Protestant Christians constitute the great majority of West Papua’s Christian population. On May 25, 1985, became a part of PGI due to the existence of the Indonesian Protestant Church in West Papua. PGI stands for the Indonesian Communion of Churches.
Indonesian Protestant Church first time found at Ambon, Maluku in 1605. De Protestantsche Kerk in Nederlandsch-Indie, also known as Indische Kerk, was the name of the church. His office was located in Maluku before moving to Batavia, today known as Jakarta.
In accordance with the Governor General’s movement to Batavia, 1619 became the year of that office move. This Protestant church took over the congregation that had been abandoned by the Portuguese mission. The service area is expanding as the mission’s activity becomes more prevalent.
Story of The Church
GPI, or the Indonesian Protestant Church, has a three-phase history. The Zending body phase, the Maluku Protestant Church phase, and the Independent Church phase are among them. Each phase has its own story.
Before being renamed the Indonesian Protestant Church in Papua, it spawned numerous Papuan Protestant Churches based on the region. One of which is the Indonesian Protestant Church in West Papua.
1. Phase of the Zending Body
This zending period was highlighted by the appearance of two German spreaders of gospel doctrines. Karel Witler Ottow and Johan Gotlob Geissler were the first two people to set foot on Papuan land.
On February 5, 1855, after sailing for three weeks from Ternate, Manokwari landed on the island of Mansinam Island. They were successful in evangelism ten years later, as evidenced by the baptism of a woman and her kid.
In 1912 The Utrechtse Zending Vereniging (UZV) sent Starrenburg to investigate potential for Christian propagation in Fakfak. Until 1935, this ministry region assigned to the Maluku Protestant Church’s mission and construction.
2. Phase of the Maluku Protestant Church (GPM)
Maluku Protestant Church (GPM), also known as Moluksche Protestantsche Kerk, is an Independent Section Church within the GPI framework. Since then, GPM has served its own churches, as well as congregations submitted by GPI in Tanah Papua.
At the time, GPM served the congregation in Tanah Papua that widely spread among Merauke, Kainama, Arguni Bay, Fakfak, Babo, Bintuni Bay, Sorong, Misool (Raja Ampat), Manokwari, and Holland.
3. Independent Church Phase
1987, as a special synod session of GPI Irja (Indonesian Protestant Church in Irian Jaya). The purpose is to develop the GPI Irja Church System as well as to list Pancasila as a fundamental of community, nation, and state life.
That same year, GPI Irja formally recognized as one of the Independent Section Churches of the Protestant Church in Indonesia (GPI). GPI Irja registered as a legal and incorporated church in the Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs since October 31, 1989.
GPI Irja changed its name to GPI Papua since 2002/2003. As a result, the Director General of Bimas Kristen, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, issued a Decree.
On February 2, 2009, he issued a decree changing the name of the Indonesian Protestant Church in Irian Jaya (GPI Irja). The name changed to the Indonesian Protestant Church in Papua (GPI Papua).
Conclusion
The Indonesian Protestant Church in West Papua is currently one of 400 churches under the administration of GPIP. GPIP is also known as the Protestant Church of Indonesia Papua. The GPIP already has 250,000 members and 46 pastors.
One of them is the Indonesian Protestant Church in West Papua (GPIPB). Nonetheless, GPIPB became a center of worship for Protestants in Sorong West Papua’s region. The address is JL Anggrek, No.I, Bl B, Klasuur, Kec. Sorong, Sorong City, Papua Barat 98411, Indonesia.
If you go to that church, the modern church atmosphere in the Sorong region will make you feel at ease.
