"In a situation in which we don't know how to act into the future, barely how to put one foot in front of the other at times, we are very, very, happy to receive your support and acknowledge our partnerships. The relationships we have are an indication to us that Christ truly has power over evil, as we stand in solidarity together."

Since Rev Saud made that poignant statement, the relationship between the GKI and the UCA has become even more critical, especially since the controversial granting of TPV visas for 42 indigenous Papuans who landed near Weipa in January. Indeed, the partnership between the GKI and the UCA can be considered unique among our overseas partnerships at present, because of the precarious situation of indigenous Papuans within this easternmost province of the Indonesian archipelago. The plight of all Papuans, both indigenous and immigrant, has been compared many times with the pre-referendum conditions of the former province of East Timor, and the comparison is in some ways valid enough, especially in regard to the current presence of thousands of Indonesian military throughout Papua.

Partnership with the GKI is very important. Since there are relatively few churches around the world which are in active partnership with the GKI, leaders of the church have many times expressed their appreciation for the solidarity, advocacy and general support which the UCA has proffered through Uniting International Mission. Other churches involved with the GKI in Papua include 2 German churches and Mennonites from the USA.

Some history

The Presbytery & Synod of South Australia has been active in relating to the GKI for some years now.

In 2000, Rev Scott Litchfield and the then Gen. Secretary, Rev Stuart Cameron, attended the GKI Assembly in Sorong.

In 2001 Rev Adam and Mrs Kate Tretheway were appointed to serve as Assisted Volunteers in Mission in the GKI's theological college, STT, in Abepura, and taught English there for 3 years. Mrs Lyn Leane accompanied Rev John Barr from UIM in May 2002, and visited both Jayapura and Biak - Numfor Presbytery, which is the focus of the SA partnership with Papua.

In 2003 - John Rumbiak and Iras Mangge and Umberto Arwom from Biak Numfor Presbytery attended the UCA assembly in Melbourne, and then stayed in Adelaide for 2 weeks visit, and Ibu Mary Saud, Ibu Ruth Mawene and Mrs Kate Tretheway visited the SA Synod and then the NSW Synod.

2004 - Rev Herman Awom, Deputy Moderator came for 3 months' study, to improve his spoken English skills, returning for the WA and SA Synods in November of that year.

September 2005 - young people from the GKI Abepura congregation came to South Australia for the SA Youth Camp Out - (SAYCO)

Dec 2005 - Jan 2006 - 9 students from the STT college visited for one month. This made a lot of impact in rural congregations in the Riverland and on Yorke Peninsula, as well as in the city churches. !50 people attended a cultural night in which the Papuans performed wonderful dances and songs, and some traveled for hours to get there.

In March 2006, Rev John Barr, Rev John Minchin and Mrs Lyn Leane from the Presbytery and Synod of SA attended the Assembly of the GKI in Wamena.

The Presbytery and Synod of SA supports projects of the GKI Presbyteries on Biak - Numfor, the part of the GKI to which we relate the most. These have been primarily focused on improving health particularly in regard to malaria. Current projects are for assisting the GKI-run clinics with urgently needed medical and pharmaceutical supplies for the Bethesda Pharmacy on Numfor, overseen by Rev Herman and Mrs Jacoba Awom, and for similar work on Supiori Island and the South Biak Presbytery Clinic.

Reflections on Papua

by John Barr - Uniting World