9 Aug 2007

English Methodists back Fiji Methodists' role in politics

1:43 pm on 9 August 2007

The head of the Methodist Church in England says Fiji's interim administration has no authority to prevent the Methodist Church in Fiji from getting involved in politics.

Fiji TV reports that Lord Leslie Griffiths, who is a member of the British House of Lords, made the comment in response to growing tensions between the Methodist Church in Fiji and the interim government.

Lord Griffiths says the military is a body with just over 30 years of experience and it cannot dictate to a church that has existed for centuries.

He says Fiji's military will be making a great mistake if it thinks it can shut the Methodist Church out of politics.

Lord Leslie says the Methodist Church in Fiji is well placed to make a contribution to the life of the country.

Meanwhile, the Methodist Church will go ahead with its annual choir competition and fund raising in Suva despite the refusal of the interim administration to allow their schools to alter the dates of the 2nd term holidays to accommodate thousands of singers.