Medical cover for Lutheran clergies

THE Evangelical Lutheran church of PNG (ELC-PNG) pastors and other theological institution graduates serving nationwide will be covered by medical insurance.
The medical insurance cover – the first for the church – is one of three major projects undertaken by the church, which will “bring back the status and respect to the pastors”, something which was slowly fading in the Lutheran faith-practising societies.
The other two major projects would see pastors and evangelists – both male and female – receiving bonus payments this Christmas, and  also be entitled to be accommodated in a transit house when visiting Lae.
The church council, as the highest decision-making body in ELC-PNG, gave the nod after recognising the plight of “these men of God”, most of whom struggled with their personal and family security when arriving in Lae, following the breakdown of law and order in the city’s public places.
ELC-PNG secretary-general Isaac Theo disclosed the news last Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the transit house project which would be constructed at the back part of the Lutheran church guest house area.
Pr Moses Maraka from Kapo parish in Menyamya circuit, thanked the church on behalf of his almost 900 colleagues serving nationwide, after relating how most rural pastors travel to the Ampo headquarters in Lae and spend the night with relatives in unsafe areas of the city, leaving them prone to thugs.