Tokaikolo Church fails to claim ownership over church in Kolomotu’a [1]
Thursday, September 14, 2017 - 20:01. Updated on Friday, September 15, 2017 - 10:06.
The Tokaikolo Church (Siasi Tokaikolo ‘ia Kalaisi) has failed to claim ownership over church buildings used by a dissenting congregation in Kolomotu’a. The Tokaikolo Church was seeking control over the property because the Kolomotu’a congregation and their minister had joined a breakaway church called the Mo’ui Fo’ou Fellowship (Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘ia Kalaisi). The property includes the land where the church buildings stand.
The church in Kolomotu’a was officially opened in 2009 by the President of the Tokaikolo Church, Rev. Dr Liufau Saulala. The church in Kolomotu’a was affiliated with the Tokaikolo Church until 2013 when the majority of its congregation along with the minister, Kava Fa’oliu, joined the Mo’ui Fo’ou Fellowship led by a former Tokaikolo Church member Sione Maile.
The Land Court ruling stated that “…those members of the congregation who wished to remain with Tokaikolo were excluded from the church. Since this time the church has been reserved for the use of the members of the new fellowship led by Sione Maile, namely Mo'ui Fo'ou.”
According to the ruling, the plaintiff (Tokaikolo Church) pointed out that the buildings were set up by funds raised by members of the Tokaikolo Church, including funds raised by overseas based members. It was argued that the church buildings at Kolomotu'a were built and paid for with the intention that they would become the property of the Tokaikolo Church, and therefore the church buildings along with the land on which it stood, rightfully belonged to the Tokaikolo Church.
The Land Court ruling dismissed these arguments, stating that most of the funds raised for the construction of the church at Kolomotu’a were raised by the Kolomotu’a congregation, most of whom had joined the Mo’ui Fo’ou Fellowship.
The Land Court ruled “…the total sums contributed from overseas are nowhere near the sums raised and contributed by the Defendants, their families and their supporters.”
The ruling added “Furthermore, those who contributed most, both in cash and in kind, made up the great majority of those who broke away.”
The Land Court ruling was made by Mr Justice M. D. Scott KC on 1 September.
The Tokaikolo Church was originally a “Fellowship” called “Feohi'anga Tokaikolo". It was formulated in 1978-1979 by the late Senituli Koloi who passed away in 1980. The Tokaikolo movement experienced rapid growth until 2013 when it suffered a turbulent split in its congregations, with dissenting members forming and joining the Mo’ui Fo’ou Fellowship. According to Rev. Dr Liufau Saulala, the Tokaikolo Church lost about 34% of its members.