Consumption of yaqona and smoking is an issue for the Methodist Church of Fiji - Vakadewavosa

Consumption of yaqona and smoking is an issue for the Methodist Church of Fiji.

This has been highlighted by the President of the Methodist Church Reverend Dr. Epineri Vakadewavosa.

Some other churches have continuously said that the church ministers and members are going against the bible by allowing yaqona and smoking.

Some members who have left the church say this is one of the main reasons for leaving the Methodist Church.

When questioned by Fijivillage on the 100,000 drop in active membership of the church over the last four years, Vakadewavosa says that the church respects the liberty of everybody however he says that smoking is not part of Christian life.

The Methodist Church had also highlighted in an earlier interview that other reasons on why the church members have dropped within the past four years was that some people feel that the Church levying system was a burden while other denominations are making consistent visits to Methodist congregations causing members to shift.

When asked by Fijivillage, Methodist Church General Secretary Reverend Ili Vunisuwai said they will not decrease the levy.

Meanwhile, Church President Reverend Vakadewavosa says that he is concerned about the declining membership as the church is meant to continue growing in all its areas of operations.

The current active members of the Church now stand at 200,000 compared to 300,000 in 2014.