TASK OF CHURCH IN PAPUA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 10

TASK OF CHURCH IN PAPUA

Unification Of Tribal Groups

The great evangelical task which the Christian Church had to face in helping to unify the diverse tribal groups existing in Papua today was emphasised by Dr. Peter Calvert, an Otagotrained medical missionary w’ho has been working in Papua for the London Missionary Society for the last seven years.

Dr. Calvert, who is at present on a six months' furlough tour of New Zealand and Australia, told a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery of the great need still paramount in New Guinea for trained missionaries of all denominations.

Although the Papuan Church Assembly was gradually assuming more responsibility for the organisation of Christian church work in the territory, more European missionary field workers were still needed to help the work of the church, particularly for the future when trouble was expected between the different tribal groups as they became civilised. he said.

Mission workers at present in the field represented many Protestant denominations. Success to date had been largely because none of the major denominational mission fields had overlapped and because the Australian Government had given considerable co-operation and assistance to the mission workers.

On behalf of the London Missionary Society Dr. Calvert thanked the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for deciding, at its General Assembly, held at Palmerston North last November, to put aside sufficient money to enable two trained mission workers to go to New Guinea to assist in the field.

Appointment Extended.— Sister Alice Swann has been appointed for a further year as deaconness to St Kentigern’s Presbyterian Church, New Brighton.