The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Semisi Turagavou, has once again urged ministers and deaconesses to reduce their consumption of yaqona (grog) and smoking. This call to action was made during his opening address at the 2024 Methodist Church Conference held at the Centenary church in Suva on Friday.
Reverend Turagavou highlighted several issues contributing to the decline in church membership. He noted that the church has faced criticism for excessive yaqona consumption and smoking in front of congregants. He lamented that some members have left the Methodist church due to what they perceive as inconsistent and impractical leadership styles.
He stated, “Our followers have publicly declared their grievances and lack of confidence in church leadership at both circuit and divisional levels. Our behavior and leadership styles have distorted and deformed the image of Christ.”
The Reverend pointed out that many devoted members are now leaving the church for other denominations and religious groups. He encouraged ministers and deaconesses to take immediate action to restore the true image of Christ in their ministry.
“We cannot keep relying solely on seniority within our families; we need to achieve a balance between seniority and performance,” he added.