As the world celebrated World Oceans Day on June 8 under the theme “Wonde: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” over 40 Lutheran youth leaders from Lae’s City Circuit of ELC-Jabem District gathered for a transformative three-day retreat focused on environmental justice and the Church’s prophetic role in creation care. The gathering brought a powerful convergence of global awareness and deep spiritual reflection, urging young leaders to engage meaningfully in protecting God’s creation.
Held from June 6–8 at Ampo, the retreat was hosted by the Environmental Justice Program under the Head Bishop’s Office, in partnership with the City Circuit Youth Coordinator’s office. The event brought together 42 youth leaders—13 of them female—from 14 parishes across Lae city. At the heart of the program was the challenge to understand and live out the Church’s growing engagement in environmental justice at both national and global levels, framed not just by contemporary issues but by Scripture depth.
Anchoring the retreat was the ELCPNG 2024 Synod theme, “You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). Facilitator Mr. Jackson Merpe, Human Resource Officer for ELCPNG, led participants through biblical reflections drawn from the Head Bishop’s official study paper. This paper forms the theological foundation of the Synod theme and was developed in response to the national and global issues confronting both Church and society today. Merpe helped participants explore how this theme offers both a spiritual identity and a social responsibility, especially in the face of ecological crisis and systems of injustice.
Mr. Merpe unpacked the powerful metaphors of salt and light, not only in their practical application but by returning to their biblical and linguistic roots. He reflected on the original Hebrew and Latin roots of the word earth—signifying ground, land, and the physical foundation of life—and explained how “salt of the earth” refers to our call to sustain, preserve, and be faithful custodians of creation. He further contextualized the phrase in the spiritual and cultural setting of Jesus’ time, where salt symbolized value, preservation, and covenant responsibility.
“Salt of the earth,” Merpe explained, is spiritual guidance to care for the Tierra—the Latin word for land—which includes birds, sea life, plants, and human beings, as recorded in Genesis. But it also refers to everything humanity has made from the earth: homes, clothing, tools, and technologies—what sustains human life in every form. “To be salt,” he said, “is to honour and protect the source of life.” The reflection was anchored in the Head Bishop’s study paper, which links this identity to the Church’s mission to address real challenges affecting livelihoods, land use, and ecological integrity.
Also he explained, “light of the world” points toward a different dimension—our relationship with systems, institutions, and ideologies. Merpe explained that the word “world” in the Greek, kosmos, refers not just to the planet but to the ordered systems and values that structure societies—governments, economies, policies, and cultures. Christians are called to be light not merely by shining but by confronting darkness—exposing injustice, guiding others, and ensuring truth is visible. He linked this to the “light” of Genesis 1, noting that the biblical phrase “Let there be light” came before the creation of the sun. In that sense, light in Genesis is symbolic of divine order, clarity, and justice. “The sun is the light of the earth,” said Merpe, “but you are the light of the world—that means the Church is called to be the conscience within systems.” This deep theological insight, rooted in the Head Bishop’s paper, challenged youth to understand discipleship as both spiritual conviction and public engagement.
The retreat also highlighted the Church’s long-standing environmental advocacy—especially its opposition to the Deep Sea Tailing Placement (DSTP) method proposed by the Wafi-Golpu mine. The DSTP plan, which would see mine waste disposed into the Huon Gulf, raised alarm among participants, many of whom were unaware that the proposed pipeline could run through Lae city. Since 2018, the ELCPNG has taken a firm and visible stance against DSTP, making it a practical and ongoing example of faith-led environmental activism that aligns both with the biblical mandate to be stewards of the land and with the prophetic call to challenge unjust systems. This issue is one of several highlighted in the Head Bishop’s study paper as urgent areas for faithful engagement.
“The DSTP campaign is not just a technical issue. It’s a spiritual, social, and cultural issue that affects people’s lives and the integrity of creation,” said Mr. Yangka Benoni, City Circuit Youth Coordinator. “Our young people now understand that they have a voice—and a responsibility—to speak out on these matters as part of their faith.” His words affirmed the deeper reflections offered during the retreat: that environmental justice is not a side issue, but central to discipleship and spiritual maturity.
The retreat connected DSTP to wider global concerns, including climate justice and seabed mining, helping participants see that these are not separate from faith but integral to the Church’s mission. Mr. Merpe reminded the group that the “world” we are called to engage with as light includes not only personal relationships, but national policies, international agreements, and global economic systems. He linked this to Jesus’ Great Commission, where Christ commanded the apostles to “go into all the world”—a phrase that not only refers to geography but, as Jackson explained, also implies systems, ideas, and processes that shape how societies function. Drawing again from the Head Bishop’s study paper, he emphasized that the Church must remain vigilant and vocal in ensuring those systems reflect God’s justice and compassion.
The program concluded on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, a powerful moment in the Church calendar that commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church’s mission. Mr. Merpe encouraged the youth to view Pentecost as the launchpad of Christian action—discipleship that is active, bold, and visible. “This is your Pentecost moment,” he told them. “You are the light. You are sent. Speak truth, act with courage, and be the conscience of your communities.” His reflection echoed the study paper’s conclusion—that today’s challenges require a Spirit-filled Church ready to act with clarity and courage.
Alongside in-depth sessions, the retreat also featured group discussions, games, and creative presentations, encouraging both reflection and bonding. But at its heart was a serious and sacred call to action—rooted in Scripture, grounded in theology, and addressing real environmental issues affecting communities across Papua New Guinea. The use of the Synod theme through the lens of the Head Bishop’s study paper ensured that each session was connected to a wider ecclesial and national vision.
In his closing message, Mr. Paul Isan, President of the City Circuit (Siti Seket), commended the youth for their commitment. “The presence of our young leaders here is a sign of hope. The Church is not waiting for tomorrow’s leaders—they are already here. Let us support them as they take up the cross in both spiritual and social spaces, and let us live out Matthew 5:13–16 and be the salt of the earth and light of this world,” he said, reinforcing that leadership in creation care is both a spiritual and civic responsibility.
As the retreat ended—on a day that marked both World Oceans Day and Pentecost—these young leaders left with clarity and conviction: to be salt that sustains the land, and light that shines truth into the systems and structures of the world. Through the study paper’s guidance and the biblical foundation laid during the retreat, they now carry forward the Church’s mission with renewed vision.
This is the link to the Bishop’s paper on the Synod 2024 : https://elcpng.org/Synod-2024-Bishop-Paper-On-the-theme.pdf
