Lutherans to welcome new leader

BY the end of next week the one million member’s of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea will know who will occupy this office as their next leader over the following four years.
The term may be extended as an amendment to the church constitution will be tabled at the forthcoming synod seeking endorsement from the delegates to extend the term of office for the head bishop, the assistant bishop and church secretary from the present four years to six years.
The chair and table were once occupied by the late Bishop Dr Wesley Kigasung who died on 14 May, 2008.
From the date when he died until now no one has occupied this office.
It was a mark of great respect for the late bishop that this office had been preserved for the day when a successor was elected.
Even the acting head bishop Reverend Zau Rapa chose not to enter the office but remained in his own office as assistant head bishop of ELC-PNG and work from there.
Next week, during the 2010 synod of the ELC-PNG which will be held at the Martin Luther Seminary near Lae, delegates from the 17 districts of the church will elect one of four senior pastors who have been endorsed by their districts to contest the top post of head bishop.
The five candidates are Rev Tom Sine, Rev Giegere Wenge, Rev Kasek Kautil and Rev Dr Numuc Zirajukic Kemung.
Rev Kautil is currently the executive director of Kristen Press located in Madang.
Rev Sine is the principal of the Kundiawa Lutheran Day High School, Rev Dr Kemung is a lecturer at the Martin Luther Seminary while Rev Wenge is the principal of the Martin Luther Seminary.
Three others have also nominated for the position of assistant head bishop.
They are the incumbent Rev Zau Rapa, Rev Sommy Setu and Rev Peter Wamp.
Meanwhile, there are two candidates for the position of church secretary.
They are Isaac Teo and Albert Tokave who is chairman of the church’s constitution and vision 2020 plan.