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)