Pasundan Christian Church

Pasundan Christian Church
Gereja Kristen Pasundan
AbbreviationGKP
TypeChristianity
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationReformed
ScripturePresbyterian
ChairmanRev. Edward Tureay
General SecretaryRev. Ferly David
Deputy Gen. Sec.Rev. T. Adama
AssociationsWorld Communion of Reformed Churches
RegionIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian, English
LiturgyNew Testament
HeadquartersJalan Pasirkaliki 121-123,
PO Box 1051,
Bandung 40010, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
TerritoryIndonesia
FounderJ. Iken (Dutch evangelist),
D. Abednego (Dutch writer),
Tan Goan Tjong (treasurer)
Origin14 November 1934; 90 years ago (1934-11-14)
Bandung, Jawa Barat
Separated fromSociety for Internal and External Mission in Batavia
Congregations51
Members33,000
Ministers83
Missionaries5 vicars
HospitalsRumah Sakit Immanuel, Bandung
Nursing homesTanjung Barat Orphanage
(Panti Asuhan Tanjung Barat)
Tertiary institutionsMaranatha Christian University
(Universitas Kristen Maranatha)
Official websiteGKP.or.id
SloganYesus Kristus Terang Dunia
(Jesus Christ is the Light of the World)

The Pasundan Christian Church (Indonesian: Gereja Kristen Pasundan - GKP) was officially established in Indonesia (then Netherlands East Indies) on 14 November 1934; 90 years ago (1934-11-14).[1] It has 51 congregations and 33,000 members.[2] It is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).[2][3][4]

Whilst Indonesia was predominantly a Muslim country, the early Christian church in Indonesia was founded by Dutch missionaries, in the western part of Java island in 1863; 162 years ago (1863).[1] The missionaries took a very antithetic attitude toward Islam and the Sundanese culture. The progress was very slow. Meanwhile, a Dutch layman collected some converts using less orthodox methods, with the forms of the Javanese magical learning. In 1885, these two streams united, and in 1934, when it had 4,000 members, a presbyterian synod was formed.[1] In 1942, several hardships occurred, and lasted to the fifties because of the Islamic revolts. The church survived, and consolidated. It now runs several schools and hospitals.[1]

Ecumenical institution memberships

The Pasundan Christian Church is a member of a number of ecumenical institutions, including the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia PGI),[2] specifically: the Communion of Churches in Indonesia West Java Region (PGIW-JABAR), the Communion of Churches in Indonesia DKI Jakarta Region (PGIW-DKI Jakarta), the Communion of Churches in Indonesia Banten Region (PGIW-Banten), along with the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA, Konferensi Kristen Asia),[2] the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC, Aliansi Gereja-Gereja Reformasi Dunia), and the World Council of Churches (WCC, Dewan Gereja-Gereja Sedunia, since 1960).[2]

Partner churches

The Pasundan Christian Church has collaborated with Basel Mission from Switzerland,[2] the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (Gereja Protestan di Belanda, Dutch: de Protestantse Kerk in Nederland, abbreviated PKN), and the Indonesia Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Indonesia, GKI) of the West Java Regional Synod.

It has also pioneered the establishment of the Indonesian Christian Teacher Education College, itself the forerunner of the Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana), Salatiga. Until now, it has sent its delegates to the Satya Wacana Christian Higher Education Foundation, which is the foundation that manages SWCU.

The Pasundan Christian Church has an ecumenical cooperation relationship with one of the presbyteral churches in South Korea, namely, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK).

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b c d "Address database of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. Reformed Online - Stiftung Johannes a Lasco Bibliothek Grosse Kirche Emden. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Pasundan Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Pasundan, GKP)". Oikoumene.org. World Council of Churches. 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Members | Our Regions". WCRC.ch. World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  4. ^ "WCRC Indonesia - Communion of Reformed Churches in Indonesia". Oaseintim.org. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
Further reading