PNG church leaders visit

Bishop Jack Urame and other leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) visited Australia last month in recognition of their church’s partnership with the LCA.

ELCPNG Director for Inter-Church Relations and Ecumenism Pastor Kinim Siloi and General Secretary Bernard Kaisom joined Bishop Urame in meeting with LCA Acting Bishop Rev Dr Andrew Pfeiffer, International Mission leader Glenice Hartwich, and other Australian Lutheran church leaders. Bishop Urame said partnerships such as those between the ELCPNG and the LCA were extremely valuable. ‘Partnerships are important because we are church together’, he said.

‘We have a common history and also a common spirit of togetherness which is rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, also from the historical point of view, it’s like going back in history and realising where you started. The Australians prepared us well for independence. Our visit here is reflecting those shared journeys. Many of the Australian missionaries committed their lives to lay a foundation for us, so here we are.’