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 Protestant Church of Maluku 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 (Calvinist Protestant Church) with Dutch citizens, employees of the Dutch East India 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 Adriaan Hulsebos, who attempted to go serve in Ambon, but his ship sank 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).[3]
1799 After the bankruptcy and dissolution of the VOC, many of the churches in Indonesia were dissolved, including some of the churches in Ambon.
1865NZG stopped their official work in Maluku, but the church that had been planted continued to grow.[4]
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 its 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).[4]
1993–2003 Conflict between Christians and Muslims throughout Maluku, resulting in thousands killed and hundreds of churches and mosques destroyed.
Church leadership
Current Church leaders
GPM Synod Daily Worker Assembly for the 2020-2025 Period :
(Majelis Pekerja Harian Sinode GPM Periode 2020-2025)
Leader: Pdt. Drs. Elifas Tomix Maspaitella.
Co-Leader 1: Pdt. Ny. L. Bakarbessy-Rangkoratat S.Th
Co-Leader 2: Pdt. H. I. Hetharie
General Secretary: Pdt. S.I. Sapulette
Deputy General Secretary: Pdt. R. Rahabeat
Member of MPH:
• Pdt. Y. Colling
• Pdt. N. Souisa-G
• Pnt. Ny. D. Sahertian
• Pnt. F. Papilaya
Note :
Pnt. : Penatua/Elder
Pdt. : Pendeta/Pastor
Previous Church leaders
1935–1938
Ketua : Pdt. J.E. Staap
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. W.H. Tutuarima
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. Jack van Vesson
1938–1940
Ketua : Pdt. C. Hamel
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. W.H. Tutuarima
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. H.J. Visser
1940–1942
Ketua : Pdt. W. van Oust
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. P. Poot
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. H.J. Visser
1942–1943 (Zaman Pendudukan Jepang)
Ketua : Pdt. F. Siwabessy (Pj)
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat Zaman Pendudukan Jepang
1943–1946
Ketua : Pdt. S. Marantika
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. J. Sapulete
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. W.D.F. Amanupunyo
1946 (Transisi di Zaman Kemerdekaan RI)
Ketua : Pdt. J. Kalk
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. S. Marantika
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. W.D. Dickkarhoff
1946–1947
Ketua : Pdt. P. Poot
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. ?
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. W.D. Dickkarhoff
1947–1948
Ketua : Pdt. J.C.W. van Wyck Juranse
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. ?
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. J.H. van Heerden
1948–1949
Ketua : Pdt. Dr. J.J. Geiser
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. ?
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. J.H. van Vesson
1949
Ketua : Pdt. C. Kainama
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. ?
Sek. : Pdt. P. Souhuwat
Bend. : Pdt. M.F. Syauta
1949–1950 (Persoalan RMS dan Sikap Sinode GPM)
Ketua : Pdt. S. Marantika
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. ?
Sek. : Pdt. D. Louhenapessy
Bend. : Pdt. M.F. Syauta
1953–1957
Ketua : Pdt. Chr. Mataheru
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. F.H. de Fretes
Sek. : Pdt. D. Louhenapessy
Bend. : Pdt. M.F. Syauta
1957–1961 (dikeluarkan Pesan Tobat - 1960)
Ketua : Pdt. F.H. de Fretes
Wakil Ketua : Pdt. J.F.K. Wattimena - Pdt.W.D.F. Amanupunyo (Pengganti)
Sek. : Pdt. D. Louhenapessy
Bend. : Pdt. M.F. Syauta
1965–1970 (Reorganisasi Struktur dan Kepemimpinan GPM (I))
Ketua : Pdt. Th. Pattiasina
Wakil Ketua : Pnt. Chr. Soplanit, SH
Sekum : Pdt. P. Tanamal
Wkl.Sekum : Sdr. N.A. Likumahwa, BA
Sek.Dep. Koinonia : Pdt. D. Louhenapessy
Sek.Dep.Marturia : Pdt. F.C. Lewier, S.Th
Sek.Dep.Diakonia : Syms. Drs. H.J. Pooroe
Sek.Dep.Finek. : Bpk. P.H. Pelamonia
Rektor Inst.Teol. : Pdt. A.N. Radjawane, S.Th (Ex Officio)
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:
2015: Sidang MPL in Ambon at the Joseph Kam church building; Sidang Sinode in Ambon at the Maranatha church building
(both meetings ended up being held in January 2016)
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. This meeting is always in Ambon.
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.[8]
