Indonesian churches renew their commitment to cooperation

“The World Council of Churches is not just an organisation in Geneva. We are the WCC” was the sentiment expressed by Indonesian WCC member churches at a seminar in Bali recently.

The swiftly changing ecumenical landscape and the need to maintain good communications prompted the meeting at which representatives of Indonesian member churches and regional partners came together with WCC staff to reflect, discuss, share and celebrate.

Church leaders from 22 WCC member churches in Indonesia and East Timor were present along with representatives from the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI). Funding for the meeting was an exercise in sharing as accommodations were offered by Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GBKP) and travel and meeting costs were shared among the participants with special additional sponsorship from Kerk in Actie.

The seminar started with fellowship and celebration at the 80th anniversary of the GBKP. Participants travelled to the Christian village of Blimbingsari for the anniversary worship service and public celebrations, including traditional Balinese dance and drum performances.

The remainder of the programme took place in Dhyana Pura and focused on key concerns identified by the group. Reflection and analysis of past ways of inter-relating were combined with creative brain-storming on ways to proceed more effectively in the future.

Church leaders spent time considering ways to creatively contribute to the work of the WCC above and beyond annual financial contributions, though they did emphasize the importance of this vital exercise in stewardship as a sign of continuing commitment.

The church representatives spoke of the challenges of staying ecumenically active on many different levels and emphasised the need to re-energise efforts and reaffirm partnerships to face future challenges together.

“Due to the changing ecumenical priorities, a constructive dialogue among member churches is crucial,” said Caroline Hennessy, WCC fund development officer. “And, as always, the WCC can learn and gain much from a meaningful exposure and sharing in partnership with every member church.”

“Annual ecumenical formation seminars for funding partners have proved effective in strengthening relationships and communications,” she said.

“This seminar involving new staff and leadership of WCC member churches is highly rewarding as an exercise in relationship, partnership and an essential communications tool. Hopefully it can be a model that will be replicated in other areas of the WCC.”

In a final statement produced at the end of the seminar, the churches proclaimed, “We renew our determination to return to the common commitment in the ecumenical movement as a form of reflection of church faith, to optimise the church response towards the problems being faced by the world today.”

The statement went on to say, “In relation to this we are determined to support programmes and services of the ecumenical bodies, global, regional and national (WCC, CCA, PGI), as ecumenical institutions which we ourselves helped shape.”

The seminar also provided an overview of the ecumenical movement in today’s world, reflecting on the specific role of the WCC and upcoming events, particularly the 10th Assembly of the WCC set for Busan, Korea in 2013.

The church leaders said they are “looking forward to a strong and positive participation” in the assembly in Korea.

Bible translation expansion project underway in Indonesia

Indonesia (MNN/WAS) -- Bible translation throughout Oceana remains a high strategic priority with underlying challenges.

Art Greenleaf with Wycliffe Associates explains, "We've got a great opportunity there in Timor partnering with the national church. This particular area is not as heavily Islamic as more western provinces might be. There are a lot of Christians there, very similar to what you might have in the province of Papua."

Using national translators streamlines the process of Bible translation in a region that sometimes deals with hostility toward Christians. "Nationals can move and function 100% better than we can as expatriates," says Greenleaf. He adds, "We are on a property that we're sharing with the national church. They have actually provided this property to develop the linguistics center. There is harmony in this particular part of Indonesia."

However, the team's progress is being hampered by the cramped quarters at the current translation center. A short-term solution came through renting additional workspace. Even then, some translators are carrying out their work in a garage and even outdoors.

That's why Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that involves people in the acceleration of Bible translation efforts, is planning to build a fully functioning translation center on the island of Timor in Southeast Asia. "There's a need to train national translators right where they are," he explains, adding that an "indigenous linguistics center with the local church eventually overseeing it, is perfect."

"They are deeply committed. They're willing to work. They urgently want to see God's Word in the heart language of their people. But they need our help," says Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates.

More than 65 Bible translators are currently working on translations in more than 80 languages in the Timor region and the surrounding islands of Indonesia, and some of the languages are spoken by as many as half a million people.

Greenleaf says that "Indonesia is probably one of  the most needy areas in the province of Papua, which is part of the island of New Guinea. It has the largest number of languages in the world to be reached."

Wycliffe Associates is seeking to raise $100,000 to turn the current facility into a fully functioning translation center, doubling its size and providing the basic necessities and equipment for translation work.

The timeline? "We're beginning work now over there. Over the next year, we would like to see the facility completed and functioning. This will be probably an ongoing project as we have the Training Center, housing, that sort of thing, on the church campus."

Much of the construction will be completed by teams of volunteers who partner with and are mobilized by Wycliffe Associates. Aside from the resources, Greenleaf says, "We need to pray for the safety and security of those linguists.

Something we need to be praying for, too, is the wisdom to do the task they're doing and the tenacity just to stick by it. It's not an easy task, taking God's Word and putting it into one's own language."

Wycliffe Associates involves people in accelerating the work of Bible translation through their time, talents, and treasure. Because millions of people around the world are still waiting to read the Scriptures in the language of their heart, Wycliffe Associates is working as quickly as they can to translate every verse of the Bible into every tongue to change every heart.

The organization partners with nationals, mother tongue translators, staff, volunteers, and supporters to direct and fund these efforts as well as provide logistics, networking, and technical support. Through a growing global network, Wycliffe Associates is striving to overcome local limitations of time and resources to achieve the goal of beginning the translation of God's Word in every remaining language that needs it by 2025.