Close to thirty members of the regulating elders committee of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malilegaoi yesterday to try to find a way to settle the dispute over government’s introduction of a law to tax all church ministers.
The General Assembly of the largest church in the country last month voted to reject the law which makes it compulsory for all church ministers to pay income taxes, which they have never had to do in the past.
The CCCS elders are believed to have made a counter proposal to allow the church to make a voluntary payment on behalf of the clergy instead of individual ministers making the payments.
Not all CCCS church ministers are against the government move and have gone ahead and registered with the Ministry for Revenue to pay taxes on the earnings which are voluntary contributions from parish members.
Talamua Online reported the CCCS Chairman, Rev Elder Tautiaga Senara as saying after the meeting that they are now awaiting the outcome of their hour long meeting.
“It was positive, they will let us know of their decision,” the Chairman told Talamua outside Cabinet chambers.
Tuilaepa is expected to make a comment on the meeting at his usual press briefing later today.
