wfn.org | Indonesia: LWF President Applauds Government's, Churches' Vision

["Frank Imhoff" <franki@elca.org>]

on Social Justice
Indonesian President Says Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Concerns
Palestinians' Human Rights

JAKARTA, Indonesia/GENEVA, 18 April 2002 (LWI) * The President of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Bishop emeritus Dr. Christian
Krause said discussions with church leaders and political leaders
in Indonesia during his April 2-12 visit pointed to a shared
perspective toward non-violence, social justice, equality and
development in society.

The government is concerned that all citizens irrespective of
racial or religious background are treated equally, Krause told
Lutheran World Information (LWI) after an April 12 meeting with
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri at her palace. He was
accompanied by representatives of LWF churches including Bishop
Dr. Edison Munthe, former LWF vice-president Rev. Dr. Soritua
Nababan and Council member Ms. Lydia A. Siahaan.

During the meeting with the LWF representatives, Megawati
commended the churches' significant contribution to social
development and peace building in Indonesia. On LWF's global
involvement, she heard with great interest that the Federation has
a member church and is involved in humanitarian development work
in the Middle East. She pointed out that the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict concerns the human rights of the Palestinian people, and
should not be seen as a religious conflict.

Meeting with LWF National Committee in Indonesia

Krause paid glowing tribute to the LW Indonesian churches for the
unreserved hospitality extended to him and his wife Gertrud during
the April 2-12 visit in North Sumatra and Jakarta.

At a meeting with the 11-member LWF National Committee in
Indonesia representing the over 4.7 million Lutherans in the
country, Krause said one of the objectives of a national committee
is to formulate common issues and a possible strategy to tackle
such concerns. Although many differences-race, language, social
differences, nationality and so on-separate members of the LWF
communion, "our confessional identity as Lutherans unites us,"
said Krause, emphasizing the LWF's global dimension.

On international ecumenical collaboration, the LWF president
pointed to the implications of the Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) signed by the LWF and Roman
Catholic Church on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany. The JDDJ
effectively annulled mutual condemnations between Roman Catholics
and Lutherans that existed since the Reformation 500 years ago,
but did not resolve all differences between the two confessional
bodies, Krause explained, noting that the dialogue is ongoing. He
said the next round of dialogue would evolve around the question
of the ministerium (priesthood). Eucharistic hospitality remains a
major concern in the process. The Catholic church allows
ecumenical worship with Lutherans but does not recognize it as a
full service as it does not include joint celebration of the
Eucharist, Krause said. The LWF churches in Indonesia are expected
to practice Eucharistic hospitality, he said.

The Indonesian churches are a minority in a Muslim population. In
some regions like Aceh, neighboring North Sumatra province,
churches had to close down following the implementation of Islamic
law. Krause pointed to the "tremendous social challenges" and
encouraged the LWF national committee members to continue in their
contribution to overall development in the country including
promoting peaceful co-existence between all peoples.

Another concern fr the LWF Indonesian churches is a growing
movement of charismatic churches. Krause said dealing with the
challenges posed by these churches again stresses the importance
of belonging to the LWF communion.

Discussions with Leader of Largest Muslim Organization

Krause described as "remarkable," discussions held April 12, with
Mr. Hasyim Muzadi, general chairperson of Indonesia's largest
Islamic movement, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), representing about 40
million moderate Muslims.

Muzadi spoke of efforts overall by Muslims to gain understanding
with adherents of other faiths especially Christians, as they
[Muslims] are often unjustly blamed for things they neither
understand nor bear responsibility for. The organization, he said,
deplores all forms of religious fundamentalism. Former Indonesian
President Abdurrahman Wahid is its patron.

On the Israeli-Palestinian situation especially after the recent
escalation of violence and re-occupation of Palestinian
territories by Israeli troops, the NU leader pointed to the
organization's appeal to the Indonesian government to give moral
support to the Palestinian people, both Christians and Muslims.

In his meeting with Krause, Muzadi stressed the need for
inter-faith dialogue involving peoples of all religions. He noted
that his organization is planning programs to inform particularly
the West about interpreting the Islamic religion, so as to avoid
Islam being seen as an expression of terrorism.

In Jakarta, the LWF president held discussions with the German
Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Gerhard Fulda. In his capacity as
chairperson of the governing board of the Church Development
Service (EED), Krause visited various local projects supported by
the aid agency of German churches.

Krause's visit with southeast Asian LWF churches continues April
13-18 in Australia, concluding with Papua New Guinea, April 18-21.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now
has 133 member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5
million of the 64.3 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human
rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted,
material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the
LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced
with acknowledgment.]

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