CCA’s largest member church in Indonesia, HKBP, elects new leadership at Quadrennial Assembly
The 63rd General Assembly of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP), the biggest member church of the Christian Conference of Asia in Indonesia, was held from 12-18 September 2016 at Sipoholon, in North Sumatera.
Commonly known as Sinodestan, the General Assembly of HKBP is a major quadrennial event of the Church. The recently concluded Sinodestan was attended by 1576 official delegates from various parts of the country and focused on the theme "But you are to hold the Lord your God, as you have until now (Joshua 23:8)”.
The Sinodestan elected new leaders of HKBP for a four year term; 2016-2020. The new top officials of the church elected are Rev. Dr. Darwin Lumbantobing, Ephorus (Archbishop), and Rev. David Farel Sibuea, General Secretary.
HKBP is the fruit of the missionary work by the Rhineland Mission from Germany which began to work in the Batak land of North Sumatra starting from 1861. The HKBP became autonomous in 1930 and from 1940 onwards it was entirely self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating.
HKBP is the largest Protestant church in Indonesia, with congregations in many parts of the archipelago and other countries.
Archbishop Dr. Willem T.P Simarmata from HKBP has been the moderator of CCA since its 14th General Assembly.