Churches more independent now

Churches more independent now

JAYAPUA, Irian Jaya: The Communion of Churches in Indonesia
(PGI) has continued to work well with its foreign counterparts
although they have reduced their donations significantly, PGI
treasurer Frans Tumiwa told journalists yesterday.

Tumiwa said the decrease in financial aid from overseas
churches showed that PGI had developed itself to be more self-
reliant. Now 68 percent of its financial needs are covered by
contributions from local congregations.

Speaking here in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesia's
eastern-most province of Irian Jaya, where PGI is currently
holding its congress, Tumiwa said the Communion had launched a
three-pronged program aimed at enhancing its self-reliance in
financial matters.

The Antara news agency quoted him as saying that over the past
five years PGI had spent some Rp 2.6 billion to help churches
across the country to implement their programs. (ego)