The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma head office has received complaints of its ministers’ watching pornography and being involved in alleged extra marital affairs.

Methodist Church president, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai, said this was of great concern and this needed to stop.

He was delivering his address during the Methodist Church Conference meeting at Furnival Park in Toorak, Suva, yesterday. Reverend Dr Vunisuwai said awareness on these issues would be raised during the week-long conference.

“Your head office continues to receive complaints from your spouses on some misconduct that continues to surface from our ordained ministers,” he said.

“We must be mindful of these; examples are love affairs through the use of mobile phones, watching pornography, involvement in extra-marital affairs while continuing with your pastoral duties, and others.

“You will notice in our conference programmes that awareness on the issues as raised above will be conducted again.

“We are all invited to attend in order to disseminate this critical information to our congregations in your respective divisions.”

Violence Against Women And Children

The church president was also worried with the increasing trend about women and children in Fiji being abused.

He said the church must re-examine the theological messages it communicates in light of the experience of victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

“We must treat with extreme care the important, but often misused, concepts of suffering, forgiveness and the nature of marriage and the family.

“Situations of violence and abuse exist in our families, in our congregation, and tragically some of the perpetrators are church elders.

“The church has also established a unit within the Social Services Department to oversee this alarming issue.

“Some of the underlying factors regarding this issue include our cultural aspect which denotes that men are superior while women and children remain inferior and submissive.

“These notions and practices need to be re-looked at seriously as they do not portray the teachings of Christ that we are all equal in God’s eyes,” he said.

He said everyone must stand united in eradicating these inequalities. He urged church ministers to ad- dress these issues of inequalities from the pulpit, so as to bring about peace and prosperity in the congregation and communities they were called to serve in.

Story by: Nacanieli Tuilevuka

Feedback: nacanieli@fijisun.com.fj