LCMS and GKLI Discussions

Pictured -- LCMS: Rev. Daniel Preus, Fourth Vice-President; Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations; Mr. Darin Storkson, LCMS Southern Asia Regional Director. GKLI: The Rt Rev Aladin Sitio, Bishop; The Rev. Jon Albert Saragih, Secretray General; The Rev. Manahan Saragih, Pastor, Consistory Member; Vicar Simson Siregar, Assistant to the Bishop.

The Gereja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI) – Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church split off from the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) – Protestant Christian Batak Church in 1965. The first and founding bishop, Rev. J. Sinaga, of the GKLI was a former pastor in the HKBP. After he attended Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN, in 1957. He returned to Indonesia with a new appreciation of Lutheranism and became increasingly frustrated with the influences of modernization and secularization upon the HKBP. He made attempts to reform the HKBP. Because of the secularization that came upon the HKBP in 1958, he wanted to return the church to pure Lutheran doctrine. In 1950 the HKBP had written its own confession, “The Confession of Faith of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant,” (adopted 28 to 30 November 1958).

Rev. Sinaga’s attempts at reform were not received by the HKBP and he was excommunicated. The pastors and members who were sympathetic to Rev. Sinaga’s attempts decided to leave with him, even though the GKLI was not yet formed. They separated themselves from the HKBP, and eventually founded a movement within the HKBP, called the HKBP-Lutheran. (This might be considered akin to the Swedish Mission Provence today.) There was not originally an intention to begin a new church body. But HKBP forbad them from using the name HKBP-Lutheran. Like Martin Luther after reform failed, Pastor Sinaga felt compelled to form a new church body known as the Gereja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI) – Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church, 18 May 1965. His efforts to return the HKBP to a more Lutheran orientation.


The basis for the teaching of the he Gereja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI) – Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church is the Augsburg Confession. Rev. Sinaga translated the Augsburg Confession into Batak (not Indonesian because most of the members were not proficient in Indonesian at the time) in 1958.



The current GKLI constitution, Article II – Titled Faith, “The GKLI believes in the Triune God as revealed in Holy Scripture and confesses that the Old Testament and New Testament are the sole sources for the teaching and order of the true Church and confesses that the three ecumenical creeds, the unaltered Augsburg Confession, and the Small and Large Catechisms of Luther are correct interpretations of the Word of God.”

So while initially the founding bishop was alone in his efforts, he started an informal school for teaching and training Lutheran pastors. This eventually became the GKLI seminary that is in operation to this day. In March 2012 about 50 students attend the GKLI seminary: 20 are men and preparing for the Holy Ministry; 30 are women training for other church work. The seminary has 10 professors / lecturers. For many years the Norwegian Lutheran Church has assisted the GKLI, particularly in the area of theological education.



Juanita S. studied at the GKLI seminary to be a church musician. She would like to serve as a deaconess.

The GKLI has been aware of the LCMS for many years. The Lutheran Witness and the Reporter reached members of the GKLI 20 or more years ago. The GKLI has had the unexpressed desire to have discussions and fellowship with the LCMS for quite sometime. One pastor mentioned that we have been waiting for more than 15 years for contact with the LCMS. The Secretary General of the GKLI said that today is a historic day that will be remembered 100 years from now, that is, the discussions between the LCMS and GKLI.



A picture of LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison with Bishop Aladin Sitio appears on the cover of the April - June 2012 GKLI Preaching Journal, "Evangelium."

As of March 2012, the GKLI has 90 Congregations, 24 Circuits, 30 Pastors, and 17,000+ Members. The GKLI voted unanimously to be in fellowship with the LCMS in November 2011.


Mr. Darin Storkson, LCMS Regional Director of Southern Asia and Bishop Aladin Sitio. Darin Storkson laid much of the ground work for the discussions between the GKLI and the LCMS. He also interpreted between Indonesian and English for our discussions.

17 March 2012

- Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jalan Sisingamangaraja,Medan,Indonesia

Indonesia, Luther Academy, and GKLI

Revs. Charles Henrickson and Daniel Preus present for Luther Academy to Indonesian pastors on the topic of "The Two Kingdoms."

My trip to Indonesia for discussions between the LCMS and the Gereja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI) – Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church corresponded with a Luther Academy event on the two kingdoms in Medan. This fortuitous correspondence allowed Rev Daniel Preus, the fourth vice-president of the LCMS, to participate in the discussions with the GKLI. The GKLI began in 1965 as a breakaway from the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) – Protestant Christian Batak Church. The GKLI has the Augsburg Confession as the basis of its confession.



Presentation of greetings and presentation of gifts from the LCMS to Bishop Aladin and the GKLI.



Mr. Darin Storkson, Dr. Albert Collver, Bishop Aladin, Rev. Daniel Preus, Rev. Charles Henrickson are pictured after receiving the traditional Indonesian gift for prosperity, the ulos.



A plaque commemorating the occasion of our visit.




Matins was used for worship, including the Te Deum in Indonesian.

Discussions continued on Saturday.

Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jalan Sisingamangaraja,Medan,Indonesia

Around Medan -- Houses of Worship

With the call to prayer from a muezzin at a nearby mosque awaking us from sleep before sunrise, we had an early breakfast around 6 am and then the opportunity to go around Medan on a becak (a cycle rickshaw). Although becaks are banned by law in Jakarta, they are quite popular in Medan (and in the slums of Jakarta). Riding through Medan on a becak is a great way to experience Medan, see the sites, and smell the city.



Darin Storkson, Regional Director of the South Asia Region, negotiates with the becak driver for transport around Medan.



Medan has few places that would be called tourist attractions. Most of the buildings of colonial Dutch architecture have either fallen into disrepair or have been torn down to make room for modern buildings such as parking garages or malls. One of the most impressive buildings architecturally is the Great Mosque, which was our first stop.



Outside the gates of the Great Mosque, which was built in 1906. The domes are supposed to symbolize the vaults of heaven.



The minaret is the tallest part of the mosque. Historically, the minaret developed in the 7th century to put mosques on pair with the bell towers of Christian churches.



Collver stands outside the mosque in Medan. Nearby the mosque is a cemetery, which is not a common occurrence. After visiting the mosque, we stopped at the St. Mary Cathedral.



Medan was established as an Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in 1961.



The side of the cathedral in Medan.



A statue of the Virgin Mary above the entryway to the cathedral.



The sanctuary adorned for Lent.



The crucifixion of Jesus portrayed in the sanctuary.



Inside the hymnal of the Medan archdiocese is Lutheran pastor, Paul Gerhardt's hymn, "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunded," ("O Sacred Head Now Wounded") in Indonesian. The title in Indonesian reads, "O Bloody Head." A small Lutheran influence on the Roman Catholic church.

Tomorrow, we will look at the Lutheran church in North Sumatra (Medan).

Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jalan Sisingamangaraja,Medan,Indonesia

WMLT in Indonesia

Rev. Nelson (HKBP) with Dr. Collver

Last evening we, Mr. Darin Storkson and myself, had the opportunity to meet informally with Rev. Nelson Siregar of the Protestant Batak Christian Church (HKBP) in Medan, Indonesia. Rev. Nelson is the Head of the Diakonia Department for the HKBP. I first met Rev. Nelson on a trip to Indonesia in 2006 after the tsunami that killed 200,000 people. At the time LCMS World Relief and Human Care began a project with Rev. Nelson and the HKBP to assist people affected by the tsunami and a subsequent earthquake in JoJakarta. Now Regional Director of South Asia, Mr. Darin Storkson was instrumental in forming these connections. We presently are in Indonesia to forge stronger connections between the LCMS and other Lutheran Churches here.

Last evening was a good opportunity to strengthen connections with Rev. Nelson, who is very appreciative of the LCMS emphasis on Witness, Mercy, Life Together.

Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jalan Sisingamangaraja,Medan,Indonesia

Medan Indonesia

Arrived in Medan, this morning from Singapore after a 20 hour flight (about 10,000 miles). Pictured above is the Polonia International Airport in Medan.



A panoramic photo from the 7th floor of the Grand Antares Hotel in Medan. The city of Medan began as a small village around 1590 by Guru Patimpus. It is named after Medina in Saudi Arabia. Medan is the capital of the North Sumatra province in Indonesia. Located on the northern coast, Medan is the fourth largest city in Indonesia (behind Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung), and the largest Indonesian city outside Java.


An interesting building viewed from my hotel room.




Approximately a half dozen mosques visible from my hotel window. Pictured above is the great mosque of Medan. A Muezzin calls the neighborhood to prayer five times a day over a loud speaker. Often times this call to pray will wake up you from sleep during the night.

It is the rainy season so it is very hot and humid this time of year. We will be meeting with various Lutheran leaders. More later.

Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Jalan Sisingamangaja, Medan, Indonesia

A Brief Catalog of Press Stories Regarding President Harrison's Testimony Before Congress on Religious Freedom

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison's February 16, 2012, testimony before Congress with representatives of the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, and Jewish on the threat to religious liberty posed by the contraception mandate recently promulgated by President Barack Obama's Health and Human Services department has generated significant press coverage.

President Harrison testified in a hearing titled, "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" 

President Harrison testified: "I'm here because there is a narrow but very significant provision in the HHS provisions that is, I believe, very dangerous to religious people with our kind of convictions -- and it's also dangerous to any religious people with unique convictions."

Below is a brief catalog of press stories about President Harrison's testimony before congress on religious freedom:

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch Story About President Harrison's Congressional Testimony

Tim Townsend of the  Saint Louis Post-Dispatch wrote a story titled, "Lutheran leader sides with Catholics on contraceptives issue in fiery testimony."

New York Times Coverage

The New York Times covered the event with a story titled, "Passions Flare as House Debates Birth Control Rule." The NY Times writes quotes Harrison, "'I pray for the president every day,'” Mr. Harrison said, even as he expressed 'deep distress' over the new policy and complained of 'government intrusions into Christian conscience and practice.'"

Fox News Coverage

Fox News posted a story titled, "Contraception ruling: Democrats accuse clergy of complicity with GOP at hearing." Fox News quoted President Harrison testifying, "While we are grandfathered under the very narrow provisions of the HHS policy, we are deeply concerned that our consciences may soon be martyred by a few strokes on the keyboard."

CBS News Coverage

CBS News displayed its bias with a story titled, "Dems decry all-male House panel on WH contraception rule." CBS News quoted President Harrison, "Religious people determine what violates their consciences -- not the federal government. Please get the federal government, Mr. Chairman, out of our consciences."

CNN Front Page Coverage

CNN posted a story on their front page titled, "Culture War 2.0: The New Front Lines." CNN did not quote President Harrison.

Molly Hemingway wrote a clever-titled story, "A Lutheran, a Jew, a Baptist and a Catholic Walk Into A Hearing." 

THOMAS MESSER, an LCMS pastor, wrote an op-ed piece, "Religious liberty on trial in America."

Maggie Karner, LCMS Director of Life and Health Ministries wrote a piece titled, "Where the Women Were During the House Contraception Mandate Hearing," for Christianity Today.

St. Louis Radio Host Interviews LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison on HHS Ruling

On Friday, Feb. 17, KMOX radio host Charlie Brennan interviewed LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison on his appearance before a House committee regarding the recent HHS mandate on health insurance and its mandatory coverage of contraceptives.

You can listen to the audio file of the eight-minute interview by clicking either here or here.
 
Right-click here to save MP3

President Harrison's testimony before Congress can be seen here:



The LCMS Webpage also is maintaing up-to-date coverage at http://www.lcms.org/hhsmandate.

-- Posted by  Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations

Haiti Visit Continued - LCC and LCMS

In Jacmel, Haiti, President Robert Bugbee of the Lutheran Church Canada (LCC) and President Marky Kessa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) stand in front of a medical clinic donated to the ELCH by LCMS World Relief and Human Care after the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince and severely damaged Jacmel and also Leogane.

Two years after the earthquake, this historic street in Jacmel is still badly damaged. This was a section of town with some of the oldest buildings dating to the time of the French occupation in the late 18th century.

A United Nations tent city still remains in Jacmel. Two years ago when I visited the tent city in Jacmel, Canada United Nations forces provided security for the earthquake survivors. In a blogpost, I wrote:
"The children being children made toys from discarded bicycle tire rims and a stick. A few other children made kites from scraps of plastic wrap or bags and a few sticks. The kite string was dental foss. In the midst of the disaster, the children can still play."
Today, the children still play and there has been improvement to the city of Jacmel... Not to mention the completion of two Lutheran Villages.

Pastor Willy Gaspar and Ulna, the manager of the medical clinic in Jacmel, look over a list of needed medications.

Dr. Collver stands with Sydney Kessa in front of the Lutheran Guest House in Jacmel. A couple of short term teams from the LCMS stayed in the guest house this past month as they volunteered in Haiti.

Driving back from Jacmel to Port-au-Prince, a several hour drive through the mountains, we saw evidence of the challenges which beset Haiti. The problems and challenges of Haiti were only exacerbated by the earthquake. Nearly every SUV type vehicle was branded with the logo of one of the ten thousand non-governmental organizations (NGO) that operate in Haiti. Yet unbridled charity from the United States and other countries will not solve these problems.

On the way back to the hotel in Port-au-Prince, we drove past the collapsed presidential palace so that President Bugbee could see it. Our Haitian driver mentioned that every American wants to see the collapsed palace. I asked him, "Do you think it will be repaired?" He responded, "They will try to do something. This is our 9/11."

President Bugbee reflecting on the trip remarked, "When we think of the sorrow and other human tragedies brought on by the earthquake here, I can't help but think of that mighty refrain from Psalm 46, 'The Lord of hosts is with us.' In the middle of all their sorrow, our friends n Haiti are finding that He is with them in a big way in the faithful preaching of the Gospel. I can only hope that the Missouri Synod and the LCC can be the Lord's instruments to deepen these wonderful people in their commitment to Christ, His Word, and our Lutheran Confession."
Kyrie Eleison.
-- Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, LCMS Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad