The call for a snap election to be held on 21 May 2021 has thrown a spanner in the works for plans the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa [C.C.C.S.] had for their annual conference this year. 

Initially, this year's Fonotele was scheduled from 10 - 21 May, after it was cancelled last year due to border closures and state of emergency restrictions were imposed after the COVID-19 pandemic went global. 

However, on Tuesday this week, the Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II declared the results of April's election void, calling for a fresh election to be held on 21 May. 

This has resulted in major changes, as agreed upon by the elders of the church, after a special meeting on Thursday. 

Instead of two weeks as scheduled, the Fonotele will be held for only one week from 9 - 17 May. 

The details of the elders' decision and the reason for the changes could not be disclosed, however, this newspaper understands that the call for a snap election is the main reason behind the major changes. 

This year's conference is guided by the theme, "The Light for His Church."

The main meeting will commence on Wednesday while the small meetings for all the sub-committees will be held on Monday and Tuesday. 

The special service to honor the retired Reverends will be conducted on Friday afternoon, while the special ceremony to ordain new Reverends [Faifeau Samoa] will be conducted on Saturday morning at the Malua Jubilee Church. 

The final day of the Fonotele is on Monday 17 May where they will wrap up all the issues discussed throughout the Fonotele week and lastly, to select a new Treasurer for the church and elect a new Deputy Chairman. 

Another major change to how this year's Fonotele will be conducted is that hundreds of members residing overseas who are not able to attend this year's conference in person, due to travel restrictions, will tune in via Zoom. 

The uncertainty associated with the reopening of international borders and the pandemic has not stopped the C.C.C.S. Fonotele as they move their yearly meetings online.

The decision followed an emergency meeting called by the executive members of the General Assembly (Laulau a le Fonotele) seeking consent from members on whether the church should host its annual Fonotele in February. 

The General Secretary, Reverend Vavatau Taufao said there will be necessary adjustments due to the time difference for the sake of their church members joining in virtually. 

The church's stance on the taxation law for members of the clergy is not on this year's agenda. 

General Secretary Taufao said that a Committee or District of the church has to raise it in order for the matter to be included in the annual conference's agenda.  

In June last year, the now-caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi assured that the legal battle with church ministers who didn't register to pay tax on their alofa (love offering) was far from over. 

“There are quite a few church ministers that have paid for their tax from the E.F.K.S. [Congregational Christian Church of Samoa] who feel that it’s a must to pay tax,” said Tuilaepa at the time. 

“The delay in Court proceedings is due to the COVID-19 but it’s in progress.”