12 February 2010
Methodists encouraged to fast for Fiji
Methodists across Great Britain and Ireland are being urged to
participate in a day of prayer and fasting, in solidarity with the
Methodist Church in Fiji.
People are being asked to abstain from food and to consider
donating the money they would have spent on food to the World
Mission Fund, which will be offering long term support to the
Church in Fiji. The Fijian Church has nominated February as a month
for prayer and fasting. The Methodist Prayer Handbook remembers
Fiji on February 25 and Methodists in Britain and Ireland are
invited to join in the prayer and fasting on that date. Methodists
are asked to pray for the people, churches and government in Fiji,
and a special prayer is available
here
The Fijian Methodist Church is under increasing pressure from the
country's government, led by Commodore Bainimarama, which has
forced the Church to cancel its annual Conference and choir
festivals until 2014. Local districts and circuits are also having
their activities restricted, with administrative meetings
banned.
Revd Stephen Poxon, ex-president of the British Methodist
Conference and Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society, said;
"In the UK, it's easy to take our religious freedoms for granted.
The Methodist Church in Fiji simply desires to worship God and
serve the people of Fiji with their ministry, but the government's
unreasonable restrictions are making the Church's daily life almost
impossible. Through fasting and prayer, we want to show our
solidarity with our Fijian brothers and sisters."
All members of the Fiji Methodist Church Standing Committee have
been charged with attending an unauthorized meeting (held last
April), and have been held for questioning by police. A number of
church ministers have also been accused of spying on the
government, although the allegations have yet to be
substantiated.
The Fijian Church has requested a meeting with the government to
discuss the ban and explore alternatives. 'We are a people who
believe in knocking,' said one minister, 'even 'til midnight!'
However one superintendent was overheard saying he would hold
meetings anyway, and was reported to the military, who took him in
for questioning.
Despite the pressures, the Fijian Church's chaplains continue to
serve the police and the military, leading devotions frequently in
churches and barracks.
Under new legislation, speaking out against the government is
deemed treason, and sending criticisms of the regime to or from
abroad will be regarded as sedition. As any such criticism (whether
made in Fiji or abroad) is now being treated as a criminal
act.
People can donate to the World Mission Fund online here, or by
sending a cheque payable to "The World Mission Fund" to Fast for
Fiji c/o Dave Bennett, Fundraising Coordinator, at Methodist Church
House, 25 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5JR.