The President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has urged ministers and deaconesses to reduce their yaqona (grog) consumption and smoking.
During his opening address at the 2024 Methodist Church Conference held at the Centenary Church in Suva on Friday, Reverend Semisi Turagavou addressed several critical issues affecting church membership.
He highlighted concerns regarding the negative perception of the church due to excessive yaqona consumption and the prevalence of smoking among its leaders. Reverend Turagavou noted that some members have left the church due to what they perceive as inconsistent and impractical leadership styles.
“The behavior and leadership styles among us have distorted the image of Christ,” he stated.
He further pointed out that many devoted members are leaving the Methodist Church to join other denominations and religious groups. Reverend Turagavou called on ministers and deaconesses to improve their roles and restore the true image of Christ within the church.
“We cannot rely solely on seniority; we must balance experience with performance,” he concluded.