A CHURCH has suspended its reverend 15 months after he defied orders to close a homeless shelter.

The reverend Hedley Fihaki from the Cairns Emmanuel Uniting Church was on Sunday suspended for three months.

But members from his congregation called the suspension a “bully move” by the Brisbane head office who disciplined him for challenging directives and helping the homeless by delaying the eviction.

In December 2009, the church was told to eject the homeless from the Good Samaritan Ministry Centre in Gatton St due to fire safety and building compliance concerns.

Just weeks before Christmas the 26 people staying at the shelter faced being left with nowhere to go.

Dr Fihaki defied the deadlines for eviction until new accommodation was found at a Sheridan St motel and a promise made for negotiations to reopen the facility.

But the old shelter remains vacant and now the minister of more than five years is being punished for his stand.

In a letter by the reverend Bruce Johnson, the moderator of the Queensland synod, read out on Sunday, the congregation was told there were “serious concerns” at Dr Fihaki’s actions and he had breached code of ethics and failed to fulfil part of his sworn ministerial duties.

He was suspended for three months with pay and has to work with a mentor before he can return.

The move has “disgusted” his loyal congregation of about 120 many of whom were in tears on Sunday, Graham Horton said.

“He’s done nothing ethically wrong,” Mr Horton said.

“But because he didn’t follow directions he has been slapped with the ban.”

Brian Stevenson said Dr Fihaki had acted with compassion, understanding and kindness.

“I don’t think the same could be said of the church authorities in this case.”

He could not understand why it took 15 months to suspend him and said the wait would have been punishment enough.

His wife Carol Stevenson said the congregation backed Dr Fihaki who followed “God’s law, not man’s law” during the crisis.

“It was a congregation decision – so should we all be suspended?” Mrs Stevenson said.

“In my opinion they were being bullies to suspend him. It was a bully move.”

The Good Samaritan program continues to operate in Sheridan St.

The church declined to comment and Dr Fihaki could not be contacted.

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