Freedom to worship is a God-given right and should not be compromised, said Pastor Jan Paulsen, Seventh-day Adventist world church president, during his two-day stay in Fiji, February 26 to 28.   

Paulsen’s comments came in response to a report in The Fiji Times on Monday, February 26, outlining an initiative of the Ministry of Reconciliation. The ministry proposes a review of the process of granting permits to churches. Under the initiative, availability of permits may be restricted in the case new churches in Fiji. The article says the proposal aims to alleviate problems the ministry “believes the indigenous population faces.”

Speaking at a press conference after his arrival on Monday, Paulsen said that “principles of freedom of conscience should be respected.”

“Fiji is a diverse religious community and should maintain the space and room it currently provides for religious expression,” he said. “Freedom to practice religious convictions is a God-given right of every human being. The government’s initiatives are driven by local factors, but the sacredness of worship should not be compromised.”

Newspaper reports suggest that the proposed initiative is connected to “instability created by churches, new and old” in how they impact the land laws, known as “vanua,” of the indigenous population.

Pastor Tom Osborne, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Fiji Mission, said that “genuine, committed Christians will look at the issue of ‘vanua’ as subservient to God and His values, not the other way around.”

“As a church we pray for peace, prosperity, and every blessing for the Republic of Fiji, its every citizen, the government and justice for all,” Paulsen said. “We pray that you would be courageous in standing for freedom and justice for all as you strive to live in peace, live together, and live in harmony.”