Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
| Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Methodist |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Leader | Tevita Nawadra Banivanua |
| Region | Fiji |
| Origin | 1835 |
| Congregations | 2,860 |
| Members | 212,860 |
| Ministers | 430 |
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population (including 66.6 percent of indigenous Fijians) at the 1996 census. Of the 280,628 persons identifying themselves as Methodists, 261,972 were indigenous Fijians, 5,432 were Indo-Fijians (1.6 percent of all ethnic Indians), and 13,224 were from other ethnic communities.
Along with the chiefly system and the Fijian government, the Methodist Church forms a key part of Fiji's social power structure. The President of the Church, who must have been an ordained Minister for at least ten years, is elected at the annual conference for a term not exceeding three years. Tevita Nawadra Banivanua was elected President of the Church at the 2014 annual conference, and took office on 1 January 2015. He succeeded Tuikilakila Waqairatu.
The Church has 2,860 congregations served by 430 pastors. Administratively, the church is divided into 338 circuits and 56 divisions. Its most recent membership count stands at 212,860.
Christianity was introduced into Fiji in 1830 by three Tahitian teachers from the London Missionary Society. The Australian-based Wesleyan Missionary Society began work in Lakeba in the Lau Islands on 12 October 1835 under David Cargill and William Cross, along with some Tongans. The conversion of many prominent chiefs, including Seru Epenisa Cakobau, in 1854, led to the conversion of much of the population.
Large-scale Indian immigration to Fiji began in 1879, and the Indian Mission began in 1892.
In 1964 the Methodist Church in Fiji became an independent entity.
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is a member of the World Council of Churches (since 1976), the Pacific Conference of Churches, the Fiji Council of Churches, and the World Methodist Council.
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