Like so many other Sunday mornings, the 600 members of Indonesian Christ Congregation Church-Millenium Peace (GKJI-MD) gathered on an empty plot of land near Kartasura Terminal in Kartasura District, Sukoharjo Regency, this past Sunday. They set up a large tent to shield themselves from the scorching sun and laid mats on the ground to prepare for worship.
While some churches worship outdoors on special occasions, GKJI-MD has done so for 11 years. And it hasn’t been due to a matter of preference. That’s how long it’s been waiting for a building permit.
Pastor Father Ari Suksmono said the congregation purchased land in Wirogunan Village, Kartasura District, Sukoharjo Regency, 11 years ago. Still, the church could not build on it because there was no permit or recommendation from the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB). He said the church applied for the permit 10 years ago.
The Head of the GKJI-MD Development Committee, Stefanus Marsigit, said he had handled various licensing requirements according to the Joint Regulation of the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Religious Affairs Number 9 and Number 8 of 2016.
According to the regulation, the construction of a house of worship, such as a church, is subject to specific requirements. These include a minimum number of users, local community support, and letters of recommendation from the local Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Interfaith Harmony Forum.
Despite having a congregation that exceeds the minimum requirements and the support of the local community, GKJI-MD will continue to faithfully worship God in the sweltering heat as it waits for the letters of recommendation needed to obtain a building permit.
“We actually appreciate the local community who gave support to the construction of the church,” the Rev. Suksmono said. “The empty land is already there, only the permit to build a house of worship is the problem.”
