are to be the way forward for the drua (double-hulled canoe) of the Methodist Church in Fiji.

The changes are not just in terms of a new Connexional Plan: review of the church constitution or the introduction of remnant giving, registration and utilisation of land given to the church and new more transparent accounting measures. Also highlighted last week, as part of the renewal of the church, was the emphasis on a return to the mission of personal and social holiness that is one of the hallmarks of Methodism.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: The Fiji Times

Mr Waqairatu shared his vision to the church during the induction service in Suva which was also attended by the Indian, Rabi and Rotuman divisions, the heads of the three confederacies and the leaders and representatives from the different churches.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: Fiji Times

A rift in the Methodist Church from over two decades ago will be healed at the beginning of this year's Methodist Church in Fiji annual conference.

In the late 1980s, the tenure of then church president Reverend Josateki Koroi's, who was seen as a moderate came to a premature end with a rift in leadership between Mr Koroi and Reverend Manasa Lasaro.

As a result, Koroi has did not exercise his role as a past president; to officiate during the installation of a new church president.

So this year with Koroi will join immediate past president Reverend Ame Tugaue in to installing the new president Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu.

In an interview with Radio Australia, deputy general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua said next year the church was planning to hold a church-wide "washing of the feet".

This process would see Tuikilakila washing the feet of the superintendent ministers and lay leaders of the church's 55 divisions.

These leaders would then continue the process in their divisions until every church has held a 'washing of the feet', as a sign of humility, servitude and seeking of forgiveness.

"All we're trying to do now is to mend the broken net of the church as a whole," Banivanua told Radio Australia.

Source

• Radio Australia
• Fjii Sun
• Fiji Times
• Image: api.ning.com