1st state Christian institute opens

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Hussein Al-Munawwar inaugurated the country's first state Christian institute here on Wednesday.

He said that with the opening of the Palangkaraya State Christian Institute (STAKN), Central Kalimantan was the first province to have three state religious institutes -- the Palangkaraya State Islamic Institute (IAIN), the Tampung Penyang State Hindu Institute (STAH) and the STKAN.

The inauguration of STAKN was held on the Palangkaraya Christian University campus and was attended by Central Kalimantan Deputy Governor Nahson Taway.

STAKN was originally the Christian Theology Academy, which was established in 1982 but was renamed the Eka Sinta Christian Institute three years later. On Aug. 28, 1993, the institute was merged into the School of Theology at Palangkaraya Christian University. --Antara