Fate of Methodist Church sub-committee to be addressed by Standing Committee

Discussions on the fate of the Methodist Church of Fiji sub-committee which prepared the submission that was sent to the i-Taukei Affairs Ministry on the proposed Village By‑Laws will be addressed in the Standing Committee meeting next Friday.

This has been confirmed by the Methodist Church of Fiji Secretary of Communications, Reverend James Bhagwan after Fijivillage raised the question on what action has been taken against the sub-committee.

Reverend Bhagwan had earlier stated that the sub‑committee of the Methodist Church which prepared the submission went beyond its terms of reference in the points it made.

He had also stated that the Standing Committee of the Church had tasked the sub‑committee with calling for more time for submissions, open dialogue and participatory decision‑making in the case of the proposed Village By‑Laws.

Reverend Bhagwan said it has been ascertained that the team that prepared the submission did not include the full sub‑committee which would not have agreed to the version of the submission which was sent out.

He says the church remains committed to working with the government on issues of Climate Change, Gender‑Based Violence, Education and Social Welfare, which are part of Christian life and important pillars of the Church.

Reverend Bhagwan says the Methodist Church will not allow itself to be used or manipulated for political gain by any individual or organisation.

According to submission given in, the sub‑committee of the Methodist Church in Fiji had asked the government not to enact the proposed village by laws, the Great Council of Chiefs to be reinstated and Fiji to be made a Christian State.

The five‑point submission put up by the church’s standing committee also wanted immediate open consultation with the Itaukei along with the removal of 17 decrees and policies which the church claims breach ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the rights of the indigenous people.

The sub‑committee of the Methodist Church also wanted an extended timeline to review the proposed village by laws and review the 2013 Constitution.

They are again calling for the review of the constitution and also want Fiji to be a Christian state, in accordance with what they say is the clear stipulations of the Deed of Cession, and the wishes of the chiefs and people of Fiji, as expressed in the “Wakaya Letter.”