PNG Church Leaders Trained as Peace Ambassadors Ahead of 2027 Elections

PORT MORESBY – In preparation for the 2027 National General Elections, 30 church leaders from across Papua New Guinea gathered in Port Moresby for a "Training of Trainers" programme focused on preventing electoral violence.

In the photo from the left: Mr. Vincent Sobo, Fr. Brian Nonde CMM, Mr. Vasu Mohan (IFES Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific) and Ms. Moira Digori

The People Against Violence in Elections (PAVE) workshop was organized by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and held from 24 to 25 August 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel. The initiative aims to equip faith leaders with the skills to promote peaceful elections and to train additional peace ambassadors within their respective communities.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) was represented by three delegates: Fr. Brian Nonde, CMM, Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications; Mr. Vincent Sobo, Acting Secretary of the Commission for National Catholic Education; and Ms. Moira Digori, Executive Media and Public Relations Officer to the General Secretary.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Vasu Mohan, IFES Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Senior Global Advisor for Conflict and Displacement, together with the IFES team.

A Moral Responsibility

The training challenged Church leaders to embrace a profound moral responsibility—one that looks beyond simple legal compliance and instead confronts the spiritual vacuum that often characterizes modern politics. Noting that Papua New Guinea is by affinity and identity a Christian country, Mr. Mohan invited leaders to reflect on the coherence between faith and political engagement. "What would elections look like if they were Christlike?" he asked the participants. "Can the Church play a role in holding people accountable to what they are saying? Can we walk our talk when it comes to elections and politics? Or are we going to accept that somehow we can be a Christian nation and still be very non-Christian in the way we conduct politics?"

Participants from the Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Lutheran, Baptist and Seventh-Day Adventist at the PAVE workshop organized by the IFES

Mr. Mohan observed that while electoral institutions oversee technical aspects and security forces ensure physical safety, faith leaders are uniquely placed to foster moral accountability and social cohesion. In many communities where formal civil society structures are limited, churches remain on the frontline in providing pastoral care. He emphasized that spiritual leaders hold the key to the nation's conscience: "Who will hold people morally accountable? Not legally accountable, but morally accountable."

Ambassadors of Peace

Drawing on the biblical title of Christ as the "Prince of Peace," Mr. Mohan encouraged participants to embrace their vocation as "ambassadors of peace." He noted that after the word "God," "peace" is one of the most recurring words in the Bible, signifying its absolute necessity for national development.

Addressing the scale of the task, Mr. Mohan offered a lighthearted yet profound piece of advice: "It's a very big ambitious goal... but as they say, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Whether you're eating an elephant or whether you're eating a banana, it's only one bite at a time. We take small steps, baby steps, but the goal is clear—to infuse a spiritual understanding of peace and nonviolence into the electoral process."

Ms. Moira Digori, Executive Media and Public Relations Officer at CBC PNGSI receiving a certificate of Training from Mr. Vasu Mohan after the workshop.

Programme Methodology

The two-day curriculum balanced theory and practical facilitation:

• Day One: Examined democratic principles, forms of violence, and international frameworks such as UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250 regarding the role of women and youth.

• Day Two: Focused on practical leadership skills, including the development of community codes of conduct, conflict analysis using the "Conflict Tree" methodology, and dialogue techniques for de-escalation.

  
  

Given the geographic and demographic facts of PNG, the programme adopted a "Master Trainer Model." The 30 certified participants will return to their regions to train other Church leaders using the PAVE materials. To ensure accountability, trainers were instructed on the use of the official PAVE Activity Log, which documents local workshops and community engagement.

The training concluded with participants developing specific action plans for their communities. As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, this network of church leaders is expected to contribute to an environment that supports inclusive and peaceful participation. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Mt 5:9)