The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma is moving forward with plans to end its bilateral agreement with the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the United States. Talei Qarase-Borman, president of the Santa Rosa Methodist Church board, explained that the agreement was formed prior to the UMC’s decision to accept LGBTQ clergy and permit ministers to conduct same-sex marriages.
Following the UMC’s decisions during their general conference, Qarase-Borman stated that her church disaffiliated from the UMC in May and is now functioning independently under the new name, Santa Rosa Methodist Church.
She highlighted that the topic of LGBTQ inclusion was a significant point of discussion at their conference, where they called on the government to maintain its resistance against LGBTQ inclusivity in Fiji.
Qarase-Borman noted that the existing bilateral agreement with the UMC of California/Nevada restricts congregations that have left the UMC from joining the Methodist Church in Fiji.
“I urged the church to take a firm stance on this issue and address the bilateral agreement. Many iTaukei members in the UMC are waiting for a response,” she added.
Recent discussions at the conference indicated a lack of support for LGBTQ inclusivity, leading Qarase-Borman to believe that the termination of the bilateral agreement is imminent. She expressed gratitude to the Methodist Church in Fiji for clearly stating its position on the matter.
While she mentioned caring for friends in the LGBTQ community, she emphasized the need for clear boundaries regarding these issues.