PNG Council of Churches

Lost Doctrine Of Repentance

PNGCC General Secretary, Rev. Roger Joseph said this during a Press conference hosted by the Department for Community Development and Religion yesterday, 19 August, in preparation for the upcoming Day of Prayer and Repentance on Friday 26 August.

“We will start to see evil as evil, and build the culture of upright living. This kind of life starts with true repentance and the kind that will bring back Papua New Guinea. It is sad however to state now, that the 21st churches have lost the doctrine of repentance.

Churches disappointed at polling delay

Cardinal Ribat and Rev. Joseph joined Transparency International PNG and PNG Chamber of Commerce and Industry in calling out the PNGEC in a press conference on Thursday 7 July, for the deferral.
The Electoral Commission in a separate press conference the previous day stated reasons of inference by Moresby Northeast candidates and scrutineers; and challenges faced by the NCD election team in distributing ballot boxes to polling wards and locations. 

Bernadette Ove - Education a powerful tool

While being a representative of the organization she belongs to, Mrs Ove says that she also stands for all women and girls. She said the network of women educators are scattered all over Papua New Guinea. A big number of them are found in the two dioceses of Southern Highlands Province and Enga Province.

In the Council of Churches a joint National Churches Strategic Plan was launched in 2018 to address Sorcery Accused Related Violence (SARV). It was described as a landmark development at the time it was launched in Wabag, Enga Province.

Churches Address SARV

In his opening remarks, Rev. Roger Joseph said the rising number of reported cases of SARV in rural PNG clearly shows that there is an emerging culture of misguided people taking the law into their own hands. Moreover, by doing this, they inflict physical abuse and barbaric acts of violence against innocent women and young children causing the death of many innocent lives.

Christians Urged To Be Obedient

The Council comprises of the Catholic, Lutheran, United Church, Baptist and the Salvation Army. Each is standing by to support health experts during awareness drives.

General Secretary of the PNG Council of Churches, Reverend Roger Joseph and United Church Moderator Reverend Bernard Siai made these remarks when announcing their support for the vaccination roll out in the Nation’s Capital.

Reverend Joseph urged Christians to obey our leaders and to take the vaccine as a sign of love for a neighbor.

Council of Churches’ New Year message

Moving onto the New Year of 2020, Rev Joseph likened the New Year as the transition between the Exodus, moving out of captivity and moving into the Promised Land.   

“The very interesting point in this particular story is about Joshua and Caleb. These were the only two people from the generation that moved out of Egypt, who moved into the Promised Land. All the others who were involved in the Exodus never entered the Promised Land. Just two and that’s a very sad story. And as we look at moving into the New Year, I think the success stories are only for few,” he said.

Council of churches to offer strategies to Govt

Reweaving the Ecological Mat of Papua New Guinea is the theme of a one week conference hosted by the PNGCC at the Catholic Bishops Conference head office in Port Moresby this week. 

The churches have been holding a number of conferences around the country to develop sound and practical alternative strategies on environment conservation for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.

General Secretary for PNGCC, Rev Roger Joseph, said the churches are engaging academics, politicians, civil society and church heads in coming together to discuss the framework for development.

Govt urged to clarify stance on Israel

This follows the former Foreign Affairs Minister’s voting against Israel on whether or not Jerusalem should be recognised as its capital.

Papua New Guinea was one of the 128 United Nations Member countries who voted to reject the United States’ move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A vote taken during an emergency meeting on 21 December 2017.

PNG was represented by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato, whose decision did not go down well with many Christians.

No legislative framework for offshore mining: Churches

The PNG Council of Churches say: “Following the Madang Guidelines concluded in 1999, we call on the Government to ensure a separate policy and legislation is developed before offshore mining, including deep seabed mining activities, are commenced in the country.

“Government should also clarify to the Churches and people of PNG as to what consultation processes have been undertaken to develop relevant policy and legislation governing offshore mining.

Nationwide fundraising appeal launched

The main purpose of the appeal is in threefold and all proceeds raised from the fundraiser will be dedicated to the Anglicare Foundation, PNG Council of Churches administration and the Anglicare Mother’s Union Tri Annual Conference in Popondetta.

As part of the fundraiser appeal, Anglicare Foundation Chairman Bishop Denny Bray will walk the Kokoda Trek.

The Council of Churches and Anglicare Foundation are appealing for donations of K3 towards this cause.