wfn.org | Papua New Guinea Seeks Reconciliation in Church and Society

["Frank Imhoff" <franki@elca.org>]

Prime Minister Morauta Meets LWF President Krause 

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea/GENEVA, 15 May 2002 (LWI) -
econciliation in church and society is a central issue for Papua
New Guinea, said Lutheran World Federation (LWF) president, Bishop
emeritus Dr. Christian Krause, upon his return from a recent visit
there. 

Speaking with Lutheran World Information (LWI) Krause also noted
seeking of Christian role models for community life. 

Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Mekere Morauta shared Krause's
opinion. At an April 18 ceremony in Port Moresby, he called for
commitment to Christian teachings and "eternal and universal rules
of life on the basis of Christian principles." Morauta thanked
Krause, the first LWF president to visit the country, the local
Lutheran churches and worldwide Lutheran community for support.

A new Papua New Guinean parliament, and new municipal authorities
will be elected next month. According to Krause, this will be a
critical election. Civil war over the secession of Bougainville
island since 1989 ended in an armed truce. Despite the peace
agreement signed last year granting gradual autonomy to the
mineral-rich island, factors such as massive corruption, social and
environmental problems are contributing to instability. For
reconciliation and national cohesion, leading politicians are
requesting increased support from the global Lutheran community.

Krause reminded the government and nation to keep in mind their
obligation toward Christian values as stated in the Papua New
Guinean constitution. He urged them to stand up for disadvantaged
persons, defend social justice, and share the national resources
equitably. Only in this way would the country achieve
reconciliation in face of such problems, the LWF president said.

Krause noted that the theme of the LWF Tenth Assembly in July 2003
"For the Healing of the World," has great relevance and urgency in
Papua New Guinea.

Around 20 percent of the 5 million Papua New Guineans are
Lutherans. Roman Catholics represent 22 percent, other Christian
denominations 24 percent, and 34 percent are of indigenous belief.
The country has three Lutheran churches, the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Papua New Guinea, Gutnius Lutheran Church - Papua New
Guinea, both LWF members, and the recently founded Melpa Lutheran
Church.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 133 member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5
million of the 64.3 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted,
material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the
LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced
with acknowledgment.]

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