Batak Christian Protestant Church

The Batak Christian Protestant Church (Indonesian: Huria Kristen Batak Protestan), abbreviated as HKBP, is an Evangelical Lutheran church among the Batak ethnic group, generally the Toba Batak people of Indonesia. This church uses an Ecumenical worship style influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church due to the influence of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, as well as the legacy obtained from the Rhenish Missionary Society when the church was founded.^[2] With a membership of 4,133,000,^[3] the church synod is the largest among the Protestant churches in Indonesia it is one of the largest Protestant churches in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, making it the third largest religious organization in Indonesia after Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.^[4] Its present leader is Ephorus (bishop) Victor Tinambunan.^[5]

Batak Christian Protestant Church
Huria Kristen Batak Protestan
Abbreviation	HKBP
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Lutheran
Scripture	Protestant Bible
Theology	HKBP Confession[1]
Polity	Episcopal
Ephorus	Rev. Victor Tinambunan [id]
Associations	See below
Region	Indonesia, United States, Singapore and Malaysia
Language	Indonesian, Toba Batak
Headquarters	Hutatoruan V, Tarutung, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Origin	7 October 1861
Separated from	Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG)
Members	4,133,000
Official website	hkbp.or.id

HKBP also has several churches abroad, such as in Singapore, Malaysia, and in California, New York, and Colorado in the United States.

HKBP is headquartered in Pearaja (North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra) which is about 1 km from the city center of Tarutung, the capital of the regency. Pearaja is a village located along the road to Central Tapanuli Regency and Sibolga city. The HKBP office complex, the administrative center of the HKBP organization, is located in an area of ± 20 hectares. In this complex there is also an Ephorus (bishop) as the head of the HKBP office. Although using the name Batak, HKBP is also open to other ethnic groups.^[6]

History

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen

The first Protestant missionaries who tried to reach the Batak highlands of inner Northern Sumatra were English and American Baptist preachers in the 1820s and 1830s, but without any success. After Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn and Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk did intensive research on Batak language and culture in the 1840s, a new attempt was made in 1861 by several missionaries sent out by the German Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG). The first Bataks were baptized during this year. In 1864, Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen of the RMG reached the Batak region and founded a village called "Huta Dame" (village of peace) in the district of North Tapanuli Regency in Tarutung, North Sumatra.

The RMG was associated with the uniting churches also called a merged denomination that includes a Lutheran element. However, Nommensen and local leaders developed an approach that applied local custom to Christian belief.

In 1868, a local seminary for the education of teachers was opened in Sipirok, and in 1877 a seminary for the education of preachers was built in Pansurnapitu. 1881, Nommensen was officially nominated "ephorus" of the Batak congregations by the RMG. In 1885, the first Batak ministers were ordained in Pearaja Tarutung, where the HKBP headquarters is still located.

In 1889, the RMG sent out Hester Needham who started the work with girls and women and later established the first Batak deaconess. In the last quarter of the 19th century, further missionaries of the RMG were sent out to the other Batak tribes (Angkola, Dairi, Simalungun, Karo, and Pakpak).

Church in Balige, North Sumatra, built since 1917

Church in Medan, North Sumatra, built since 1952

The Interior, Altar, and Pulpit of HKBP Balige

The Interior, Altar, and Pulpit of HKBP Medan Sudirman

In 1917, the "Hatopan Christen Batak" (HCB) which later became one of the nuclei for the independent Batak church, was founded in Tapanuli as a social movement.

In 1922, the first General Synod ("Sinode Godang") for all Batak congregations was held. In 1931 the HKBP became the first independent self-governing Christian body in what was then the Dutch East Indies.

In 1940, all Germans working for the RMG, including pastors and ministers, were detained by the Dutch government. The Rev. Sirait was chosen by the synod as the first indigenous ephorus of HKBP.

In 1952, while maintaining its indigenous character, the HKBP became a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).^[7] In 1954, HKBP founded Nommensen University. In 1977, Sekolah Tinggi Theologia (STT or "Theological Seminary") HKBP split from Nommensen University.

Over the years, a number of church bodies have split from HKBP for various cultural and doctrinal reasons. However, HKBP remains the largest Indonesian LWF member by a factor of ten and also remains in communion with daughter church bodies through the LWF. Tarutung and the Batak lands region remain the stronghold for the HKBP in the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia, although worshippers are found throughout Indonesia and worldwide.^[8]

Well known HKBP congregants include Amir Sjarifuddin (the only Christian prime minister of Indonesia), Todung Sutan Gunung (TSG) Mulia (the second Indonesian education minister), and General Tahi Bonar (TB) Simatupang.

In January 2010 two churches were burnt down by extremist mobs in Sibuhuan.^[9]

Ecumenical relations

HKBP is a member of and active participant in the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, Lutheran World Federation, Asia Lutheran Communion,^[10] and Communion of Churches in Indonesia.

Agenda

The book of liturgical procedure used by the HKBP is referred to as the "Agenda" or formerly as the "Agende". This term comes from the European Protestant use of agenda.^[11]

Further information on the book of hymns in the Batak language: Buku Ende

Leaders

Ephoruses

No.	Name	From	Until	Notes
1.	The Rev. Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen	1881	1918	First ephorus
2.	The Rev. Valentin Kessel	1918	1920	Temporary officeholder of Ephorus, due to the First World War preventing Johannes Warneck from arriving.
3.	The Rev. Johannes Warneck	1920	1932
4.	The Rev. P. Landgrebe	1932	1936
5.	The Rev. E. Verwiebe	1936	1940	Interned by the Dutch colonial government after the German invasion of the Netherlands.
6.	The Rev. K. Sirait	1940	1942	The first Batak that became Ephorus.
7.	The Rev. Justin Sihombing	1942	1962
8.	The Rev T. S. Sihombing	1962	1974	Elected in Special General Synod.
9.	The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan	1974	1986
10.	The Rev. S. A. E. Nababan	1986	1998	HKBP Crisis happened from 1992 to 1998 that resulted in dualism of HKBP's leadership until 1998.
11.	The Rev. S. M. Siahaan (as Bishop or Ephorus)	1992	1993
12.	The Rev. P. W. T. Simanjuntak	1993	1998	Elected in Special General Synod.
13.	The Rev. J. R. Hutauruk	1998	1998	Elected as temporary officeholder of Bishop.
		1998	2004	Elected in Reconciliation General Synod.
14.	The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu	2004	2008
	The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu	2008	2012	Elected in the 59th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[12]
15.	The Rev. W. T. P. Simarmata	2012	2016	Elected in the 61st HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[13]
16.	The Rev. Darwin Lumbantobing	2016	2020	Elected in the 62nd HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[14]
17.	The Rev. Robinson Butarbutar	2020	2024	Elected in the 65th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[15]
18.	The Rev. Victor Tinambunan	2024	2028	Elected in the 67th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[16]

General secretaries

No.	Name	From	Until	Notes
1.	The Rev. Karimuda Sitompul	1950	1957	First Secretary General of HKBP
2.	The Rev. T. S. Sihombing	1957	1962
3.	The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan	1962	1974
4.	The Rev. F. H. Sianipar	1974	1978
5.	The Rev. P. M. Sihombing	1978	1986
6.	The Rev. O. P. T. Simorangkir	1986	1992
7.	The Rev. S. M. Siahaan	1992	1998
8.	The Rev. W. T. P. Simarmata	1998	2008
9.	The Rev. Ramlan Hutahaean	2008	2012
10.	The Rev. Mory Sihombing	2012	2016
11.	The Rev. David F. Sibuea[17]	2016	2020
12.	The Rev. Victor Tinambunan	2020	2024
13.	The Rev. Rikson Hutahaean	2024	2028

Head of Koinonia Department

No.	Name	From	Until	Notes
1.	The Rev. Bistok M. Siagian	2004	2008
2.	The Rev. Jamilin Sirait	2008	2012
3.	The Rev. Welman P. Tampubolon	2012	2016
4.	The Rev. Martongo Sitinjak	2016	2020
5.	The Rev. Deonal Sinaga	2020	2028

Head of Marturia Department

No.	Name	From	Until	Notes
1.	The Rev. Manumpan H. Sihite	2004	2008
2.	The Rev. Binsar Nainggolan	2008	2012
3.	The Rev. Marolop P. Sinaga	2012	2016
4.	The Rev. Anna Ch. Vera Pangaribuan	2016	2020
5.	The Rev. Kardi Simanjuntak	2020	2022
6.	The Rev. Daniel T. A. Harahap	2022	2024
7.	The Rev. Bernard Manik	2024	2028

Head of Diakonia Department

No.	Name	From	Until	Notes
1.	The Rev. Nelson F. Siregar	2004	2012
2.	The Rev. Bihelman D. F. Sidabutar	2012	2016
3.	The Rev. Debora Purada Sinaga	2016	2024
4.	The Rev. Eldarton Simbolon	2024	2028

See also

• Protestantism in Indonesia

References

1. "Konfesi HKBP". HKBP-Guidebook.com. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
2. "HKBP: Gereja Lutheran Gado-gado". SAEnababan.com. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
3. "Indonesia". Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
4. Batak Gaul. "HKBP Organisasi Keagamaan Terbesar Ketiga di Indonesia". Batak Gaul (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
5. "Sosok Pendeta Victor Tinambunan, Ephorus HKBP Terpilih di Sinode Godang ke-67, Raih 1.125 Suara". Tribun-medan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
6. Pinem, Masmedia; Burhanudin, Dede; Cahyadi, Indrawan; Rohanda, Rohanda; Nurjaman, Andri (23 August 2024). "Reviving Faith: The Dynamic Legacy of HKBP Resort Balige Church". Hanifiya: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama. 7 (2): 173–192. doi:10.15575/hanifiya.v7i2.37495. ISSN 2722-2772. Retrieved 28 November 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
7. Aritonang, Jan Sihar; Steenbrink, Karel (2008), A history of Christianity in Indonesia, Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill NV, p. 554, ISBN 978-90-04-17026-1, retrieved 30 November 2010, Membership of LWF was not promptly achieved because one of the requirements was that HKBP had to accept the Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran church. The HKBP leaders were aware that they were not purely Lutheran since they had inherited from the RMG the so-called Uniert tradition, that is a union or combination of Calvinist and Lutheran traditions, and they wanted to define their own theological identity. To solve this problem, HKBP formulated its own confession in 1951 that on the one hand adopted the Augsburg Confession and on the other hand reflected its own theological struggle and standpoint. The LWF assembly in 1952 accepted this Confessie HKBP 1951 as not contrary to the Lutheran doctrine and confession.
8. Hillerbrand, Hans Joachim (2004), "Batak Protestant Christian Church of Indonesia", The encyclopedia of Protestantism, vol. 1, New York: Routledge (Taylor & Francis), pp. 337–338, ISBN 0-415-92472-3, retrieved 1 December 2010
9. Hariyadi, Mathias (23 January 2010). "North Sumatra, two Protestant churches burnt: "too many faithful and too many prayers"". AsiaNews. Retrieved 7 January 2012. A crowd of at least 1000 people burned down two Protestant churches last night in Sibuhuan (district of Padang Lawas, North Sumatra). The blaze was the culmination of tension between the faithful and the local Islamic community, tired of seeing "too many faithful and too many prayers" in a place not registered as a church.
10. "Asia". Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
11. Newman, Albert Henry (1951) [1909], "Agenda", in Jackson, Samuel Macauley; Loetscher, Lefferts A. (eds.), The New Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of religious knowledge, Christian Classics Etherial Library, vol. I, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, pp. 84–86, ISBN 0-8010-7947-0, retrieved 31 May 2011
12. Hari Ini, Pucuk Pimpinan HKBP Periode 2008–2012 Dilantik di Pearaja, Harian Sinar Indonesia Baru^{[permanent dead link‍]}, diakses 7 September 2008
13. Ini Dia Para Pemimpin HKBP (Ephorus, Sekjen, Kadep) dan Daftar Praeses HKBP yang Baru Periode 2012 – 2016, Pargodungan.org, diakses 14 Oktober 2013
14. "Darwin Lumbantobing Terpilih Jadi Ephorus HKBP". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
15. markus (14 December 2020). "Pdt Dr Robinson Butarbutar, Ephorus HKBP Periode 2020-2024". Website PGI (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 September 2021.
16. "Sosok Pendeta Victor Tinambunan, Ephorus HKBP Terpilih di Sinode Godang ke-67, Raih 1.125 Suara". Tribun-medan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
17. "Pdt. David F. Sibuaea, Sekjen HKBP 2016–2020". pelitabatak.com (in Indonesian). 7 December 2024.

External links

• Official website
• van Klinken, Gerry. "Battle for the Pews". www.serve.com. Inside Indonesia. Archived from the original on 24 November 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
• Sekolah Tinggi Theologia (Theological Seminary) HKBP