Established Churches Versus Newly- Introduced Sectsts PNG

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is nominally a Christian country, the "established" churches including members of the PNG Council of Churches that was established in 1965 - Anglican Church of PNG, Baptist Union, Catholic Church in PNG, Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG, Gutnius Lutheran Church, Salvation Army and the United Church in PNG.

Relatively long-established churches include the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Several of these churches have been established in PNG for over a century, each with stable numbers of followers. More recently, pentecostal organisations such as the Assemblies of God, Church of the Foursquare Gospel in PNG, and the Revival Centres of PNG have become established in major urban centres such as Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka and Mount Hagen.

Little-known sects like The Christadelphian Faith have very recently become established in the New Guinea Islands Region, using the symbolism of "The Golden Lampstand" for their places of worship. Members of these organisations and sects who come from villages in more remote regions take their beliefs home when they return on leave or to settle.

Pentecostal churches are increasing their influence worldwide, including in Papua New Guinea.

This has created conflicts in villages where the established churches have held sway for many decades. There are several types of conflicts that may arise in villages when members of pentecostal organisations and sects try to convince their family members and fellow-villagers to leave established churches and join their own organisation. Individuals may resort to threats of physical violence and intimidation to convince others to "convert" to their sect. In some instances, holy images and symbols in private houses have been physically destroyed by those whose sect disapproves of the use of such devotional items.

In families where some members are "converted" from an established church to a sect while others choose to remain within an established church, family members may become estranged from each other, thus weakening the community. In an effort to counter the misinformation being spread by non-established churches about the teachings of established churches, as a means of "converting" their members, some established churches such as the Catholic Church in PNG are conducting village information sessions in rural areas.

At these sessions, experienced church leaders explain to villagers the tactics being used by non-established churches to lure them away from the church in which they have been baptised, and provide them with the knowledge they may need to counter the arguments being employed by those trying to "convert" them.

Since the PNG Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for PNG citizens, established churches, and less-well established organisations and sects need to develop mechanisms to exist harmoniously, whether in urban centres or remote villages. When physical violence and intimidation are used to promote one ideology over another, the police and law courts must act swiftly to safeguard individual freedoms.

Established Churches Versus Newly-Introduced Sects

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