Senior members of the Methodist Church unaware of the proposed Village By-Laws submission

Senior members of the Methodist Church in Fiji were not at the meeting and not consulted on the final draft that was sent to the iTaukei Affairs Ministry on the proposed Village By-Laws.

In a statement today, Methodist Church of Fiji Secretary of Communications Reverend James Bhagwan says the sub-committee of the Methodist Church which prepared the submission went beyond its terms of reference in the points it made.

He says 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, which is the hallmark of democratic governance.

Bhagwan says 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 this represents a serious breach of Church procedure and will be addressed at the next Standing Committee meeting.

The Church Leadership will be discussing this matter with the Sub-committee.

Yesterday, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Rev. Dr. Epineri Vakadewavosa spoke with the RFMF Land Force Commander and made it clear that the submission is not representative of the views of the Church Leadership or the Standing Committee.

Bhagwan says Vakadewavosa also spoke with the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to reiterate the Church’s apolitical stance and that the Church will maintain its integrity in terms of upholding the values of living in harmony with all people of all faiths as protected in the 2013 Constitution.

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.

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

According to information received by Fijivillage, a sub-committee of the Methodist Church in Fiji had asked the government not to enact 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 the clear stipulations of the Deed of Cession, and the wishes of the chiefs and people of Fiji, as expressed in the “Wakaya Letter.”

Meanwhile, we have tried to get a confirmation whether the Methodist Church in Fiji went to its members as a number of members have stated that they were never asked about the submissions and their views.