Church tackles social issues

THE Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG (ELC-PNG) is to address major social issues such as gender-based violence and child abuse to address evangelisation.
It was formulating strategies to address those challenges, the church said.
Good News directors of the church’s 17 districts are having a week-long conference on evangelism progresses and challenges faced at district level.
The conference, attended by directors in the districts of Katec, Jabem, Ukata, Siassi, Boana, Mumeng, Madang, Karkar, Papua and New Guinea Islands, will end today.
The church’s districts in the Highlands are Kainantu, Goroka, Chimbu, East Chimbu, Jiwaka, Hagen and Immanuel.
The evangelism department of the church has divisions of youth, Gejamsao (women), Sunday School, Lutheran Lifecare and Disability, which works in partnership with the ministerial training department.
Evangelism department secretary Rev Elymas Bakung said the conference was a refresher for directors.
He said they would design strategies based on information presented at the conference.
“Issues faced by persons with disability (PWD), and gender-based and domestic violence will be addressed through gender and disability theology,” Bakung said.
“Each district through Good News directors will host seminars to address the increasing issues of violence, child abuses and accessibility of disabled people to services.”
Assistant bishop Rev Lucas Kedabing said the church was now revisiting its plans to come up with strategies to approach the current challenges faced with major violence issues.