The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma should be applauded for its resolution to teach Hindi at Davuilevu Theological College.

The motion on the issue was passed at the Bose ko Viti (Annual Conference) now underway in Suva.

A talatala from Lomaiviti, Reverend Tevita Vanua, moved the motion.

The motion was amended after a submission by Reverend Emmanuel Reuben that customs and traditions of the Indo-Fijians should also be part of the curriculum. Reverend Reuben is the president of the Methodist Indo-Fijian Division.

The move has been long overdue and it comes at a time when the church is experiencing a serious membership decline.

The predominantly iTaukei church has a Indo-Fijian division, but has been overshadowed because of the language barrier.

Now that iTaukei talatala will learn Hindi and Indo-Fijian culture and traditions, that barrier will be broken. More evangelical work will happen in the Indo-Fijian community and it is likely to bring the iTaukei and Indo-Fijians together.

At a time when some politicians are preaching divisive policies the Methodists are advocating a unifying theme.

The resolution will promote better understanding and tolerance among the country’s two biggest ethnic groups.

At the rate the church is moving forward under its new president, Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa, it is bound to achieve success.

The positive hype yesterday was about education. The ministers heard first hand from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama about the Government’s education policy and they liked it.

They see the struggles by ordinary people, especially those in the lower end of the socio-economic ladder, as they minister to them out there in the communities.

They also see the relief that the free school fees and free bus fares gives to the people. These are people who were relatively forgotten previously.

As the church stresses the value of education through its schools, it finds that its education policies work in harmony with the Government’s policies.

That’s why they welcomed Mr Bainimarama’s presence yesterday.

The church and Government have come one full circle and left behind a dark past where the relationship between them was hostile.

Today they are moving forward together because they have things in common and share the same policies in education.

Like Mr Bainimarama, the church does not want anyone to be left behind.

There is recognition that education in both the religious and secular sense is essential to everyone. They go hand in hand and complement each other in terms of knowledge and wisdom.

The teaching of Hindi at Davuilevu Theological College is part of the education reforms in the church.

It will broaden the church’s appeal and strengthen its position to deal with future challenges.

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