The Batak Christian Protestant Church (), abbreviated as HKBP, is an

Evangelical Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

church among the

Batak Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of closely related Austronesian peoples, Austronesian ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia, who speak Batak languages. The term is used to include the Karo people ( ...

ethnic group, generally the Toba Batak people of

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. This church uses an Ecumenical worship style influenced by the

Dutch Reformed Church The Dutch Reformed Church (, , abbreviated NHK ) was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the traditional denomination of the Dutch royal famil ...

due to the influence of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, as well as the legacy obtained from the

Rhenish Missionary Society The Rhenish Missionary Society (''Rhenish'' of the river Rhine; , ''RMG'') was one of the largest Protestant missionary society, missionary societies in Germany. Formed from smaller missions founded as far back as 1799, the Society was amalgamate ...

when the church was founded. With a membership of 4,133,000, the church synod is the largest among the Protestant churches in Indonesia it is one of the largest

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

churches in Indonesia and

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

, making it the third largest religious organization in Indonesia after

Nahdlatul Ulama Nahdlatul Ulama (, , NU) is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Its membership numbered over 40 million in 2023, making it the largest Islamic organization in the world. NU is also a charitable body funding schools and hospitals as well as or ...

and

Muhammadiyah Muhammadiyah (), officially Muhammadiyah Society () is a major Islamic non-governmental organization in Indonesia.A. Jalil HamidTackle the rising cost of living longer New Straits Times, 30 October 2016. Accessed 1 November 2016. The organization ...

. Its present leader is ''Ephorus'' (

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

) Victor Tinambunan. HKBP also has several churches abroad, such as in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

, and in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, and

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. HKBP is headquartered in Pearaja ( North Tapanuli Regency,

North Sumatra North Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Its capital and largest city is Medan on the east coast of the island. It borders Aceh to the northwest, Riau to the sou ...

) 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 office complex, the administrative center of the HKBP organization, is located in an area of ± 20 hectares. In this complex there is also an Ephorus (

) as the head of the HKBP office. Although using the name Batak and the membership is dominated by that ethnic group, HKBP is also open to other

ethnic groups An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, rel ...

History

The first Protestant missionaries who tried to reach the

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

(RMG). The first Bataks were baptized during this year. In 1864,

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen (6 February 1834 – 23 May 1918) was a Danish (now German) Lutheran missionary to Bataks, Batak lands, North Sumatra who also translated the New Testament into the native Batak languages, Batak language and the first ...

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,

. The RMG was associated with the uniting churches also called a merged denomination that includes a

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

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 Sipirok is a town in North Sumatra province of Indonesia and the seat (capital) of South Tapanuli Regency. It is known for the Batu Jomba Sipirok, a badly maintained highway which becomes difficult and dangerous during wet weather. Notable resident ...

, 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 The ministry of a deaconess is a ministry for women in some Protestant, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches to provide pastoral care, especially for other women, and which may carry a liturgical role. The word comes from the Greek ...

. 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). 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 The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

. 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 The Lutheran World Federation (LWF; ) is a global Communion (religion), communion of national and regional Lutheran denominations headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of L ...

(LWF). 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. Well known HKBP congregants include

Amir Sjarifuddin Amir Sjarifuddin Harahap ( EVO: Amir Sjarifoeddin Harahap; 27 April 1907 – 19 December 1948) was an Indonesian politician and journalist who served as the second prime minister of Indonesia from 1947 until 1948. A major leader of the lef ...

(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.

Ecumenical relations

HKBP is a member of and active participant in the

World Council of Churches The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a worldwide Christian inter-church organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism. Its full members today include the Assyrian Church of the East, most jurisdictions of the Eastern Orthodo ...

, Christian Conference of Asia,

, Asia Lutheran Communion, Communion of Churches in Indonesia, and United Evangelical Mission.

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''.

Leaders

Ephoruses

General secretaries

Head of Koinonia Department

Head of Marturia Department

Head of Diakonia Department

Gallery

File:HKBP Pearaja, Res. Pearaja 01.jpg , HKBP Church in Pearaja, Tarutung, North Sumatra. The church is located within HKBP Headquarters complex File:Kantor pusat hkbp.png , HKBP Headquarters in Pearaja, Tarutung, North Sumatra HKBP Dame Saitnihuta, Res. Dame Saitnihuta 01.jpg , HKBP Church in Dame Saitnihuta, Tarutung, North Sumatra. The church is the first to be built by Nommensen. File:HKBP Dame Saitnihuta, Res. Dame Saitnihuta 10.jpg , Nommensen statue at the HKBP Church in Dame Saitnihuta, Tarutung, North Sumatra File:HKBP Sipirok, Res. Sipirok 02.jpg , HKBP Church in

, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Balige, Res. Balige 11.jpg , HKBP Church in Balige, Toba Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Sipahutar, Res. Sipahutar 02.jpg , HKBP Church in Sipahutar, North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Tangga Batu, Res. Tampahan 01.jpg , HKBP Church in Tangga Batu, Toba Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Pangururan (by Gerejanesia).jpg , HKBP Church in Pangururan, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Parapat, Resort Parapat 04.jpg , HKBP Church in Parapat, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra File:HKBP Pematangsiantar, Res. Pematangsiantar (02).jpg , HKBP Church in

Pematangsiantar Pematangsiantar (sometimes written as Pematang Siantar, acronym PS or ''P. Siantar'', colloquially just Siantar), and also known as the City of Pematangsiantar, is an independent city in North Sumatra Province of Indonesia, surrounded by, but not ...

, North Sumatra File:HKBP Baris, Res. Baris 09.jpg , HKBP Church in Baris, Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra File:HKBP Dame, Res. Dame 02.jpg , HKBP Church in Dame, Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra File:HKBP Sinta Nauli, Res. Sinta Nauli (02).jpg , HKBP Church in Sinta Nauli, Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra File:Kantor HKBP Distrik V Sumatera Timur 02.jpg , Headquarters of HKBP's District V of East Sumatra, located within HKBP Pematangsiantar complex File:HKBP Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Res. Medan 05.jpg , HKBP Church on Sudirman Road,

Medan Medan ( , ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multi ...

, North Sumatra File:HKBP Tanjung Sari, Res. Tanjung Sari (03).jpg , HKBP Church in Tanjung Sari, Medan, North Sumatra File:HKBP Pardamean, Res. Pardamean (Medan) 03.jpg , HKBP Church in Pardamean, Medan, North Sumatra File:HKBP Pardomuan, Res. Medan Selatan (02).jpg , HKBP Church in Pardomuan, Medan, North Sumatra File:HKBP Griya Martubung, Res. Medan Martubung 01.jpg , HKBP Church in Martubung, Medan, North Sumatra File:Gereja di Bukittinggi 20220311 075950.jpg , HKBP Church in

Bukittinggi Bukittinggi (, Jawi script, Jawi: , formerly ) is the third largest city in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of 111,312 in 2010Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 121,028 in 2020.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. An official es ...

West Sumatra West Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. West Sumatra borders the Indian Ocean to the west, as well as the provinces of ...

File:Gereja HKBP TD Pardede Padang.jpg , HKBP Church in

Padang Padang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of West Sumatra. It had a population of 833,562 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 909,040 at the 2020 Census;Bad ...

, West Sumatra File:HKBP Kotabaru - Kotabaru, Kota Jambi, JA.jpg , HKBP Church in

Jambi Jambi is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the east coast of central Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of i ...

File:HKBP Palembang.jpg , HKBP Church in

Palembang Palembang (, Palembang: ''Pelémbang'', Mandarin: 巨港 (Jùgǎng), Hokkien: 舊港 (Kū-káng), Jawi: ) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra. The city proper covers on both banks of the Musi River in the ea ...

South Sumatra South Sumatra () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the southeast of the island of Sumatra. The capital and largest city of the province is the city of Palembang. The province borders the provinces of Jambi to the north ...

File:Sopo Marpingkir HKBP, Jakarta.jpg , Sopo Marpingkir HKBP, Jakarta, where headquarters of HKBP's District VIII of Jakarta and District XIX of Bekasi are located in File:HKBP Ressort Jakarta Kernolong.jpg , Oldest HKBP Church in

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

, founded in 1919 File:HKBP Kebayoran Baru Res. Kebayoran Baru.jpg , HKBP Church in

Kebayoran Baru Kebayoran Baru is a List of districts of Jakarta, district () in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia. The name was derived from a planned satellite city of the same name which was developed in the Aftermath of World War II, post-wa ...

, Jakarta File:Gereja HKBP Menteng Jakarta Jl. Jambu.jpg , HKBP Church in

Menteng Menteng is a district () in the administrative city of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Menteng is surrounded by the districts of Senen and Matraman to the east, Tebet and Setiabudi to the south, Tanah Abang to the west, and Gambir to the north. ...

, Jakarta File:HKBP Ressort Sudirman Jakarta 1.jpg , HKBP Church near Sudirman Avenue, Jakarta File:Gereja HKBP Poltangan Pasar Minggu.png , HKBP Church in Pasar Minggu, Jakarta File:Gereja HKBP Bandung Riau Martadinata.jpeg , HKBP Church on R.E. Martadinata Street,

Bandung Bandung is the capital city of the West Java province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, the city is the List of Indonesian cities by population, fourth-most populous city and fourth largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabay ...

West Java West Java (, ) is an Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten and the country's capital region of Jakarta to t ...

File:Gereja HKBP Yogyakarta.jpeg , HKBP Church in

Yogyakarta Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by Hamengkubuwono, a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an importan ...

File:HKBP Surabaya.jpg , HKBP Church in

Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...

East Java East Java (, , ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost third of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean border its northern ...

File:Gereja HKBP Denpasar.jpg , HKBP Church in

Denpasar Denpasar (; Balinese script, Balinese: ᬤᬾᬦ᭄ᬧᬲᬃ, ''Dénpasar'') is the capital city of the province of Bali, Indonesia. Denpasar is the largest city in the Lesser Sunda Islands and the second largest city in Eastern Indonesia after ...

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

File:HKBP Makassar.jpg , HKBP Church in

Makassar Makassar ( ), formerly Ujung Pandang ( ), is the capital of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, ...

South Sulawesi South Sulawesi () is a Provinces of Indonesia, province in the South Peninsula, Sulawesi, southern peninsula of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Selayar Islands archipelago to the south of Sulawesi is also part of the province. The capital and largest ci ...

References

External links

* *
''Sekolah Tinggi Theologia'' (Theological Seminary) HKBP
{{Authority control 1861 establishments in the Dutch East Indies Batak Lutheran denominations established in the 19th century Lutheran World Federation members Lutheranism in Indonesia Christian organizations established in 1861