Reverend Says He Remains Member of His Church

The longest serving ordained Minister of the South Seas Evangelical Church, SSEC, Reverend Michael Maeliau, says he remains a member of the church.

This is despite the Church's announcement last month that Maeliau has been expelled from the church.

In the announcement, the head of the church, Reverend Bishop Matthias Lima, said the church was severing all ties with Mr Maeliau.

Reverend Lima had said Mr Maeliau is no longer a member of the SSEC Church nor a minister of the church.

The Reverend Bishop Lima said the Church's stand is that Mr Maeliau's teachings and ministry has fundamental errors contradicting the church's biblical foundation.

But speaking to the media in Honiara yesterday, Mr Maeliau says he will remain a member of SSEC.

"SSEC is my mother church, I cannot change it. I will remain an SSEC, even if it is a heretic of SSEC. My constitutional rights, I will still open my mouth and no one can limit my freedom of speech and movement."

Mr Maeliau also says any church that welcomes him and his message is their constitutional right.