Batak Christian Protestant Church
Encyclopedia
The Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP), 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 (or Bishop) Rev. Dr. Bonar Napitupulu.
and Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk
did intensive research on Batak language and culture in the 1840s, a new attempt was done in 1861 by several missionaries sent out by the German Rhenish Missionary Society
(RMG). The first Bataks were baptized in this year. In 1864, Dr. Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen
from Rhenish Missionary Society Germany , reached the Batak region and founded a village called "Huta Dame" (village of peace) in the district of Tapanuli
in Tarutung
, North Sumatra
.
The RMG was associated with the Unierte Kirche, or union of Lutheran
and Reformed
churches. However, Dr. Nommensen and local leaders developed an approach that applied local custom to Christian belief.
Already 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 headquarter is located until this day.
In 1889, the RMG sent out Sr. Hester Needham who started the work with girls and women and later established the first Batak deaconesses.
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, Pakpak).
In 1917, the “Hatopan Christen Batak” (HCB) which later became one of the nucleus for the independent Batak church, was founded in Tapanuli as a social movement.
In 1922, the first General Synod ("Sinode Godang") of all Batak congregations was held
In 1931 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. Rev. Sirait was chosen by the synod the first indigenous ephorus of HKBP.
In 1952, while maintaining its indigenous character, the HKBP became a member of the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF). 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
region remain the stronghold for the HKBP in the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia, although worshippers are found throughout Indonesia and the United States.
Well known HKBP congregants include Amir Sjarifuddin
(only Christian prime minister of Indonesia), Todung Sutan Gunung (TSG) Mulia (second Indonesian education minister), and General Tahi Bonar (TB) Simatupang.
In January 2010 two churches were burnt down in Sibuhuan
.
.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
denomination in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, with a baptized membership of 4,178,256. Its present leader is the Ephorus (or Bishop) Rev. Dr. Bonar Napitupulu.
History
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 30s, but without any success. After Franz Wilhelm JunghuhnFranz Wilhelm Junghuhn
Friedrich Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn , was a German botanist. His father, Friedrich Junghuhn was a barber and a surgeon. His mother was Christine Marie Schiele. Junghuhn studied medicine in Halle and in Berlin from 1827 to 1831, meanwhile publishing a seminal paper on mushrooms in Limnaea...
and Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk
Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk
Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk was a Bible translator and linguist specialising in the languages of the Dutch East Indies.-Early years and studies:...
did intensive research on Batak language and culture in the 1840s, a new attempt was done in 1861 by several missionaries sent out by the German Rhenish Missionary Society
Rhenish Missionary Society
The Rhenish Missionary Society was one of the largest missionary societies in Germany. Formed from smaller missions founded as far back as 1799, the Society was amalgamated on 23 September 1828, and its first missionaries were ordained and sent off to South Africa by the end of the year.The...
(RMG). The first Bataks were baptized in this year. In 1864, Dr. 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...
from Rhenish Missionary Society Germany , reached the Batak region and founded a village called "Huta Dame" (village of peace) in the district of Tapanuli
North Tapanuli Regency
North Tapanuli Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Tarutung. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 3791 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 405,323....
in Tarutung
Tarutung
Tarutung is a town in North Sumatra province of Indonesia and it is the seat of North Tapanuli Regency.Tarutung in Batak language means durian, because there was a lot of durian trees there....
, North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
.
The RMG was associated with the Unierte Kirche, or union of Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
churches. However, Dr. Nommensen and local leaders developed an approach that applied local custom to Christian belief.
Already 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 headquarter is located until this day.
In 1889, the RMG sent out Sr. Hester Needham who started the work with girls and women and later established the first Batak deaconesses.
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, Pakpak).
In 1917, the “Hatopan Christen Batak” (HCB) which later became one of the nucleus for the independent Batak church, was founded in Tapanuli as a social movement.
In 1922, the first General Synod ("Sinode Godang") of all Batak congregations was held
In 1931 HKBP became the first independent self-governing Christian body in what was then the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
In 1940, all Germans working for the RMG, including pastors and ministers, were detained by the Dutch government. Rev. Sirait was chosen by the synod the first indigenous ephorus of HKBP.
In 1952, while maintaining its indigenous character, the HKBP became a member of the Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
(LWF). In 1954, HKBP founded Nommensen University
HKBP Nommensen University
Universitas HKBP Nommensen or UHN is a private university with campuses located in Medan and Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The university is affiliated with the Batak Christian Protestant Church and is named after the German missionary Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen from the Rhenish...
. 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
Batak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
region remain the stronghold for the HKBP in the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia, although worshippers are found throughout Indonesia and the United States.
Well known HKBP congregants include Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin
Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap, also spelled Amir Sjarifoeddin Harahap was a socialist politician and one of the Indonesian Republic's first leaders, becoming Prime Minister during the country's National Revolution. A Christian convert from a Muslim Batak family, Amir was a major leader of the Left...
(only Christian prime minister of Indonesia), Todung Sutan Gunung (TSG) Mulia (second Indonesian education minister), and General Tahi Bonar (TB) Simatupang.
In January 2010 two churches were burnt down in Sibuhuan
Sibuhuan
Sibuhuan is a district which is also the capital of Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Sibuhuan is the administrative center of Padang Lawas Regency which is a formerly part of South Tapanuli Regency....
.
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 agendaAgenda (liturgy)
The name Agenda is given, particularly in the Lutheran Church, to the official books dealing with the forms andceremonies of divine service.- The Term; its Equivalents Before the Reformation :...
.