Protestantism in Indonesia
Encyclopedia
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
s in the country, the others being Islam
Islam in Indonesia
Islam is the dominant religion in Indonesia, which also has a larger Muslim population than any other country in the world, with approximately 202.9 million identified as Muslim as of 2009....
, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism
Hinduism in Indonesia
Hinduism in Indonesia, also known by its formal Indonesian name Agama Hindu Dharma, refers to Hinduism as practised in Indonesia. According to the 2000 census Hindus consisted 1.79% of the total population with 88.05% in Bali and 5.89% in Central Kalimantan...
, Buddhism
Buddhism in Indonesia
Buddhism in Indonesia has a long history, with a considerable range of relics dated from its earlier years in Indonesia. Buddhism is recognized as one of six official religions in Indonesia, along with Islam, Christianity , Hinduism and Confucianism.According to the 2000 national census, roughly...
, and Confucianism
Confucianism in Indonesia
Established in 1955, the Supreme Council for Confucian Religion in Indonesia , is a religious organization to promote the development of the teaching of Confucius.-History:...
.. According to CIA statistic, in 2000 5.7% of the population of Indonesia are Protestant. Although religious freedom is guaranteed, all Indonesians must belong to one of the recognised religions.
History of Protestantism in Indonesia
Protestantism arrived in Indonesia during the Dutch East Indies colonization. By the mid 1700's a significant Lutheran presence was found in JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, with a Lutheran church built by the Lutheran Governor General Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff in 1749. In 1817, the Dutch founded the Protestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indie ("Indische Kerk") as a union of Reformed, Lutheran, Baptists, Arminian and Mennonite denominations. In 1835, the Dutch king decreed that one church council would fuse and oversee the Protestant denominations in the Dutch colony.
Demographics of Protestantism in Indonesia
On the island of Sulawesi, 17% of the citizens are Protestants, particularly in Tana TorajaTana Toraja
Tana Toraja Regency is a regency of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, home of Toraja ethnic group people. The local government seat is in Makale, where the center of Toraja culture is in Rantepao...
and North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
. Up to 65% of the Torajan population are Protestant. In some parts of the country, entire villages belong to a distinct denomination, such as Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...
, Lutheran, Presbyterian or Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
. Two provinces have Protestant majorities: North Sulawesi (64%) and Papua (60%). Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa
Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa
Javanese Mennonite Church is one of three Mennonite-related church synods in Indonesia.-Location:...
is a Mennonite-related denomination. Huria Kristen Batak Protestant
Huria Kristen Batak Protestant
The Huria Kristen Batak Protestan , which translates into the Batak Christian Protestant Church, is the largest Protestant denomination in Indonesia, with a baptized membership of 4,178,256. Its present leader is the Ephorus Rev. Dr...
is a Lutheran denomination founded by Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen
Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen
Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen was a German Lutheran missionary to Sumatra who also translated the New Testament into the native Batak language. Stephen Neill, a historian of missions, considered Nommensen one of the greatest missionaries of all time...
. It is the largest Protestant denomination in Indonesia and has over 4 million congregants. The relatively large number of "denominations" per capita in Indonesia may be due to the significant number of different ethnic groups in Indonesia. Many Indonesian Protestants tend to congregate based more on ethnicity than liturgical differences.
Indonesian Protestant Churches Affiliated with Lutheranism
Indonesian churchs recognized by the Lutheran World Federation as Lutheran or affiliated with Lutheran are:- Banua Niha Keriso Protestan (BNKP) – The Protestant Church in Nias Island
- Gereja Angowuloa Masehi Indonesia Nias (AMIN)-Christian Communion of Indonesia in Nias
- Gereja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI) – Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church
- Gereja Kristen Protestan Angkola (GKPA) – Christian Protestant Angkola Church
- Gereja Kristen Protestan di Mentawai (GKPM) – Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai (fka PKPM)
- Gereja Kristen Protestan Indonesia (GKPI) – Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
- Gereja Kristen Protestan Pakpak Dairi (GKPPD) – Pakpak Dairi Protestant Christian Church
- Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (GKPS) – Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
- Gereja Punguan Kristen Batak (GPKB) – Batak Christian Community Church
- Gereja Protestan Persekutuan (GPP) – The United Protestant Church
- Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) – Protestant Christian Batak Church
- Huria Kristen Indonesia (HKI) – The Indonesian Christian Church (a.k.a. Christian Church in Mentawai)
HKI, GMB, GKPS, GKPI, GKLI, GKPA, GPP, and GKPPD all split from HKBP. GKLI maintains a strong relationship with the Norwegian Lutheran Church
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. GKPM was founded by HKBP missionaries. Although the BNKP and HKBP have historically cooperated, no official relationship exists between those entities. AMIN split from BNKP and retains more of a Lutheran identity.
See also
- Religion in IndonesiaReligion in IndonesiaThe first principle of Indonesia's ideology states that Pancasila: "belief in the one and only God". A number of different religions are practiced in the country, and their collective influence on the country's political, economical and cultural life is significant. As of 2011, the population was...
- Christianity among the Batak
- Gereja Pantekosta di IndonesiaGereja Pantekosta di IndonesiaPentecostal Church in Indonesia is a Pentecostal denomination of Indonesia. It was founded in 1921 and claims a seven-digit-membership. It used to bear the name Vereeniging De Pinkstergemeente in Nederlandsch Oost Indie...