Child Protection: Training of Trainers

 Stop Discrimination Against Children

‘Churches should take the initiative to make sure that church environment is safe for children, and that children are warmly welcomed in their congregations,’ said CCA General Secretary  Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang,  in her opening speech at the “ Training of Trainers (ToT) for Child Protection” which was held in Jakarta from 2-4 April 2014.  The Church, she said, should be bold in actively responding to any form of violence against children and against discriminating attitudes towards them.

The Training which was jointly organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI/PGI), was attended by 30 participants from CCA/PGI Member Churches in Indonesia, and two from the Protestant Church in Timor Leste (IPTL). It provided the opportunity to encourage and build the awareness of churches in Indonesia and Timor Leste, especially the pastors, people in charge of children ministry, Sunday School teachers and parents, to work together to ensure a safe environment for children. Rev. Dr. Lebang, a Pastor and former Director of the Theological Institute of Toraja Church, reminded the participants that in the midst of the rapid increase in violence against children and child trafficking for tourist entertainment and sexual exploitation, churches need to work together to address this alarming situation. Drawing the attention of the participants towards the aspect of the increase in child labor, she said: “We often do not realize that the beautiful carpets that decorate many living rooms are the products of the labor of small and fragile hands of children, often done under exploitative circumstances.”

She further encouraged the participants to study the CCA Child Protection Policy and hoped that they would facilitate the development of a similar policy in their own churches. Rev. Dr. Lebang underlined that as all church workers need to be committed to Child Protection, the policy should be integrated in the curriculum of Sunday School Teachers’ training, Theological education, preparation of Candidate Pastors and in the formation of Lay leaders. This effort, she said, will be important steps towards the creation of safe environments for children in the family, church and society.

Rev. Dr. Lebang expressed CCA’s appreciation to the leadership of Pniel congregation of the Protestant Church in West Indonesia (GPIB) which is a member of PGI and CCA, especially to Rev. Adriano Wangkey, the Moderator of the congregation for their willingness to host this program.  She emphasized that supporting ecumenical programs, nationally and regionally, is a warm and tangible expression of the support of the local churches and acknowledges their sense of belonging to PGI and CCA. Appreciating the continuing collaboration and support of PGI in implementing common ecumenical commitments and concerns through CCA programs, she conveyed special thanks to Rev. Gomar Gultom, General Secretary of PGI, and Rev. Krisye Gosal, the Executive Secretary for Women and Children Department of PGI, to the Resource Persons, as well as to the PGI Working Group on Children, who faithfully and cheerfully facilitated the Training.

Ms. Sunila Amar, Executive Secretary for Ecumenical Formation, Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment (CCA-EGY) and coordinator of the regional and national programs on Child Protection and Dr. Alphinus Kambodji, CCA Consultant for HIV and AIDS,  facilitated the program with PGI.