Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea – The United Church in Papua New Guinea (UCPNG) has successfully concluded the final regional workshop of the Theology of Disaster Resilience in the Changing Climate (TDRCC) program under the AHP 2.0 Disaster Ready Program, coordinated by UnitingWorld Australia through the Church Agencies Network Disaster Organization (CANDO).
The workshop, held in Mt. Hagen, marked the third and final event in the first phase of the program, following earlier sessions in Port Moresby (2023) for the Southern Region and East New Britain (2024) for the New Guinea Islands. The Highlands workshop brought together church partners from across the region to focus on disaster preparedness and theological approaches to resilience.
Over four days, participants engaged in discussions on disaster management, preparedness, and biblical perspectives on responding to crises. They also shared experiences and case studies, which deepened their understanding of how churches can play an active role in helping communities adapt to climate change and recover from disasters.
A major highlight of the workshop was the launch of the TDRCC Manual, which was demonstrated in practical sessions. Participants praised the manual’s participatory design, user-friendly layout, and relevance to local contexts. The manual integrates disaster preparedness as an element of Christian discipleship, empowering church leaders to use the pulpit as a platform to teach climate adaptation and resilience.
The workshops also introduced community-based approaches to resilience, including risk management, stress-resilient farming, safe and reliable water systems, prepositioning of relief supplies, and regional training strategies. These practices aim to help communities “build back better” and move from vulnerability to resilience.
At the conclusion of the Mt. Hagen workshop, participants developed action plans outlining how they intend to deliver TDRCC in their respective churches and organizations.
UCPNG acknowledged the vital support of the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), and the resources and technical expertise provided by CANDO.
Church leaders reaffirmed that TDRCC not only strengthens disaster response but also equips faith communities with the theological grounding to lead in resilience-building across Papua New Guinea.
