The Port Moresby

[?]N Reply To “Tolala": First

[?]Issionary Congregational

[?]Pioneering Role Of

The Port Moresby

[?]Rotestant Church

•In his regular “Territories ilk-Talk” column in February, 'olala” commented on recent oves affecting some Port Moresby otestant churches. Now, in the ! lowing letter to “PIM”, well own P-NG missionary, Rev. D. E. e, of the London Missionary ciety, Port Moresby, replies to blala”.

IELIEVING that it is the policy ) of your House to be factual, may I call your attention to erroneous and misleading state int in the Pacific Islands Monthly February, 1958. : refer to the article on page 31 id e r the paragraph heading tiristian Unity”. It is written by neone who hides behind the name “Tolala”. I am sorry about his desty; for, judging from his icle, I am sure that he would h to correct the wrong impression has given to his readers not liliar with the facts.

Tie first European missionary to -le in the Territory was a Congre ional minister, the Rev. Dr. W. G. ves. Dr. Lawes, as a missionary the London Missionary Society, ded in Port Moresby in 1874 and le fifteen years later commenced work of the Ela Protestant irch, to care for the spiritual ds of the tiny European popula i of Port Moresby. hat work has been carried on by igregational ministers from its option to the present day. I was honorary minister from 1934

onward. The fact that its ministers have been Congregationalists is incidental. They were all missionaries of the London Missionary Society, and it is through this Society that the Congregationalists of the British Commonwealth have carried out their overseas Mission work since 1795.

The Principle

For the information of “Tolala’ and other interested readers. I quote the “Fundamental Principle” of that Society; It is declared to he a fundamental principle of the Missionary Society that its design is not to send Presby terianism, Independency, Episcopacy, or any other form of Church Order ond Government (about which there may be difference of opinion among serious people) but the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God to the heathen; and it shall be left (as it ought to be left) to the minds of persons whom God may call into the fellowship of His Son among them to assume for themselves such form of Church Government as to them shall appear agreeable to the Word of God.

The needs of the ever-incerasing European population of Port Moresby demand the services of a minister who can devote all his time to the United Protestant Church. Appreciating this need, the members of the Ela Protestant Church, who have at times been representatives of at least seven different denominations, sought for association with the United Church Board of Northern Aus tralia. This Board controls the work of the churches in Alice Springs (Flynn Memorial Church) and the United Church in Darwin.

Multiplicity of Sects I am in entire agreement with “Tolala” concerning the danger of the multiplicity of sects in the Territory. This multiplicity of diverse teaching in that which is so funda mental to human character can only lead to confusion and chaos The Anglican, Methodists and our own Society have been staunch sup porters of the “Spheres of Influ ence” policy introduced into Papua many decades ago in the days of Sir Hubert Murray.

The present-day trend of many 9 f t. he long-established Missions is m line with the ecumenical move ment of the World Council of Churches. I am convinced that the Fellowship at Port Moresby, under the ministry of the Rev. Paul Parkin, will help the people, Euro pean and Native, towards a goal perhaps suggested by “Tolala”, but graphically and definitely stated some nineteen hundred years ago; There shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”