Lutheran church keen on uni bid

THE Evangelical Lutheran church of Papua New Guinea is likely to break ties with its partners in the formation of the Lutheran University establishment committee.
It will now set up its own committee to set up the university.
The LUPNG establishment committee was set up in 2006 with the Morobe provincial government and the Good News Lutheran Church as partners.
But the ELC had not seen any tangible moves and has severed ties with the other partners, acting bishop Rev Zau Rapa and church general secretary Isaac Teo had said last June.
The issue was brought up with the 1,500 delegates of the Synod to be debated last night before presentation to the church council for approval.
Many delegates were pushing for the motion to be passed to allow the ELC to dissociate from the establishment committee.
 “Even though it is a Lutheran university, certain individuals and agencies have hijacked the idea and ELCPNG is not taking the lead, therefore we need to take ownership,” said one delegate during the meeting.
The delegates also demanded that the new committee members be highly educated and also have a high standing in society.
The committee is now tasked with compiling of suitable candidates for the members before it is put forward to the synod floor and onto the church council.