Fiji’s Methodist Church is calling on its ministers and lay pastors to lead by example, including reducing excessive kava consumption and quitting cigarette smoking. The church says the guidance is aimed at improving personal conduct among its clergy and church leaders.
The call also stresses discipline in day-to-day practice. Radio New Zealand Pacific reports that the church specifically urges leaders to avoid alcohol-like excess associated with kava and to stop smoking, framing the message as part of leading by example. The NZ Herald similarly highlights the Methodist leadership’s emphasis on stronger discipline for both ordained ministers and lay pastors, focusing on expectations for how they behave publicly and within their responsibilities.
Across the outlets, the central point is consistent: the Methodist Church in Fiji is issuing behavioural guidance to its senior religious representatives, with attention to kava use and smoking, alongside broader expectations of conduct and restraint.
