Wikipedia

Batak Christian Protestant Church

The Batak Christian Protestant Church (Batak Toba: Huria Kristen Batak Protestan), abbreviated as HKBP, is an Evangelical Lutheran church among the Batak ethnic group, generally the Toba Batak people of Indonesia. This church uses an Ecumenical worship style influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church due to the influence of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, as well as the Pietistic legacy left by the Rhenish Missionary Society when the church was founded.[2] With a membership more than 6,500,000 (as of 2024),[3][4] the church synod is the largest among the Protestant churches in Indonesia. It is one of the largest Protestant churches in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, making it the third largest religious organization in Indonesia after Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.[5] Its present leader is Ephorus (bishop) Victor Tinambunan.[6]

Batak Christian Protestant Church
Huria Kristen Batak Protestan
AbbreviationHKBP
ClassificationChristianity
OrientationProtestant
ScriptureProtestant Bible
TheologyLutheran (with influences of Protestant Unionism)[a]
PolityEpiscopal
First EphorusLudwig Ingwer Nommensen
Current EphorusVictor Tinambunan
AssociationsSee below
RegionIndonesia, United States, Europe, Singapore, and Malaysia
LanguageIndonesian, Toba Batak
HeadquartersHutatoruan V, Tarutung, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Origin7 October 1861
Separated fromRhenish Missionary Society (RMG)
Separations
Members> 6,500,000 (as of 2024)
Official websitehkbp.or.id

HKBP also has several churches abroad, such as in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States of America.

HKBP is headquartered in Pearaja (North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra) which is about 1 km from the city center of Tarutung, the capital of the regency. Pearaja is a village located along the road to Central Tapanuli Regency and Sibolga city. The HKBP headquarters complex is located in an area of about 20 hectares (49 acres). In this complex there is also an Ephorus (bishop) as the head of the HKBP office. Although Toba Batak is the majority ethnic group, HKBP is also open to other ethnic groups.[7]

History

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Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen

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. After Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn and Herman Neubronner van der Tuuk did intensive research on Batak language and culture in the 1840s, a new attempt was made in 1861 by several missionaries sent out by the German Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG). The first Bataks were baptized during this year. In 1864, Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen of the RMG reached the Batak region and founded a village called "Huta Dame" (village of peace) in the district of North Tapanuli Regency in Tarutung, North Sumatra.

The RMG was associated with the uniting churches also called a merged denomination that includes a Lutheran element. However, Nommensen and local leaders developed an approach that applied local custom to Christian belief.

In 1868, a local seminary for the education of teachers was opened in Sipirok, and in 1877 a seminary for the education of preachers was built in Pansurnapitu. 1881, Nommensen was officially nominated "ephorus" of the Batak congregations by the RMG. In 1885, the first Batak ministers were ordained in Pearaja Tarutung, where the HKBP headquarters is still located.

In 1889, the RMG sent out Hester Needham who started the work with girls and women and later established the first Batak deaconess. In the last quarter of the 19th century, further missionaries of the RMG were sent out to the other Batak tribes (Angkola, Dairi, Simalungun, Karo, and Pakpak).

HKBP Headquarters Complex in Pearaja, Tarutung, North Sumatra
Church in Balige, North Sumatra, built since 1917
Church in Medan, North Sumatra, built since 1952
The Interior, Altar, and Pulpit of HKBP Balige
The Interior, Altar, and Pulpit of HKBP Medan Sudirman

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).[8] 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 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.[9]

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 by extremist mobs in Sibuhuan.[10]

Nommensen Pietism

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The HKBP represents a unique ecclesiastical phenomenon often described as Nommensen Pietism. While frequently classified under the Lutheran umbrella due to its membership in the Lutheran World Federation, the HKBP is a distinct denomination whose identity is defined by a synthesis of Rhenish Pietism, the Uniert (Union) tradition, and Batak customary law (Adat).[11] This theological framework serves as a parallel to the Moravian Church, which similarly occupies a space between traditional Lutheranism and a specialized, heart-centric piety.

The roots of the HKBP lie in the Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG), founded in 1828 in Barmen, Germany. The RMG was a product of the German Pietist movement, specifically a branch that sought to move beyond the rigid doctrinal debates of 17th-century Lutheran Orthodoxy in favor of "living faith" and personal conversion.[12] Unlike the state churches of Germany, the RMG was a "Union" mission, meaning it combined elements of both Lutheran and Reformed (Calvinist) traditions.[13]

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen arrived in Sumatra in 1862 carrying this Rhenish heritage. His approach, which established the foundation of Nommensen Pietism, was characterized by:

  • Volkskirche (People's Church): A strategy in which the church was not merely a religious institution but the primary social and legal stabilizer for the Batak people.[14]
  • Cultural Transformation: Rather than abolishing Adat, Nommensen "baptized" it, integrating Christian ethics into the existing tribal social structure.[15]
  • Pietistic Discipline: An emphasis on communal singing, prayer meetings, and strict moral supervision, which continues to define the "vibe" of HKBP congregations today.

The HKBP is often mistakenly viewed as a mere branch of Lutheranism. However, several factors establish its status as a distinct denomination. While traditional Lutherans adhere strictly to the Book of Concord of 1580, the HKBP formulated its own Confessi HKBP in 1951. This document was created specifically to address the unique cultural and theological challenges of the Batak context, such as the relationship between the Gospel and ancestral traditions. Because of its RMG origins, the HKBP retains a hybrid liturgy and a view of the sacraments that incorporates Reformed influences, making it technically Evangelical Lutheran-leaning rather than Confessional Lutheran. Much like the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum), the HKBP maintains a sister relationship with Lutheranism but remains independent. For Moravians, it is the "Heart-Relationship with the Savior"; for the HKBP, it is the "Community of the Batak People under Christ."[16] Both groups are members of the LWF, but they do so as autonomous partners who contribute a unique pietistic spirit that standard Lutheranism often lacks.[citation needed]

Ecumenical relations

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HKBP is a member of and participant in:

Organisation Member since Note & Ref.
World Council of Churches 1948 [17]
Communion of Churches in Indonesia 1950 Founding member.[18]
Lutheran World Federation 1952 [19]
Christian Conference of Asia 1957 Founding member.[20][21]
United Evangelical Mission [de] 1996 [22][23]

Agenda

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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.[24]

Leaders

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Ephoruses

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No.NameFromUntilNotes
1.The Rt Rev. Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen18811918First ephorus
2.The Rev. Valentin Kessel19181920Temporary officeholder of Ephorus, due to the First World War preventing Johannes Warneck from arriving.
3.The Rev. Johannes Warneck19201932
4.The Rev. P. Landgrebe19321936
5.The Rev. E. Verwiebe19361940Interned by the Dutch colonial government after the German invasion of the Netherlands.
6.The Rev. K. Sirait19401942The first Batak that became Ephorus.
7.The Rev. Justin Sihombing19421962
8.The Rev T. S. Sihombing19621974Elected in Special General Synod.
9.The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan19741986
10.The Rev. S. A. E. Nababan19861998HKBP Crisis happened from 1992 to 1998 that resulted in dualism of HKBP's leadership until 1998.
11. The Rev. S. M. Siahaan (as Bishop or Ephorus) 1992 1993
12.The Rev. P. W. T. Simanjuntak19931998Elected in Special General Synod.
13.The Rev. J.R. Hutauruk19981998Elected as temporary officeholder of Bishop.
19982004Elected in Reconciliation General Synod.
14.The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu20042008
The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu20082012Elected in the 59th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[25]
15.The Rev. W. T. P. Simarmata20122016Elected in the 61st HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[26]
16.The Rev. Darwin Lumbantobing20162020Elected in the 62nd HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[27]
17.The Rev. Robinson Butarbutar20202024Elected in the 65th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[28]
18.The Rev. Victor Tinambunan20242028Elected in the 67th HKBP General Synod in Sipolohon Seminarium.[29]

General secretaries

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No.NameFromUntilNotes
1.The Rev. Karimuda Sitompul19501957First Secretary General of HKBP
2.The Rev. T. S. Sihombing19571962
3.The Rev. G. H. M. Siahaan19621974
4.The Rev. F. H. Sianipar19741978
5.The Rev. P. M. Sihombing19781986
6.The Rev. O. P. T. Simorangkir19861992
7.The Rev. S. M. Siahaan19921998
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[30] 2016 2020
12. The Rev. Victor Tinambunan 2020 2024
13. The Rev. Rikson Hutahaean 2024 2028

Head of Koinonia Department

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No.NameFromUntilNotes
1.The Rev. Bistok M. Siagian20042008
2.The Rev. Jamilin Sirait20082012
3.The Rev. Welman P. Tampubolon20122016
4.The Rev. Martongo Sitinjak20162020
5.The Rev. Deonal Sinaga20202028

Head of Marturia Department

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No.NameFromUntilNotes
1.The Rev. Manumpan H. Sihite20042008
2.The Rev. Binsar Nainggolan20082012
3.The Rev. Marolop P. Sinaga20122016
4.The Rev. Anna Ch. Vera Pangaribuan20162020
5.The Rev. Kardi Simanjuntak20202022
6.The Rev. Daniel T. A. Harahap20222024
7.The Rev. Bernard Manik20242028

Head of Diakonia Department

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No.NameFromUntilNotes
1.The Rev. Nelson F. Siregar20042012
2.The Rev. Bihelman D. F. Sidabutar20122016
3.The Rev. Debora Purada Sinaga20162024
4.The Rev. Eldarton Simbolon20242028
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See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ HKBP Confession[1]

References

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  1. ↑ "Konfesi HKBP". HKBP-Guidebook.com (in Indonesian). 22 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "HKBP: Gereja Lutheran Gado-gado". SAEnababan.com (in Indonesian). 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Antara (23 December 2024). "HKBP tekankan pentingnya kerja sama dengan pemerintah". antaranews.com (in Indonesian).
  4. ↑ VIVA (24 December 2024). "HKBP Bakal Fokus di 3 Sektor Ini Selama 4 Tahun ke Depan". ceritakita.viva.co.id (in Indonesian).
  5. ↑ Batak Gaul. "HKBP Organisasi Keagamaan Terbesar Ketiga di Indonesia". Batak Gaul (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Sosok Pendeta Victor Tinambunan, Ephorus HKBP Terpilih di Sinode Godang ke-67, Raih 1.125 Suara". Tribun-medan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Pinem, Masmedia; Burhanudin, Dede; Cahyadi, Indrawan; Rohanda, Rohanda; Nurjaman, Andri (23 August 2024). "Reviving Faith: The Dynamic Legacy of HKBP Resort Balige Church". Hanifiya: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama. 7 (2): 173–192. doi:10.15575/hanifiya.v7i2.37495. ISSN 2722-2772. Retrieved 28 November 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  8. ↑ Aritonang, Jan Sihar; Steenbrink, Karel (2008), A history of Christianity in Indonesia, 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.
  9. ↑ Hillerbrand, Hans Joachim (2004), "Batak Protestant Christian Church of Indonesia", The encyclopedia of Protestantism, vol. 1, New York: Routledge (Taylor & Francis), pp. 337–338, ISBN 0-415-92472-3, retrieved 1 December 2010
  10. ↑ Hariyadi, Mathias (23 January 2010). "North Sumatra, two Protestant churches burnt: "too many faithful and too many prayers"". 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.
  11. ↑ Aritonang, Jan S., Mission Schools in Batakland (Indonesia): 1861-1940, Brill, 1994, p. 2.
  12. ↑ Spener, Philipp Jakob, Pia Desideria, 1675. (Primary source of the Pietist movement).
  13. ↑ The Sharp Contrasts of Sumatra," Brill, 2018, p. 14.
  14. ↑ Nommensen, L.I., Berichte an seine Freunde, 1882.
  15. ↑ "The Role of HKBP Church in Preserving Batak Cultural Identity," Jurnal Sosial Teknologi, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Spirit of the Moravian Church," Wikipedia, citing Shawe (1977).
  17. ↑ "Protestant Christian Batak Church". World Council of Churches. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  18. ↑ PGI.OR.ID. "Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP)". PGI.OR.ID (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "Member Churches". lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 30 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "History | CCA". www.cca.org.hk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "Asian Christians celebrate diamond jubilee of first regional ecumenical group". www.anglicannews.org. 16 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Pauly, Martina. "Who we are". www.vemission.org. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  23. ↑ Pauly, Martina. "25 Years United in Mission". www.vemission.org. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  24. ↑ Newman, Albert Henry (1951) [1909], "Agenda", in Jackson, Samuel Macauley; Loetscher, Lefferts A. (eds.), The New Schaff-Herzog encyclopedia of religious knowledge, Christian Classics Etherial Library, vol. I, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, pp. 84–86, ISBN 0-8010-7947-0, retrieved 31 May 2011 {{citation}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  25. ↑ Hari Ini, Pucuk Pimpinan HKBP Periode 2008–2012 Dilantik di Pearaja, Harian Sinar Indonesia Baru[permanent dead link], diakses 7 September 2008
  26. ↑ Ini Dia Para Pemimpin HKBP (Ephorus, Sekjen, Kadep) dan Daftar Praeses HKBP yang Baru Periode 2012 – 2016, Pargodungan.org, diakses 14 Oktober 2013
  27. ↑ "Darwin Lumbantobing Terpilih Jadi Ephorus HKBP". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  28. ↑ markus (14 December 2020). "Pdt Dr Robinson Butarbutar, Ephorus HKBP Periode 2020-2024". Website PGI (in Indonesian). Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  29. ↑ "Sosok Pendeta Victor Tinambunan, Ephorus HKBP Terpilih di Sinode Godang ke-67, Raih 1.125 Suara". Tribun-medan.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "Pdt. David F. Sibuaea, Sekjen HKBP 2016–2020". pelitabatak.com (in Indonesian). 7 December 2024.
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