The same day, Methodist church officials without the nine top officials were also holding a meeting to plan the Annual Conference which usually falls within August every year.
The meeting led by Reverend Tevita Nawadra, the assistant General Secretary of the Church was given a green signal after a meeting with interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the Military Council with whom they have promised that no political agenda will be discussed in the conference.
Nine top officials of the biggest and most influential Church in Fiji were arrested earlier and a have a case pending in the court barring them to attend any Church meetings. The Church leaders were planning to go ahead with the annual conference of the Church despite ban imposed by the interim government.
Suva Magistrate Eparama Rokoika on Friday morning (local time) has ordered that the nine church executives can attend all church meetings which are "solely and wholly for the administration of the church."
"The meetings are not to contain any political issues and that the church has to apply for a permit for each meeting and they must adhere to the requirements of the permit," FijiVillage.com reported Friday.
While seeking the variations to bail conditions set earlier by the court, defense counsel Aseri Vakaloloma stressed that the nine church executives are elected members of the church and meetings are an important part in the running and daily administration of the church.
He said they are the policy makers and must carry out their duties in the interest of the church, its members and in the public interest.
He stressed that the accused persons are Methodist pastors and have obligations to the church and the community and as leaders must uphold the truth, honesty and dignity of the court and the church.
John Rabuku, director of Public Prosecution (DPP) who did not object to the application for a bail variation said, "Their willingness to agree to strict conditions indicates that the church acknowledges that the church falls within the structures of the government and the police and it is a sign that things are moving in the right direction."
Church president Reverend Ame Tugaue, general secretary Tuikilakila Waqairatu, Reverend Sakaraia Koli, Reverend Apete Toko, Reverend Kalivati Ravoka, Ratu Inoke Seniloli, Livai Tuisagavere along with Reverend Manasa Lasaro and Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi are charged with allegedly attending a meeting in contravention of the Public Emergency regulation.
The source said their plea is expected to be taken when the case is called again on 13 August.
The all-powerful Fiji Methodist Church counts 329,759 members out of a little less than a million Fijians estimated population. The Church which boasts over 80 percent of the indigenous Fijians have had uneasy relationship with Fiji's military who seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2006. Its grip on the country was strengthened in May when President Josefa Iloilo abolished the constitution after a panel of senior judges ruled that the army government is illegal.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama heads an interim administration that, despite strong international objections, has since ruled out democratic elections before 2014.
Commodore Bainimarama says he plans to stamp out official corruption and enhance the rights of Fiji's ethnic Indian minority before elections can be held.
An intolerance of dissent and widespread censorship of the media have led critics to describe Fiji's military strongman as a dictator.
Fiji Methodist Church annual conference 'Bose Ko Viti' is an important event in the Church calendar. It features a big choir competition and it is where the church raises a good deal of money for its operations and ongoing activities. Last year, the conference netted the church more than 1.6 million U.S. dollars.