Batak Christian Protestant Church

The Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP, or Batak

Batak Christian Protestant
Christian Protestant Church in English") is a Lutheran church
among the Batak people, generally the Toba Batak in Indonesia. It Church
uses the Dutch Reformed style of worship due to the Dutch Huria Kristen Batak Protestan
colonial heritage at the time it was founded.[2] With a membership
of 4,133,000,[3] it is one of the largest Protestant churches in
Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Its present leader is Ephorus
(bishop) Robinson Butarbutar.[4]

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 1830s, but without any success. Abbreviation HKBP
After Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn and Herman Neubronner van der Classification Protestant
Tuuk did intensive research on Batak language and culture in the Orientation Lutheran
1840s, a new attempt was made in 1861 by several missionaries
sent out by the German Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG). The Theology HKBP
first Bataks were baptized during this year. In 1864, Ludwig Confession[1]
Ingwer Nommensen of the RMG reached the Batak region and Polity Episcopal
founded a village called "Huta Dame" (village of peace) in the
Ephorus Rev. Robinson
district of North Tapanuli Regency in Tarutung, North Sumatra.
Butarbutar
The RMG was associated with the uniting churches also called a Associations See below
merged denomination that includes a Lutheran element. However,
Region Indonesia, United
Nommensen and local leaders developed an approach that applied
local custom to Christian belief. States,
Singapore and
In 1868, a local seminary for the education of teachers was opened Malaysia
in Sipirok, and in 1877 a seminary for the education of preachers Language
was built in Pansurnapitu. 1881, Nommensen was officially Indonesian
nominated "ephorus" of the Batak congregations by the RMG. In Toba Batak
1885, the first Batak ministers were ordained in Pearaja Tarutung,
where the HKBP headquarters is still located. Origin 7 October 1861
Separated from Rhenish
In 1889, the RMG sent out Hester Needham who started the work Missionary
with girls and women and later established the first Batak
Society (RMG)
deaconess. In the last quarter of the 19th century, further
missionaries of the RMG were sent out to the other Batak tribes Members 4,133,000
(Angkola, Dairi, Simalungun, Karo, and Pakpak). Official website hkbp.or.id (http://
www.hkbp.or.id/)
In 1917, the "Hatopan Christen Batak" (HCB) which later became
one of the nuclei for the independent Batak church, was founded
in Tapanuli as a social movement.
In 1922, the first General Synod ("Sinode Godang") for all
Batak congregations was held. In 1931 the 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. The Rev. Sirait was chosen by the synod as the
first indigenous ephorus of HKBP.

In 1952, while maintaining its indigenous character, the

HKBP became a member of the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF).[5] 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
Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen
factor of ten and also remains in communion with daughter
church bodies through the LWF. Tarutung and the Batak
lands region remain the stronghold for the HKBP in
the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia,
although worshippers are found throughout
Indonesia and worldwide.[6]

Well known HKBP congregants include Amir

Sjarifuddin (the only Christian prime minister of
Indonesia), Todung Sutan Gunung (TSG) Mulia (the
second Indonesian education minister), and General
Tahi Bonar (TB) Simatupang.

In January 2010 two churches were burnt down in

Sibuhuan.[7] Church in Balige, North Sumatra, built since 1917

Ecumenical relations
HKBP is a member of and active participant in the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of
Asia, Lutheran World Federation, Asia Lutheran Communion,[8] and Communion of Churches in
Indonesia.

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 agenda.[9]

Leaders

Ephoruses

No. Name From Until Notes

The Rev. Ludwig Ingwer

1. 1881 1918 First ephorus
Nommensen
2. The Rev. Valentin Kessel 1918 1920 Temporary officeholder of ephorus

3. The Rev. Johannes Warneck 1920 1932

4. The Rev. P. Landgrebe 1932 1936

5. The Rev. E. Verwiebe 1936 1940

6. The Rev. K. Sirait 1940 1942 The first Batak that became Ephorus.

7. The Rev. Justin Sihombing 1942 1962

8. The Rev T. S. Sihombing 1962 1974 Elected in Special General Synod.

9. The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan 1974 1986

HKBP Crisis happened from 1992 to 1998 that resulted
10. The Rev. S. A. E. Nababan 1986 1998
in dualism of HKBP's leadership until 1998.

The Rev. S. M. Siahaan (as a

11. 1992 1993
bishop or ephorus)

12. The Rev. P. W. T. Simanjuntak 1993 1998 Elected in Special General Synod.
1998 1998 Elected as temporary officeholder of bishop.
13. The Rev. J. R. Hutauruk
1998 2004 Elected in Reconciliation General Synod

The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu 2004 2008

14. Elected in the 59th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon
The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu 2008 2012
Seminarium.[10]

Elected in the 61st HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon

15. The Rev. W. T. P. Simarmata 2012 2016
Seminarium.[11]
Elected in the 62nd HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon
16. The Rev. Darwin Lumbantobing 2016 2020
Seminarium.[12]
Elected in the 65th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon
17. The Rev. Robinson Butarbutar 2020 2024
Seminarium.[13]
[14]

General secretaries

No. Name From Until Notes

1. The Rev. Karimuda Sitompul 1950 1957 First Secretary General of HKBP

2. The Rev. T. S. Sihombing 1957 1962

3. The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan 1962 1974

4. The Rev. F. H. Sianipar 1974 1978

5. The Rev. P. M. Sihombing 1978 1986

6. The Rev. O. P. T. Simorangkir 1986 1992

7. The Rev. S. M. Siahaan 1992 1998

8. The Rev. W. T. P. Simarmata 1998 2008

9. The Rev. Ramlan Hutahaean 2008 2012

10. The Rev. Mory Sihombing 2012 2016

11. The Rev. David F. Sibuea[15] 2016 2020

12. The Rev. Victor Tinambunan[13] 2020 2024

[14]

Head of Koinonia Department

No. Name From Until Notes

1. The Rev. Bistok M. Siagian 2004 2008

2. The Rev. Jamilin Sirait 2008 2012

3. The Rev. Welman P. Tampubolon 2012 2016

4. The Rev. Martongo Sitinjak 2016 2020

5. The Rev. Deonal Sinaga 2020 2024

[14]

Head of Marturia Department

No. Name From Until Notes

1. The Rev. Manumpan H. Sihite 2004 2008

2. The Rev. Binsar Nainggolan 2008 2012

3. The Rev. Marolop P. Sinaga 2012 2016

4. The Rev. Anna Ch. Vera Pangaribuan 2016 2020

[14]

Head of Diakonia Department

No. Name From Until Notes

1. The Rev. Nelson F. Siregar 2004 2012

2. The Rev. Bihelman D. F. Sidabutar 2012 2016

3. The Rev. Debora Purada Sinaga 2016 2020

[14]

See also
Protestantism in Indonesia

References
1. "Konfesi HKBP" (https://hans5958.github.io/HKBP-Guidebook/konfesi-hkbp/). HKBP-
Guidebook.com. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
2. "HKBP: Gereja Lutheran Gado-gado" (https://saenababan.com/2021/08/30/hkbp-gereja-luth
eran-gado-gado/). SAEnababan.com. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
3. "Indonesia" (https://www.lutheranworld.org/country/indonesia). Lutheran World Federation.
Retrieved 15 September 2023.
4. "Serah Terima Jabatan Pimpinan HKBP Periode 2016-2020 Kepada Pimpinan HKBP
Periode 2020-2024" (https://hkbp.or.id/article/serah-terima-jabatan-pimpinan-hkbp-periode-2
016-2020-kepada-pimpinan-hkbp-periode-2020-2024).
5. Aritonang, Jan Sihar; Steenbrink, Karel (2008), A history of Christianity in Indonesia (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=cUoGJSs9yOUC), Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill
NV, p. 554, ISBN 978-90-04-17026-1, retrieved 30 November 2010, "Membership of LWF
was not promptly achieved because one of the requirements was that HKBP had to accept
the Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran church. The HKBP leaders were aware that they
were not purely Lutheran since they had inherited from the RMG the so-called Uniert
tradition, that is a union or combination of Calvinist and Lutheran traditions, and they wanted
to define their own theological identity. To solve this problem, HKBP formulated its own
confession in 1951 that on the one hand adopted the Augsburg Confession and on the other
hand reflected its own theological struggle and standpoint. The LWF assembly in 1952
accepted this Confessie HKBP 1951 as not contrary to the Lutheran doctrine and
confession."
6. Hillerbrand, Hans Joachim (2004), "Batak Protestant Christian Church of Indonesia" (https://
books.google.com/books?id=4bnvbTel4Y4C&pg=PA337), The encyclopedia of
Protestantism (https://books.google.com/books?id=4bnvbTel4Y4C), vol. 1, New York:
Routledge (Taylor & Francis), pp. 337–338, ISBN 0-415-92472-3, retrieved 1 December
2010
 7. Hariyadi, Mathias (23 January 2010). "North Sumatra, two Protestant churches burnt: "too
many faithful and too many prayers" " (http://www.asianews.it/news-en/North-Sumatra,-two-P
rotestant-churches-burnt:-too-many-faithful-and-too-many-prayers-17427.html). AsiaNews.
Retrieved 7 January 2012. "A crowd of at least 1000 people burned down two Protestant
churches last night in Sibuhuan (district of Padang Lawas, North Sumatra). The blaze was
the culmination of tension between the faithful and the local Islamic community, tired of
seeing "too many faithful and too many prayers" in a place not registered as a church."
8. "Asia" (https://asia.lutheranworld.org/). Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved 13 November
2022.
9. Newman, Albert Henry (1951) [1909], "Agenda" (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc01.htm
l?term=Agenda), in Jackson, Samuel Macauley; Loetscher, Lefferts A. (eds.), The New
Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of religious knowledge (https://books.google.com/books?id=lg
GfW-WFjpIC), Christian Classics Etherial Library, vol. I, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book
House, pp. 84–86, ISBN 0-8010-7947-0, retrieved 31 May 2011
10. Hari Ini, Pucuk Pimpinan HKBP Periode 2008–2012 Dilantik di Pearaja, Harian Sinar
Indonesia Baru (http://hariansib.com/2008/09/07/hari-ini-pucuk-pimpinan-hkbp-periode-2008
-2012-dilantik-di-pearaja/), diakses 7 September 2008
11. Ini Dia Para Pemimpin HKBP (Ephorus, Sekjen, Kadep) dan Daftar Praeses HKBP yang
Baru Periode 2012 – 2016, Pargodungan.org (http://pargodungan.org/ini-dia-para-pemimpin
-hkbp-ephorus-sekjen-kadep-dan-daftar-praeses-hkbp-yang-baru-periode-2012-2016/),
diakses 14 Oktober 2013
12. "Darwin Lumbantobing Terpilih Jadi Ephorus HKBP" (https://regional.kompas.com/read/xml/
2016/09/16/08033611/darwin.lumbantobing.terpilih.jadi.ephorus.hkbp). KOMPAS.com (in
Indonesian). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
13. markus (14 December 2020). "Pdt Dr Robinson Butarbutar, Ephorus HKBP Periode 2020-
2024" (https://pgi.or.id/pdt-dr-robinson-butarbutar-ephorus-hkbp-periode-2020-2024/).
Website PGI (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 September 2021.
14. Headquarters of HKBP (2018). ALMANAK HKBP 2018 (in Batak Toba). Pearaja, Tarutung:
HKBP Printing. p. 17.
15. "Pdt David Farel Sibuea, Sekjen HKBP 2016-2020 (http://pelitabatak.com/news/-Pdt-David-
Farel-Sibuea-MTh-Sekjen-HKBP-Periode-2016-2020/)"

External links
Official website (http://www.hkbp.or.id)
van Klinken, Gerry. "Battle for the Pews" (https://web.archive.org/web/20051124190134/htt
p://www.serve.com/~inside/edit49/hkbp.htm). www.serve.com. Inside Indonesia. Archived
from the original (http://www.serve.com/~inside/edit49/hkbp.htm) on 24 November 2005.
Retrieved 2 February 2018.
Sekolah Tinggi Theologia (Theological Seminary) HKBP (http://stt-hkbp.blogspot.com)

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