The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Semisi Turagavou, has reiterated his call for ministers and deaconesses to reduce their consumption of yaqona (grog) and to refrain from smoking. He addressed these concerns during his opening remarks at the 2024 Methodist Church Conference held at the Centenary church in Suva.
In his speech, Reverend Turagavou highlighted several issues contributing to the decline in church membership. He noted that the church leadership has been criticized for excessive yaqona consumption and smoking in the presence of congregants, leading to the departure of some members from the church. He remarked, “Our followers have publicly declared their grievances and lack of confidence in church leadership from both circuit and divisional levels, which has distorted the image of Christ.”
Reverend Turagavou pointed out that many dedicated members have started to leave the Methodist Church in favor of other denominations. He urged the ministers and deaconesses to take immediate action to restore the true image of Christ within the church. “We cannot keep relying on experience or seniority within our families; we need to find a balance between seniority and performance,” he said.