Methodist Church in Fiji cancels annual conference

The Methodist Church in Fiji fears there would be more arrests if it went ahead with its annual conference in Rewa this month.

After weeks of defiance against a ban by the interim government on the conference, church leaders have backed down and cancelled the event.

Deputy general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua says nine church leaders are currently before the courts and they feared the reaction if the conference was held as planned with ministers from other parts of Fiji in attendance.

Rev Banivanua says the cancellation does not mean the Methodist Church accepts what the interim government is doing, and the church will look at other ways of expressing its opinions.

Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand.

Read more here.

The Uniting Church in Australia expresses support and solidarity for the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma. Read the statement here.

Prayers for Fiji

At the World Diakonia Assembly, we prayed for our deaconess sisters from the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma and the increasing tension between the church and the military regime, and in particular for the situation that has led to the arrest of a dozen church leaders who plan to hold the age old (1850's) annual meeting of the Methodist Church at the end of August despite the military regime requesting that it be cancelled because it was deemed 'too political', and would breach Fiji's 'Public Emergency Regulation'. Fiji’s Methodist Church may not be allowed to hold its annual conference for the next five years if it does not comply with Government’s request to wash its hands off politics. It is expected that all members of the Church Standing Committee will be detained and charged. A statement of support to the church leaders was sent from the World Diakonia Assembly. Please remember our brothers and sisters in Fiji at this difficult time and continue to uphold them in prayer.

the outgoing Executive at World Diakonia Assembly

Sala (DAP President, Fiji) and Sabitha (DAP Vice-President, India) were thanked for their work on Executive for the last four years, along with other outgoing members of the Executive.

(Sala in sky blue alongside Sabitha in sari)

Diakonia Asia-Pacific

Diakonia Asia-Pacific (DAP) is one of the regions in the Diakonia World Federation and includes deacon networks in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and India. This blogsite has been set up (July 2009) to enable sharing of stories, events and activities in the Asia-Pacific region. Enjoy!

(Photo of some DAP members at World Diakonia Assembly in Atlanta in July 2009)