A church minister at the centre of a Police investigation in Savai'i into an attempted rape allegation has not been stripped of his pastoral duties.

The Chairman of the Elders Committee of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa, Reverend Elder Asotasi Gu Time confirmed the status of the church minister's position when asked by the Samoa Observer on Tuesday.

He said the attempted rape allegation which was linked to the church minister was presented to the Elders Committee by the Itu-o-Tane districts. 

The church minister formerly served in Letui village in Savai'i, when the allegation first surfaced, allegedly involving a 15-year-old girl in the village's congregation. He left his parish in June this year with the Police also beginning its investigation.

It is understood the church minister was absent from the final service to mark his exit from the C.C.C.S. Letui parish as he was taken to New Zealand for medical treatment. Rev. Elder Time confirmed his hospitalisation abroad when queried by this newspaper on Tuesday. 

"We have been informed that the reason why the church minister was removed from his parish was due to his health," he said. "The elders of the district within the Itu-o-Tane presented the issue to the Committee, saying the church minister is no longer physically fit to continue his roles. 

"The church minister was in a critical condition and needed to be taken overseas for treatment according to the report."

Rev. Elder Time added that they have accepted the decision and the reason why the church minister was removed from his post. 

Asked about the allegations against the church minister, the Chairman of the Elders Committee said they would wait for the outcome of the Police-led investigations. 

"We can't make a decision based on hearsay," said Rev. Elder Time. "If it's in the hands of police, we will wait for the process to follow through and see whether the allegations are true or not. 

"We will not intervene at this stage because the allegations made against the church minister in question have not been proven."

Rev. Elder Time also confirmed that the church minister might have been removed from his parish in Savai'i due to his poor health but he remains a church minister until the Police complete their investigations. 

"That's the protocol of the church," he added. 

Emphasising that the church minister is innocent until proven guilty, Rev. Elder Time said: "We can review the decision once the investigation is completed and the allegations turn out to be true."

Police confirmed in a recent interview with this newspaper that their investigation into the allegation made against the church minister continues.