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 and quit smoking. He made this statement during his opening address at the 2024 Methodist Church Conference held at the Centenary Church in Suva on Friday.
Reverend Turagavou highlighted several issues that have contributed to a decline in church membership. He pointed out that the church has faced criticism for excessive yaqona consumption and smoking in front of congregants, leading some individuals to leave the Methodist Church due to inconsistent and impractical leadership styles.
He noted that many church members have expressed their dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in the leadership at various levels. Reverend Turagavou emphasized that these behaviors have distorted the image of Christ and projected a negative view of the church.
He observed that a significant number of faithful members are leaving to join other denominations, urging ministers and deaconesses to take immediate action to restore the true representation of Christ within the church. He stated, “We cannot keep relying on experience or seniority within our families; we need to balance seniority with performance.”