đ Bunsil Government Station, Siassi | đď¸ Thursday, 22 January 2026
We are now in the 4th day of the formal session of the 35th National Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG), and the meeting is progressing according to the normal Synod order and schedule.
This is the 35th ELCPNG National Synod, hosted at Siassi from 18â23 January 2026. The last Synod in 2024 was hosted by the Immanuel District, while this year Siassi is hosting it. The next Synod in 2028 will be hosted by the Madang District. With the number of districts and the Synod cycle, it takes more than 30 years for a Synod to return to the same host againâmaking it a lifetime opportunity for any hosting district.
â Synod week flow: what has happened so far
Monday
- đ§ď¸ Heavy rain and strong winds affected the Synod hall, so the Steering Committee advised a delay.
- đ The Synod officially started at 1:00pm.
- đ In the afternoon, Dr. Kwa was appointed as the 3rd Chairman of the Synod, and the Head Bishop delivered his report.
Tuesday
The Synod continued with key leadership reporting:
- The Assistant Bishop presented his report
- The Church Secretary presented his report
- The Treasurer presented his report
- Synod also received a briefing on proposed Constitution amendments
Wednesday
A major focus was governance and institutional updates:
- Synod heard the Lutheran University report presented by Dr. Komolong
- Synod continued into the Constitution review, including a second reading (prepared with legal input) and feedback from delegates
- Delegates were given a full day to discuss before voting on the amendments
- Synod then moved into district reports and completed them
Thursday (Today)
Synod has now moved into agenda items. Delegates are working in floor/committee meetings to discuss agenda matters and resolutions, and to prepare committee feedback on reports to take back to the plenary.
Friday
Plenary will resume and Synod will make final decisions on reports and agenda items, based on what is reported back from todayâs Synod floor/committee meetings. During plenary decisions, only 20 accredited voting delegates per district are eligible to vote, while the remaining 30 delegates may participate in discussion but do not vote on final resolutions.
đĽ Hosting, scale & participation
The ELC Siassi District hosted a warm and colourful welcome for delegates from 16 ELCPNG districts, with Siassi serving as the host (17th) district.
The last time Siassi hosted the National Synod was in 1990âabout 36 years ago. Each of the 17 districts is represented by 50 official delegates, bringing the total number of official delegates to 850. Together with Head Office officers, overseas visitors, ELCPNG institutions, special Synod committee members and other accredited participants, around 1,000 people are formally involved.
Beyond that, many supporters travel with their districts, and together with the host community the total crowd at Bunsil can exceed 1,000 and may be close to 2,000 people over the Synod period.
đ˘ Travel to Siassi: limited movement in and out
Travel to Siassi is different from many other host districts. Movement in and out of Bunsil was limited to only a few scheduled ship voyages, making coordination essential:
- MV Ialibu began Synod movement from 13 January, with the third and final voyage arriving 16 January
- MV Momase made two voyages: MadangâBunsil (13 January) and LaeâBunsil (15 January)
Apart from these runs, there were no other transport trips in or out.
⨠Opening Ceremony Highlights (Sunday, 18 January 2026)
The Synod was officially opened on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at Bunsil Government Station, Siassi.
- The opening worship liturgy was conducted by Assistant Bishop Rev. Lucas Kedabing
- Head Bishop Rev. Dr. Jack Urame preached on the Synod theme:
âStand Firm, We Are Freeâ (Galatians 5:1)
Bishop Urame reminded the Church about living in the freedom God gives, and emphasised duty of careâto work hard, be honest, patient, and faithful in responsibility. He noted PNGâs independence in 1975 and ELCPNG becoming self-governing in 1976, encouraging believers to stand firm as both Church and nation approach 50 years of freedom.
đľđŹ Government remarks: duty of care & partnership
Deputy Prime Minister and Lae MP John Rosso attended the opening and said duty of care applies to everyone, not only leaders. He also thanked the ELCPNG for its contribution to nation-building through health, education, community development and spiritual development, and said Government is ready to support the Church through strong partnerships.
đ¤ Reconciliation at the Opening Ceremony
A significant moment during the opening was a reconciliation between the Siassi host district and the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). The Australian Lutheran Mission (ALM) began work in the Siassi field in 1936, including sites such as Awelkon, Gelem, Lablab, and Gizarum Plantation.
The reconciliation was witnessed by Synod delegates and ELCPNG leaders, and made more significant by the presence of LCA Bishop Paul Smith, who prayed during the âtok soriâ moment. Pastor Alan Ephraim, Acting President of the Siassi District, described it as a turning point for peace, unity and renewed church work, noting that unresolved land issues around former mission station sites had caused tension in some communities and had affected their ability to move forward freely in rebuilding and strengthening church work.
đ Visitors and delegations present
Visiting partners and guests include:
- LCA Bishop Paul Smith and secretary Erin Kerber
- Rev. Arnim Doerfer (Mission EineWelt, PNG & Pacific Desk)
- Australian Consul-General in Lae, Mr Brenton Kanowski
âŚalong with other invited guests and delegations.
Government delegations present include:
- IalibuâPangia MP Peter OâNeill
- Morobe Governor & Finschhafen MP Renbo Paita
- Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jr.
- TewaeâSiassi MP Dr. Kobby Bomareo
đ Other key points raised this week
- Challenges: weather (rain/wind) and communication issues affected progress
- Debates raised: matters connected to the Bishopâs office (including pastors and a research team), womenâs ordination, and theological questionsâwhile many were still happy with the Bishopâs report overall
- Secretaryâs focus: teacher appointmentsâchurch ownership of the process, and coordination with provincial authorities so Lutheran school appointments are accepted
- Programs/partners: âRainbow programâ training for teachers (Grades 2â3) and UNICEF partnership in early childhood
- Treasurer highlights: Lutheran Shipping maintenance/leases/grounds, and support for Work Mission Area, noting funds are available for mission work
- Lutheran University licensing/governance: government provided a window described as 5 years to prove capacity to run the university; about 3 years have passed; requirements and paperwork continue, with uncertainty around final licensing/approval
Reports on the ground by Joan Bailey and Jeremiah Moat
