THE Government will only hold further discussions with the Methodist Church if it removes politics and instigators from this year's annual conference.
Information Ministry permanent secretary Lieutenant-Colonel Neumi Leweni said Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama had made his stand known to church president Reverend Ame Tugaue and general secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu.
"Until they meet what is wanted, we cannot hold further discussions," Lt-Col Leweni said.
Mr Tugaue said they agreed to remove political issues from their meeting but could not remove senior ministers Reverend Manasa Lasaro and Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi.
He said they had informed Commodore Bainimarama they did not have the power to remove the two ministers because it was an issue that would have to be discussed by the members.
"The decision to remove anyone from the meeting should be discussed, motioned and supported by the members of the meeting and not decided by any senior member - that is the procedure," Mr Tugaue said.
He said despite their assurance that politics would not be part of the agenda, Commodore Bainimarama was firm on his views about the two ministers.
Mr Tugaue said there would be problems if the annual meeting was not held because important issues need to be discussed and decisions made.
"We need to have the meeting so that we can discuss the work of evangelism, the Young People's Department, Women's and Men's Fellowship, Davuilevu Theological College, Land and Property, Finance Dilkusha Home, Ba mission Hospital, retirement of ministers over the age of 70 years, new postings for graduate reverends, postings for reverends who have served for more than five years and postings of reverends to circuits and divisions due to death ," he said
He said all these issues are the core functions of the church and its operation if the meeting was not held since the members of the meetings which included reverends, divisional superintendents, senior stewards have to decide on these issues.