The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has once again urged ministers and deaconesses to reduce their consumption of yaqona (grog) and smoking.
Reverend Semisi Turagavou emphasized these concerns, along with other significant issues, during his opening address at the 2024 Methodist Church Conference held at the Centenary Church in Suva on Friday.
He highlighted various factors contributing to the decline in church membership, stating, “We’ve been blamed for the excessive consumption of yaqona and the unseemly practice of smoking in front of our dedicated followers. Unfortunately, some former members have left the Methodist Church due to our inconsistent and impractical leadership style.”
Reverend Turagavou noted that many followers have expressed their dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in the church’s leadership at both the circuit and divisional levels. He stated that the behavior and leadership styles within the church are distorting the image of Christ.
He also mentioned that a considerable number of faithful members are leaving the church for other denominations. He urged ministers and deaconesses to take immediate action to restore the true image of Christ within their community.
“We can no longer depend solely on the seniority of family ties; we must find a balance between seniority and performance,” he asserted.