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Congregation expelled from Pentecostal church following protests
An Indonesian Pentecostal church in Sedayu district, Bantul regency, has had its permit revoked by Bantul Regent Suharsono, who bowed down to local residents' demands.
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Pentecostal church leader Tigor Yunus Sitorus preaches at his house, which also functions as a church, in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
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ogyakarta’s image has once again been tarnished by intolerance as Bantul Regent Suharsono has decided to revoke a permit for the operation of an Indonesian Pentecostal church (GPdI) in Sedayu district, Bantul regency, following protests from local residents.
Bantul Regental Decree No. 345/2019, which was signed by Suharsono on Friday, revoked the building permit (IMB) for the Immanuel Sedayu GPdI. As a result, its congregation is no longer allowed to perform worship services at the building.
“This morning, we conducted a worship service at the Sedayu Javanese Christian Church,” said Immanuel Sedayu GPdI leader Tigor Yunus Sitorus. “We surrender everything to God,” he added, in response to the new regulation.
In 2003, Tigor built a house that later on also functioned as a church. Upon hearing about the religious activities, residents protested and vandalized the building.
Tigor was forced to sign a statement saying that his house would only function as a residence. Should he intend to develop a church in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood, he is required to secure a permit first.
The priest then requested a house of worship building permit in 2017 after the Bantul administration issued Regental Decree No. 98/2016 on guidelines for building houses of worship. The regency administration issued a permit for the church on Jan. 15 this year.
“We started to use the building as a church in April 2019,” Tigor further said, adding that at least 50 people went to the church every weekend for musical rehearsals and Sunday services.
