By Mortimer Yangharry
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by three faction bishops of the Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC) in Wabag, Enga Province after almost four decades of disunity.
According to the General Secretary Ezekiel Peter, the MoA was signed to give mandate to the Enga Provincial Government (EPG) to assist the GLC in overcoming these divisions in the Church and resolve by appointing one Bishop and administration by the June 2024 Synod.
Bishops Rasak Polyo and John Nathan signed on behalf of their groups while Bishop Matthew Yangala, as Deputy Bishop, signed for the Bishop David Piso Group while Provincial Administrator Sandis Tsaka signed on behalf of the Enga Provincial Government.
Veteran Enga governor and a strong Lutheran faithful Sir Peter Ipatas who facilitated this reconciliation program gave the keynote address on how the EPG will assist the GLC to overcome its divided church and help resolve the tensions to make the GLC become one united Body of Christ.
Sir Ipatas made it clear that the government will not involve in running the church but only to assist with funds to restore the dysfunctional and collapsed church organizations of the GLC accordingly.
In a show of unity and support, over 1500 delegates which included 475 congregations, pastors, visitors, public servants,politicians and Christians witnessed the historic occasion held at the Mess Hall of the Enga Innovative University Campus at Irelya outside of Wabag Town.
Delegates present came in from the GLC congregations in the church’s six districts and congregations from remote places like Kopiago, Tari, Magarima in the Hela Province and others from the Sepik Region attended this historic occasion.
The division in the church started as early as 1980 where several attempts by reconciliation, meditation and even litigation failed in the course of the church’s years of divisions and leadership rivalry.
Sir Ipatas in his final remarks announced that it will be his priority to unite these factions once and for all before he retire from active politics.
Furthermore, Sir Ipatas directed the three bishops to continue running the affairs of the church in theological ministry and pastoral care through their groups until the EPG Working Committee will find a common path to resolve the leadership tussle with a Secretariat to be formed to assist and fund the operations of the GLC before the Synod next year.
The Working Committee will be made up of Lutheran public servants and two representatives from the three factions group in the GLC with senior educationist Henry Kapao appointed as the Chairman.
*Photos courtesy of Ezekiel Peter shows the reconciliation ceremony that was organized by Enga governor Chief Sir Peter Ipatas held at the Enga Innovative University Campus at his Irelya village last week Friday.
