Pastor seeks name change

A CHURCH pastor has called on the government to rename the Ministry of Religion to Ministry of Christianity.
Chimbu Minister’s Fraternal interim chairman Peter Kimbe said the title had to be changed as it posed threats.
He said “religion” was too broad and would allow other religions to creep into a country called itself a strong Christian nation.  
He said the title of religion would make way for Islam, Buddhism and cult practices to destroy the Christian foundation of the country.
Kimbe, who is the Chimbu Christian Outreach Centre churches chairman, said the government had to change the constitution from freedom of religion to only Christianity.
He said if changed, the ministry had to be separated from the Ministry of Youth and Community Development.
“It must be operated independently and should have its own department to work on because churches are the biggest organisations in the country.
“They are a major development partner to the government,” he said.
He said churches provided much of the basic health and education services in the country and should be given recognition.
Kimbe said the Biblical police of committing a tenth to the Lord should be practiced by the government.
He said the government should give 10% of its budget to churches through the Council of Churches and the minister fraternal to help in development work.
He commended the O’Neill government for creating the religion ministry as it would now recognise the work of churches as development partners.