Church and Its Connections with Politics, State, and Democracy

IL News 005/2015

Strategic Forum of Church and Politics

Jakarta, February 9th-12th, 2015

Politics! A word that carries two contradictory extremes. On one side, it is seen as dirty and taboo, so one shouldn’t have to involve themselves in it. On the other side, it is very captivating, that many people involve themselves in it, though without enough understanding and skill.

What about the church’s views about politics? What is the relation of the church and politics? This topic was discussed in the Strategic Forum of Church and Politics (FSGP) that was held in Jakarta, February 9th-12th 2015. This forum aims to discuss the relation of church and politics, and to develop a working program for the church as an implementation of this relation.

FSGP I was attended by 13 representatives from 6 synods, Synod of Protestant Maluku Church (GPM), Synod of Protestant Batak Karo Church (GBKP), Synod of Toraja Mamasa Church (GTM), Synod of Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST), Synod of Church in Timor (GMIT), and Synod of Toraja Church (GT). The 13 representative present were policy makers from the church synods such as the Synod Chairperson, Synod General Secretary, Head of Church Theological Institute, etc.

In this event, the representatives were given understanding regarding the relation of Church and Politics from several prominent speakers, I.e. Rev. Dr. Andreas A. Yewangoe, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Council of Churches in Indonesia (about “Church and Politics”), Dr. Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow of Leimena Institute (about “Pastors and Politics”), Dr. Maruarar Siahaan, Rector of Indonesian Christian University (about “Church and the Legal Empowerment Strategy”), Dr. Yonki Karman, Lecturer of Jakarta Theological Seminary and Peter Jacobs, Communication Director from Indonesia Central Bank (about “Church and Corruption Empowerment Strategy”), and also Jakob Tobing, President of Leimena Insitute (about “Church and Citizen Empowerment Strategy”).

The church representatives gave positive response about this first FSGP. The topics given by the speakers were deemed to be very mind-opening and gave them new insights. Through discussions, the church representatives were able to recount the condition of their churches, and were able to sharpen each other’s views in strengthening the role of church in politics.

Hopefully, the result from this Forum will be beneficial for Indonesian churches to gain a correct view of politics and to strengthen the role of churches to be a light in all aspects of life, including politics. The relation of church and politics as the result of FSGP is formulated as follows:

“We believe that Jesus Christ is God (Kurios) whom to Him was given all the power both on earth and in heaven. Therefore, all executions of power has to be judged under Christ’s Lordship, who comes not to be served but to serve.”