Govt-backed HKBP faction lodges protest with PGI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government-backed leadership of the Toba
\nBatak Protestant Church (HKBP) has protested the decision of the
\nIndonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) to invite its rival to its
\ngrand assembly later this month.<\/p>\n
By inviting both opposing camps, PGI apparently intends to
\nprolong the discord among the church members, said HKBP in a
\nletter signed by its secretary general, Rev. S.M. Siahaan.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of the opposing camps could turn the grand synod
\ninto chaos,\" he said in the letter, copies of which were made
\navailable to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
HKBP, the largest Protestant group in the country, has split
\ninto two camps over church leadership since December 1992 after
\nmany of the 2.5 million members loyal to ousted bishop S.A.E.
\nNababan opposed the government's appointment of P.W.T.
\nSimanjuntak as the new bishop.<\/p>\n
The Sumatra-based Batak Christian Church, the country's
\nlargest Christian church, has actually been in crisis since 1990,
\nwhen its grand synod held in Tarutung, North Sumatra, failed to
\nelect a new bishop to replace Nababan.<\/p>\n
Members of the opposing camps in North Sumatra and elsewhere
\nhave often been involved in physical clashes which have invoked
\nthe intervention of security forces.<\/p>\n
PGI officials have decided to invite HKBP representatives from
\nthe opposing camps to the assembly scheduled for Oct. 21 through
\n30 in Irian Jaya's capital of Jayapura to help find a solution to
\nthe church's internal bickering.<\/p>\n
The gathering, to be opened by Vice President Try Sutrisno,
\nwill bring together around 2,000 church leaders from Indonesia
\nand overseas.<\/p>\n
Siahaan said in the letter that if Nababan was invited to the
\ngrand synod, the policy would amount to PGI's meddling in the
\nchurch internal affairs.<\/p>\n
He reminded PGI that Nababan lost his legitimacy as a church
\nleader when HKBP issued a decree last February banning him from
\nconducting pastoral activities and representing the church.<\/p>\n
Siahaan said PGI only sought sympathy rather than genuinely
\nintending to help solve the internal conflict by inviting the
\nopposing camps.<\/p>\n
HKBP called on PGI to stick to its statute which gives its
\nmembers greater autonomy to resolve their internal problems.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-backed-hkbp-faction-lodges-protest-with-pgi-1447893297",
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