Fiji Council of Churches rejects calls for Christian state

The Fiji Council of Churches (FCC) has firmly stated its position that Fiji should maintain its status as a secular state, rejecting recent calls from some groups to designate the nation as a Christian state. The council presented its views during submissions to the Constitutional Review Commission.

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From a secular state point of view, we feel that the state should be one that treats all faiths equally and favors none, but guarantees freedom for all.

Reverend Bruce Yates, representing the FCC, argued that a secular state is crucial for ensuring that all religions are treated equally and that religious freedom is protected for everyone. "From a secular state point of view, we feel that the state should be one that treats all faiths equally and favors none, but guarantees freedom for all," Yates explained.

The council emphasized that while religion plays a significant role in public life, the church should not seek political power through state endorsement. Yates stated that the church's primary role is to serve society and hold leaders accountable, rather than becoming intertwined with political institutions. "The church should refuse state-imposed status that would compromise our ability to speak truth to power."

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The church should refuse state-imposed status that would compromise our ability to speak truth to power.

Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, FCC President, acknowledged that some churches advocate for Fiji to become a Christian state. However, he stressed that consultations within the FCC do not support this stance, warning of potential dangers if the state becomes closely aligned with a single religion. Such alignment could privilege one church, diminishing its capacity to serve God's kingdom and speak on matters of justice and social concern.

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We are aware of the intention of some churches to have Fiji as a Christian state, which our consultation do not agree with because there are a lot of dangers that will come when the state is closely aligned or totally aligned to a particular church.

The FCC also highlighted the importance of considering Fiji's multicultural fabric, advocating for equal protection of religious freedom for all communities within the nation.

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That privileges that church, and then it lowers down the voice of the church, the service of the church, which is to serve God’s kingdom rather than serve a human institution.