Protestant Church of Maluku

Gereja Protestan Maluku
File:Logo GPM.jpg Logo GPM
Classification	Protestant
Leader	Ketua Umum Pdt. DR. John Chr. Ruhulessin
Region	Maluku
Origin	6 September 1935 Maluku
Separated from	Gereja Protestan Calvanis Gereja Protestan di Indonesia (GPI)
Congregations	775
Members	575,000

The Protestant Church of Maluku is a Reformed church in Indonesia. It is known locally as: Gereja Protestan Maluku or simply GPM. It was formed on September 6, 1935 when it was separated from the Protestant Church in Indonesia. The has congregations only in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku.

History

• 1605 February 27: GPM began with their first service as the Gereja Protestan Calvanis (Calvanist Protestant Church) with Dutch citizens, employees of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC), in Ambon.
• 1621 Forming of the church board, known as the Majelis Jemaat Indische Kerk, which was initially located in Batavia (Jakarta).
• 1622 The church board (Majelis Jemaat Indische Kerk) also had a body of leaders in Banda, which resulted in evangelism activities in Maluku, with increasing prevalence and intensity, particularly through the struggle of Pastor Hulsebos, who attempted to go serve in Ambon, but his ship sang in the Bay of Ambon, he died, and his mission was continued by Pastor Rosskot (who was instrumental in organizing the first theological training in Ambon, Maluku, which was also the first in Indonesia).
• 1799 After the bankruptcy and dissolution of the VOC, many of the churches in Indonesia were dissolved, including some of the churches in Ambon.
• 1815-1833 Joseph Kam served in Ambon and throughout Maluku through the NZG (Nederlands Zending Genootschap).
• 1865 NZG stopped their official work in Maluku, but the church that had been planted continued to grow.
• 1930 The church continued to grow under the controle of the Dutch East Indies Company and was served by the Protestant Church of Indonesia (Gereja Protestan di Indonesia - GPI) and Nederlandse Zendeling Genotschaap (NZG). Thea area of service covered almost the whole of the Maluku islands.
• 1935 September 6: The Protestant Church of Maluku (GPM) officially began it's era of independence in areas of finance, liturgy, and church doctrine.
• 1950 RMS (South Maluku Independence Movement) burned much of the city of Ambon and large areas Seram island including many church buildings in their fight for bringing independence to South Maluku.
• 1950 May 25: GPM became a member of PGI (Persekutuan Gererja-gereja di Indonesia - The Communion of Churches in Indonesia).
• 1993-2003 Conflict between Christians and Muslims throughout Maluku, resulting in thousands killed and hundreds of churches and mosques destroyed.

Leadership

The church board, referred to as Majelis Pengurus Harian (MPH) for the current period of 2010-2015:

• Ketua Sinode: Pdt. DR. John Chr. Ruhulessin
• Sekretaris Umum : Pdt. Victor Untayana, M.Th
• Wakil Ketua I: Pdt. J. Noya, M.Th
• Wakil Ketua II: Pdt. Lies Mailoa - Marantika
• Wakil Sekretaris Umum : Pdt. W. Pariama, S.Th

General members of the board:

• Pnt. Ny. Sigerz
• Pnt. Nick Far-far
• Pdt. Jan Latuwael
• Pdt. Ola Subagio

Every year the church has an annual meeting (Sidang MPL) where plans are made for the next following year. This meeting usually happens in November of each year. Location of annual meeting:

• 2009: Larat, Tanimbar islands
• 2010: Latuhalat, Ambon
• 2011: Dobo, Aru islands
• 2012: Tepa, Babar island
• 2013: Taniwel, Seram island

Every five years at the big church meeting (Sidang Raya MPL) new board members are chosen. Each board member can serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The church currently has 575,000 members and 775 congregations, with over 750 pastors in 33 church districts throughout Maluku and part of North Maluku.