METHODIST Church ministers have been encouraged to address the decline in membership of the church.
This was highlighted by the president of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma the Rev Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa during the opening of the church’s week-long annual general meeting at the Centenary Church in Suva yesterday.
Dr Vakadewavosa said the church started from growth and must continue to grow. Some issues that would be discussed during the conference are domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, increase in crime and climate change.
At the opening of the meeting yesterday, the introduction of Hindi language at the Davuilevu Theological College to help improve communication with Fijians of Indian descent church members was also discussed.
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Dr Deidre Palmer in her address encouraged the church ministers and members to stand in solidarity in the fight against climate change.
“I encourage us all to stand in solidarity and help reduce the impacts of climate change,” she said.
Church secretary for communication and overseas mission the Rev Wilfred Regunamada said the church would continue to advocate on the protection of the environment and climate change by partnering with organisations and the Ministry of Environment.
Representatives of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, Australia, United States and Europe were also present at the meeting. The election for the church office bearers would be conducted later this week.
