The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma general secretary, Dr Semisi Turagavou, has warned church ministers against infidelity while their wives are working overseas.

Dr Turagavou said this after it was found that some church ministers’ wives were working as caregivers especially in the United States for periods of six months and one year.

He said ministers would face disciplinary action if found guilty. He said they would be stripped off their pastoral duties.

He said the missing wives would create challenges for church ministers to carry out their role in the circuits they were assigned.

“This is why the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma president, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai, had encouraged the 14 ministers to take their wives with them where ever they serve,” he said.

“Among the 14 ministers, two are deaconesses. They will be ordained on Wednesday after six years of probation.

“It’s six years because it takes them three years to train and the other half for practise. We need those ministers/deaconesses that are married to be with their spouses.”

“The church ministers face challenges during their ministries,” he said.

Kava

As far as consumption of kava for ministers was concerned, Dr Turagavou said if they exercised caution, they were allowed.

“On Sunday, church pastors can have kava, after all the church programmes have been completed,” he said.

“We do not prohibit people from consuming kava, they can exercise their own will power.”

There not be any choir competitions this year, however the soli will go ahead.

The meeting officially started yesterday.

Dr Turagavou said church ministers attending the meeting already had paid their levies. He urged stewards to update theirs.

Story by: Nacanieli Tuilevuka

Feedback: nacanieli@fijisun.com.fj