First Assembly For
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
New Church
The United Church in Papua, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, established in January, 1968, held its first Assembly at Malmaluan, near Rabaul, in December, and took important steps towards getting itself organised.
The head of the new church will be styled Moderator, and the first occupant of this office is to be Rev. Jack Sharp, an Aus tralian who has been in New Guinea for 8 years and who, before the union of churches took place, was chairman of the Methodist Church in the New Guinea Islands.
Under the Moderator there will be six bishops, one in each of the church’s six regions, and one assistant bishop. They com prise two Papuans, one New Guinean, one Solomon Islander, two Australians and one New Zealander.
They are: Rev, Ravu Henao (Papua Mainland), Rev. Robert Budiara (Papuan Islands), Rev.
Frank Butler (Urban), Rev.
Graham Smith (Highlands), Rev. Saimon Gaius (New Guinea Islands), Rev. Leslie Bosito (Solomon Islands) and Rev. Brian Sides (Assistant Bishop for Bougainville).