United Church re-elects Rev Siai as moderator

**Re-elected United Church moderator Rev Bernard Siai (left) with Johniel Handale in traditional attire and Marama Wendy last Thursday at the Hulia Circuit in Hela. – Nationalpic by PETER WARI**

THE Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands United Church re-elected moderator Rev Bernard Siai through a secret ballot for a second term on Thursday in Hela during its 27th general assembly meeting.
Rev Siai was declared by Papuan Islands Region Bishop Leidimo Edoni.
Rev Siai had 26 votes while runner-up from Rev Garo Kilagi collected 22 of the 50 clergymen that went for the voting.
The contestants were Rev Siai, assembly secretary Rev Garo Kilagi, West Central Papuan Region bishop Rev Hitolo Arua, Urban Region Bishop Rev Veburi Dabada and former assembly secretary Rev Wesis Porop.
Rev Siai acknowledged the church for his re-election and said he needed support from the 11 regional bishops to enable the church to fulfil its vision.
“We have many challenges and the big one is the establishment of a university in partnership with the Government,” he said.
“This needs commitment and financial support.”
He said it was the church’s vision to have a university established and urged the regional bishops to support the office operations through the regional levies.
The church was given approval by Parliament to establish the university which would be called the United Church College of Higher Education in partnership with the Government early this year. Hela Bishop Rev Steven Bai said the 15 circuits that he oversaw, that comprised 70,000 congregation in 350 churches in Hela, were proud to have hosted a successful meeting.
Rev Bai thanked Governor Philip Undialu, Prime Minister James Marape, MP Manaseh Makiba and MP Alfred Manase.