Four Fiji coup prisoners are reported to have passed examinations to become lay pastors in the Methodist Church.
The Fiji Sun reports that they are Timoci Silatolu and Josefa Nata, who are serving life sentences for treason, and former army lawyer Tevita Bukarau and former director of the Fiji Intelligence Service, Metuisela Mua, who are serving lesser terms.
The general secretary of the Methodist Church, the Rev Ame Tugaue, is quoted as saying what people are seeing is that not only souls outside the prison are served but souls inside as well.
He says he has released the names of the four so their children would know that their fathers had changed.
The Methodist Church's lay pastors and worship coordinator, the Rev Tomasi Kanailagi, has confirmed the four coup prisoners had sat their exams and had become candidates for lay pastors.
The Rev Kanailagi, as president of the Methodist Church in 2000, wrote a letter to George Speight supporting the coup and preached to his rebels in parliament.
