Pastors query State decision on school chaplains

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Pastors query State decision on school chaplains

MINISTERS and leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji are urging the Government to be consistent with its decisions following its commitment to remove chaplains from State-owned schools.

A church minister said at the annual church conference that if schools, as institutions of the State, were subject to such changes then why wasn’t the same applied to institutions such as the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Corrections Service which also had chaplains.

He said chaplains from the church were part of these institutions and such changes were not consistent across the board.

Yesterday, leaders and ministers of the church proposed its executives address a letter to Government and seek answers on its decision to remove school chaplains.

This year, the Education Ministry announced that it would remove chaplains from all state-owned schools and replace them with counsellors.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was reported to have said chaplains could continue their services in schools, but the church must pay them.

Church president the Rev Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa said the church was ready to support their chaplains financially.

He said the chaplains would continue to serve in schools. Dr Vakadewavosa said the church was now tasked to remunerate its chaplains and look for their accommodation.

He said the church had also been advised to meet the expenses of government quarters.

The meeting continues today at the Centenary Methodist Church in Suva.

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