The Secretary of the Christian Citizenship and Social Services of the Methodist Church of Fiji, Reverend Iliesa Naivalu who is the author of a newsletter that was read out in some Methodist churches on the Sunday before the September 17th elections, has refused to speak to Fijivillage.
We have approached Reverend Naivalu about the contents of the letter and he has said that he will not say anything.
Fijivillage has also approached the Secretary of Communications of the Methodist Church, Reverend James Bhagwan who has said that the church will comment on the issue today.
Some concerned members of the Methodist Church raised the issue with us after the letter was read out from the pulpit by some church ministers on the Sunday before the elections.
In the letter, Reverend Naivalu said that voters should not be swayed by the developments carried out.
Reverend Naivalu also said that the church strongly opposed the secular state status.
The letter also said that the church would support a government that supports multi-racialism and according to Reverend Naivalu this could be achieved by looking at the 1997 constitution and the Ghai Draft Constitution because they both represent the voice of the people.
The letter said that the church strongly opposes the state’s neutral prayer.
Reverend Naivalu also raised concern about what he claims as a weakening of the iTaukei Affairs, the removal of the Great Council of Chiefs, the change in the leadership and representatives to the board of the iTaukei Affairs Board and the scholarship criteria.
He has refused to comment on all these matters.
Some members of the Methodist Church who have contacted us say that the church should always remain neutral as supporters of different parties are members of the church.
They said certain church ministers should not push their own personal agenda and promote the policies of a particular party during an election campaign.
The Methodist Church had earlier stated that it will be apolitical.
Stay with us, we will have more on this later today.
