Our Lutheran Companion in North Sumatra: The HKBP

Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP)

HISTORY
The Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP, pronounced, "hah-kah-bay-pay") grew out of the efforts of the German Rhenish Missionary Society, which began work in Batak country in 1861. In 1940, the HKBP became the first major independent and self-governing church body in what was then the Dutch East Indies. The majority of the members were rural folks, engaged in small farming and living in villages, but many of the members reside in cities.

Led by a resolute and clear-sighted missionary, Ludwig Ingwar Nommensen, "the Apostle to the Bataks," the missionaries moved northward toward Lake Toba from the area near present-day Sibolga. They translated the Bible into Batak, and led whole villages and tribes to become Christian, instead of making individual conversions.

PRESENT SITUATION
Women have an important role in the life of the HKBP. Choirs, study and prayer groups, and service groups engage women of all ages. An increasing number are gaining leadership roles, not only as ordained pastors but also as Bible women (parish educators). There also is strong emphases on youth ministry, social services, health care, and development. The singing of many choirs in Batak worship are a vibrant expression of spiritual life and an invitation to the common praise of God. It is not uncommon for each Sunday morning worship service to feature 4 or more different choirs (men's choir, women's, youth choir, etc).

Although an exact figure is difficult to pin down, there are probably almost 4 million members of the HKBP in Indonesia, with HKBP parishes having spread to Europe and the United States. There currently 4 HKBP parishes in the United States which are full-communion partners with the ELCA.

The major ELCA participation in health care in Indonesia has been through the Community Health Development program of the Bethesda Hospital, an institution and program of the Simalungun Christian Protestant Church. It has an integrated rural health and development program which works with family planning, school health, nutrition, and maternal and child health.

The HKBP Theological College serves most of the Lutheran and other Protestant churches in North Sumatra. Most students come from rural villages and have not been well prepared for university work. The college concentrates on reading skills, learning English, and bringing their general education to an acceptable level as well as theological training. A Theological Education by Extension program based in Pematangsiantar provides theological education for congregational leaders.

The HKBP Nommensen University, opened in 1954, is the largest Lutheran university in the world. It has campuses in Pematang Siantar and Medan in North Sumatra. It has schools of education, agriculture, economics, technology, business administration, and language and the arts.

The ELCA also relates to other Lutheran churches in Indonesia:

Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia (GKPI) -- 255,601 members -- joined LWF in 1975
Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (GKLI) -- 16,895 members -- joined LWF in 1994
Simalungun Protestant Christian Church (GKPS) -- 190,417 members -- joined LWF in 1967
And the Karo Batak Protestant Church (GBKP) -- 225,000 members

The ELCA is companion to two Christian universities on the island of Java with graduate programs in religion which make significant contributions to interfaith understanding: Satya Wacana Christian University (its graduate program on Religion and Society) and Duta Wacana Christian University (its Center for Religious Studies).

QUICK FACTS

Web Page www.hkbp.or.id
Church Leader Ephorus Rev. Dr. Bonar Napitupulu
Location Sumatra, Indonesia
Headquarters Pearaja, Tarutung, Sumatra
Languages Indonesian and Batak
Members 3,000.000+
Church Structure 26 Districts
Memberships:
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), since 1952
World Council of Churches (WCC)
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
United Evangelical Mission - Communion of Churches in Three Continents (UEM)
Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI)