In a landmark decision, Papua New Guinea’s Parliament has passed a constitutional amendment formally declaring the nation’s Christian identity. The amendment, passed by an 80-4 vote, will see the preamble of the Constitution revised to acknowledge “God, the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and Holy Spirit, as our Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and the source of our powers and authorities, delegated to the people and all persons within the geographical jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea.” The amendment also recognizes Christianity as part of the “PNG Ways” in the Fifth Goal of the preamble, incorporates similar identification in section 1, and designates the Bible as a national symbol in section 3 of the Constitution. Prime Minister James Marape, a strong advocate for the amendment, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I am happy. This constitutional amendment finally recognizes our country as a Christian country. This reflects, in the highest form, the role Christian churches have played in our development as a country.” He emphasized the crucial role of Christian churches in unifying the diverse population of PNG, highlighting their longstanding presence and continued service, often preceding and supplementing government efforts. “With so much diversity, languages, associated cultures and tribal affiliations, no one can dispute the fact that Christian churches have anchored our country’s unity and togetherness,” he said. The amendment follows extensive consultations conducted by the PNG Constitutional Law Reform Commission in 2022, gathering input from communities, churches, provincial and local leaders, and civil society. PM Marape clarified that the amendment does not infringe upon the rights of individuals practicing other faiths, as section 45 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of conscience, thought, and religion, remains intact. “This is not an operational law, but an addition to the preamble of the Constitution; that we are now placing God in His rightful place,” he explained. He further elaborated on the theological significance, stating, “When we look into the Christian ethos and theology, it recognizes God as the Creator of the universe, the world and our country. And so through this, we recognize God as the Creator of the resources we have and the Creator of our life.” The Prime Minister commended the Members of Parliament for their overwhelming support, marking the final vote and initiating the process for the constitutional amendment to take effect.