University council, staff united

 THE Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG council and staff are united in the church having its own university, a well-placed source says.

The source was responding to Lutheran University of PNG Establishment Committee chairman Rimbink Pato, who said the Enga-based Gutnius Lutheran Church was part of the university.

The source said Pato, former ELC-PNG head bishop Giegere Wenge, and GLC-PNG head bishop David Piso were no longer part of the university.

“The (ELCPNG) council and staff are united on ELC-PNG having its own university, just like synod and council decisions,” the source said.

“We are still in conflict over who in GLC we shall talk to. Piso is voted out and their bishop-elect can’t take office because Piso took the matter to court.”

The source said land at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae where the main campus was to be built belonged to ELC-PNG – and the Balob Teachers College.

“Three or so years ago, ELC-PNG wrote to the Pato committee to stop building and not touch the building for the former Kristen Redio. That building and land are owned by ELC-PNG but they went ahead.

“The church council decides on ELC-PNG land and property regarding any development. There’s no church council decision on where the university will be built.”