Fiji Corrections Services chaplain, Reverend Josefa Tikonatabua, has proposed that the Methodist Church  consider cremating bodies  as an alternative to burial.

He moved a motion during the church’s Bose Ko Viti (annual conference) at the Centenary Church in Suva yesterday.

He said the church should start considering cremating bodies of its church members as burial sites around the country were getting overcrowded.

Church’s secretary for communication, Reverend James Bhagwan, said there would be ongoing discussions whether cremation was appropriate within the Christian community.

He said the church was looking at the biblical and cultural aspect of it.

Reverend Bhagwan said for the iTaukei community, cremation was a completely new idea.

“When we do the service for burials, we say ashes to ashes, dust to dust, so there is an understanding there. We are talking about the elements, so our bodies at death are being taken back to the elements,” he said.

When questioned if the Methodist Church had a stand against cremation, Reverend Bhagwan responded they had none.

The motion will be referred to the Standing Committee before a decision is made.

Other highlights:

The church is looking at introducing musical instruments at their church worship services. Secretary for communication, Reverend James Bhagwan, said the church’s morning Holy Communion had contemporary worship and few other churches which did the same.

“It is about understanding the nature of praise and worship in today’s age,” he said.

Reverend Bhagwan said the church already had a connectional plan where the process to set guidelines would be developed about contemporary worship.

“They (youths) don’t feel that they have to leave their church to go and worship in another place.”

nThe Bose Ko Viti approved a budget of $4.5 million for the church in its next financial year.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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