PGI's 14th congress kicks off

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI) is scheduled to kick off its 14th annual national congress on Tuesday to find better ways to serve their people.

PGI chairman priest Nathan Setiabudi will open the conggress, which will hear the speech from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday night.

The congress will be attended by representatives from protestant churches across the country, and plans to discuss, among others, changes in PGI's structures and also issues that concern on how churches can better serve the Indonesian community.

After the opening ceremony, the participants will hold a holy service together.

Prior to the national congress, two internal congresses were held by PGI's youth and women wings.

The youth wing's congress, which ended on Saturday, resulted in a number of recommendations to be brought to the national congress, such as how the wing can play a more strategic role in PGI.

The youth wing also drafted a proposal of changes in PGI strucures.

The youth wing's congress also urged churches to develop a cooperation and network with other public and religious institutions in the country.