Bishop Nababan ordains 48 new HKBP ministers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Bishop S.A.E. Nababan ordained 48 new ministers
\nin the Toba Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) on Sunday in a move to
\nstrengthen his claim to the conflict-ridden church.<\/p>\n
The ordainment took place at an HKBP church in Pulo Mas, East
\nJakarta, and was attended by a number of government officials and
\nexecutives of the church, according to a statement by the Nababan
\nexecutive board.<\/p>\n
The 48 ministers, who completed a two-year apprenticeship,
\ninsisted on being ordained by Nababan, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The HKBP church, the largest Protestant denomination in
\nIndonesia with more three million followers, has been split into
\ntwo camps since March of last year.<\/p>\n
One camp is lead by Bishop P.W.T. Simanjuntak, who has the
\nsupport of the military and the government. The other camp is
\ncomprised of people who consider Simanjuntak's election to have
\nbeen in violation of the churches constitution and support
\nNababan until a proper election is held.<\/p>\n
The conflict between the two camps have been marred with
\nviolence, some even fatal as rivals fought for the right to the
\nuse church facilities.<\/p>\n
The board lead by Simanjuntak last month suspended Nababan
\nfrom all activity representing the HKBP, including performing
\nsermons and lectures, and sent circulars to all churches and
\ngovernment agencies notifying them of its position. It also
\nclaimed that Nababan's support was waning.<\/p>\n
Sunday's ordaining ceremony was originally planned in
\nPalembang but was later shifted amidst signs of possible
\nintimidation, according to Saut Sirait, a spokesman for the
\ndissident Nababan board.<\/p>\n
This is the first time that Jakarta has hosted such a
\nceremony, Sirait said.<\/p>\n
Nababan, who is also Vice Chairman of the World Churches
\nCouncil, appreciated the support of the new ministers, according
\nto the statement.<\/p>\n
\"It's not an easy decision to be ordained amidst this
\ndifficult situation,\" he said. \"Our mission now is to strive for
\nreligious freedom. In our case, it is a freedom to observe our
\nconstitution.\"<\/p>\n
Bishop Simanjuntak was elected by a military-sponsored grand
\nsynod in Tarutung, North Sumatra, in March of last. They have
\nalleged it was rigged.<\/p>\n
They continue to press for a new grand synod. (prs\/smb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bishop-nababan-ordains-48-new-hkbp-ministers-1447898607", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }