Membership drop concerns Methodists

The hottest topic on day one of the 3-day Methodist Church Conference today was decline in membership particularly in youths.

Reverend Abel Nand from Ba Methodist told FijiLive, compared to 2011 with 201, 884 members, the number has dropped this year to 197,226.

“A decrease of 4656 has been recorded and accumulating the number is the Methodists youths,” Rev Nand said.

He said living in the 21st century where technology plays a major role in people’s lives, the Methodist Church of Fiji need to make changes to be able to relate better to their youth members.

“This is the 21st century and everything associated in this era is with technology and every youth has a lifestyle that has been derived from westernisation, that is how the new Methodist is functioning,” Rev Nand said.

“Things need to change in the Methodist Church after 20 years because the young people in this era are not only the leaders of tomorrow but the citizens of today.”

Today's meeting continues till 8pm.Tomorrow, the church is expected to decide on the new levies to be paid by members, the pending appointments as well as their submission to the Constitution Commission.
 
By Indrani Krishna