Bishop Nababan ordains 48 new HKBP ministers

Bishop Nababan ordains 48 new HKBP ministers

JAKARTA (JP): Bishop S.A.E. Nababan ordained 48 new ministers
in the Toba Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) on Sunday in a move to
strengthen his claim to the conflict-ridden church.

The ordainment took place at an HKBP church in Pulo Mas, East
Jakarta, and was attended by a number of government officials and
executives of the church, according to a statement by the Nababan
executive board.

The 48 ministers, who completed a two-year apprenticeship,
insisted on being ordained by Nababan, the statement said.

The HKBP church, the largest Protestant denomination in
Indonesia with more three million followers, has been split into
two camps since March of last year.

One camp is lead by Bishop P.W.T. Simanjuntak, who has the
support of the military and the government. The other camp is
comprised of people who consider Simanjuntak's election to have
been in violation of the churches constitution and support
Nababan until a proper election is held.

The conflict between the two camps have been marred with
violence, some even fatal as rivals fought for the right to the
use church facilities.

The board lead by Simanjuntak last month suspended Nababan
from all activity representing the HKBP, including performing
sermons and lectures, and sent circulars to all churches and
government agencies notifying them of its position. It also
claimed that Nababan's support was waning.

Sunday's ordaining ceremony was originally planned in
Palembang but was later shifted amidst signs of possible
intimidation, according to Saut Sirait, a spokesman for the
dissident Nababan board.

This is the first time that Jakarta has hosted such a
ceremony, Sirait said.

Nababan, who is also Vice Chairman of the World Churches
Council, appreciated the support of the new ministers, according
to the statement.

"It's not an easy decision to be ordained amidst this
difficult situation," he said. "Our mission now is to strive for
religious freedom. In our case, it is a freedom to observe our
constitution."

Bishop Simanjuntak was elected by a military-sponsored grand
synod in Tarutung, North Sumatra, in March of last. They have
alleged it was rigged.

They continue to press for a new grand synod. (prs/smb)