IL News 011/2015
IKAN Forum (Forum of Christian Faith and Actual State Problems)
Jakarta, April 30th, 2015
Leimena Institute held the Forum of Christian Faith and Actual State Problems (IKAN Forum) on the 30th of April, 2015, as its first event of 2015. The theme was “Church and Politics”, featuring Rev. Dr. Andreas A. Yewangoe, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, as the speaker. The participants were people serving in various institutions, starting from the Supreme Court Judge, Indonesian People’s Representative, former Constitutional Judge, to university professors and the media. They also gave their thoughts and experience regarding church and politics.
It cannot be denied that there are many thoughts claiming that politics is dirty. Thus, the church should distance themselves from it. Rev. Yewangoe emphasized that such thought is so outdated! The church in fact should involve itself in politics, in order to reach a fair and orderly.
There are many Christians who serve in various governmental institutions and holds strategic position to make the fair and orderly life. The church needs to develop a sensitivity to support them, in the right ways. The church also needs to strengthen the relationship and has dialogues with them, enabling a good coordination to reach the nation’s dream.