(Beril
Huliselan)
“The Unity in Action” is a well-known phrase in the context of the ecumenical movement in Indonesia, especially for churches that are structurally a part of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI/PGI). The phrase reflects the missional turn in ecumenical thinking that has been happening since the mid-1980s. I have some critical notes on this missional turn. But, I decided to focus only on the issue of stagnation in the ecumenical movement to reflect on the 65th anniversary of the PGI which was celebrated on 25 May 2015.
As far as I'm aware, the issue of stagnation is adressed in the PGI research report on ecumenical movement in Indonesia 2013. But of course, not all people agree on the conclusion that ecumenical movement in Indonesia has been stagnant. For them, churches and ecumenical agencies have made much progress in Indonesia. This conviction is not wrong because if we read the PGI research report on the ecumenical movement in Indonesia in 2013, we would find how churches in Indonesia have achieved common direction and structure to manage the ecumenical journey. Moreover, many churches have even actualized their response to some current issues, such as the problem of political responsibility, ecological issues, economic injustice, and building cooperation with people from different religious traditions to oppose discriminatory regulations in Indonesia.
The above facts showcase the progress of the
ecumenical movement in Indonesia. That’s why, on the one hand, I do agree that
the ecumenical movement in Indonesia is not stagnant. We can see how the PGI
has played its role for many years to bring churches – which
are separated geographically and fragmented based on ethnic identity
and denominational lines – on the one ecumenical table. For me, it is hard to
imagine that amid extraordinary diversity in Indonesia, the churches can come
at the one ecumenical table and work together every year at the national and
regional levels. Many recommendations have also been made by churches and
ecumenical agencies in the context of joint missions in Indonesia.
The PGI also has encouraged churches to step out of their ghetto (isolated area) and to see Indonesia as their common mission field. Therefore, as shown in The Document of Christian Unity in Indonesia, many churches believe that each church in its place is an integral part of the whole church of Christ, and that’s why they decided to support one another in their mission. Several activities have even been carried out by churches and ecumenical agencies to advocate justice and ecological issues. Therefore, as I said before, the ecumenical movement in Indonesia is not stagnant. But on the other hand, I also have to say that there is stagnation in the ecumenical journey; in the sense of not making any further progress.
What kind of further progress can not be achieved by ecumenical movement in Indonesia? There are some important data in the PGI research report on the ecumenical movement in Indonesia (2013). But, in this writing, I just want to explain the stagnation by taking a point of departure from the weakness of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and other ecumenical agencies to manage the ecumenical table at various levels.
First, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and other ecumenical agencies play a weak role in developing theological convergence among
churches in Indonesia. This weakness has the effect of widening the theological
gap between the church at the local and national levels. The situation is
getting worse along with the intensification of the institutionalization
process in the internal life of the church at various levels. As a result, each
church tries to secure its identity by strengthening regulations and
institutional boundaries.
Second, the communion of churches in Indonesia
(CCI/PGI) and other ecumenical agencies are unable to deepen and strengthen
missional awareness of the churches to see Indonesia as their common mission
field. This problem finally brings mistrust and identity-based conflicts among
churches as the impact of competition to seize mission territory at province
and district levels.
Third, the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and
other ecumenical agencies are unable to manage and build an ecumenical
table at a local level where churches may come together to collaborate and
solve problems. They're even incapable of igniting ecumenical activities at a
local level. Consequently, many local churches in Indonesia do not have an ecumenical table at local level. At this point, I think the Communion of
Churches in Indonesia and ecumenical agencies seems like forgetting one of the
important principles in the ecumenical movement that the true test of the
ecumenical movement is at a local level where believers grow together in common
worship, witness, and mission.
Fourth, the intensified process of
institutionalization makes ecumenical movement become a place of
competition among member churches to push through their agenda or to get
more advantage from ecumenical activities or programs. As a result, church
officials are more concerned with installing their men or sympathizers
in ecumenical institutions than with keeping the ecumenical movement alive at a
local level.
Fifth, some service agencies that belong to synods
and other ecumenical forums/institutions seem busy with their missional
programs – including protecting their access to domestic and overseas funding –
but without having a positive impact on strengthening the ecumenical table at a
local level. Sometimes, some programs are implemented by overseas institutions
and their partner in Indonesia without doing partnerships with the communion of
churches. This problem makes ecumenical partnership gets weakened at various
levels and it reflects the weakening of churches and ecumenical agencies'
awareness of koinonia (communion of God with all of creation).
Sixth, the PGI is unable to move beyond its old
structural approach, which relies on a single structure to sustain ecumenical
struggle. Some churches, particularly those who are not structurally a member
of the PGI, feel isolated in the ecumenical movement as a result of this old
way of doing things, and consequentlly backfires against the PGI. There is, of
course, an Indonesia Christian Forum whose mission is to widen and deepen
ecumenical interactions in Indonesia. However, this forum is ineffective
or stagnant.
All of the aforementioned issues point to a
stalemate in Indonesia's ecumenical movement. As a result, Indonesian churches
and ecumenical organizations must rediscover the understanding of koinonia,
which is articulated in the strengthening of the ecumenical table at various
levels, particularly at the local level, where ecumenical activity is put to
the test. Churches and ecumenical agencies must work hard to enhance their
ecumenical relationship so that the whole creation can be expressed in joint
worship, testimony, and mission.
(Jakarta, May 2015)
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