GMS Bantul Congregation Abandons Pakuwon Mall Worship Plans Due to Distance

The GMS Bantul congregation has abandoned plans to hold worship services at Pakuwon Mall in Sleman, as previously agreed upon by the regional security committee (Forkopimda) and the church. GMS has now explained the reasoning behind this decision.

Josiah Michael, GMS Central Public Relations, explained that the congregation would not hold services at Pakuwon Mall due to the excessive distance from Bantul. “The plan to worship at Pakuwon Mall has been called off because it’s too far for the congregation from Bantul,” Josiah told detikJogja on Sunday (31 May 2026).

Instead, GMS members are holding online services today. The information was shared via GMS’s official Instagram account, @gmschurch. “Yes, the service is online. We are following the guidance and will not hold onsite worship this week in Bantul,” Josiah added.

Josiah hopes this online service will be a one-off, as gathering in person is a religious obligation. The church is continuing to coordinate with the Bantul Regency government to secure permits for services at their Sewon location. “We hope this is the only online service, since worship requires congregation. We’ll keep coordinating with the Bantul Regency. Please pray for a quick resolution,” he concluded.

Previously, Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih stated that after the church’s worship was disbanded, the regional security committee and GMS Sewon agreed that the church building would temporarily not be used, with congregants holding services at Pakuwon Mall. “It was agreed yesterday that the building would not be used for worship temporarily,” Halim told reporters at the Manunggal Grand Mosque in Bantul on Wednesday (27 May 2026).

When asked if the regency government would facilitate temporary worship space, Halim said it was not part of the agreement, so the local government cannot provide alternative venues. “We are following the previous agreement that our Christian brethren in GMS should not use the building temporarily,” he said.

At the same location, Bantul Police Chief AKBP Bayu Puji Hariyanto confirmed a coordination meeting was held with relevant parties, including the regency government and GMS Bantul. “We held a coordination meeting with relevant parties, including GMS Church and the regency government. The outcome was that they would temporarily hold services at Pakuwon Mall while awaiting permit approval. That was the agreement,” he said.