"I want to know more"

Indonesian pastors study catechism

For three hours…four hours…seven hours they traveled. Some had been Lutheran pastors for 20 years, others for only a few months. But they all came to learn more about a little book they’d been given not long ago – Luther’s Small Catechism.

They came to the city of Taiutung in Sumatra, the largest island in Indonesia. There, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation sponsored a seminar to teach the pastors more about basic Lutheran doctrine and how to use the catechism and catechism workbooks in their own congregations.

Even though some of the congregations have been around since the late 1800s, many churches there have lost much of their Lutheran identity and instead have adopted many Reformed teachings, says Rev. Ted NaThalang, LHF’s project coordinator in Southeast Asia.

“They did not have good Lutheran materials, written in their own languages, to teach their pastors and church members,” he explains. As a result, false teachings, like a misunderstanding of baptism and women’s ordination, have crept in. “Now, they’ve asked LHF to teach them how to use the catechism correctly,” he said.

When LHF translated and published the catechism into the Bahasa Indonesia language in 2005, it marked the first time many Indonesian Lutherans held a copy of this most basic document of their faith in their hands.

Even pastors who had completed their seminary education reported that they had never read a complete catechism, and that they had never learned some of its basic teachings, like the Office of the Keys.

During the seminar, they eagerly studied the catechism and workbook, and they listened intently to the sessions led by Dr. Jacob Preus, president of Concordia University – Irvine, Calif., and Dr. Michael Middendorf, also a professor at Concordia University – Irvine.

“I want to know more about Luther’s Small Catechism and other Christian teachings,” said Rusnaria Sibarani, a Bible teacher who traveled three and a half hours to the seminar. “I learned about the practice of the Sacraments, and also the concept of grace, according to Martin Luther.”

When Rusnaria returns to her congregation, she plans to teach the catechism to the people there. “I like the Small Catechism because it’s a basic book to teach confirmation class and also our church members,” she said.

“I like the Small Catechism because it gives a simple and down-to-earth explanation of God’s Word, and yet it has deep meaning for me,” agreed G. F. Tampubolon, who has been a pastor for 20 years. “I use this book in my studies by inviting all the elders to learn about the catechism so they understand first, and then I hope that they can inform and explain to all members of the church.”

Gileat Simanjuntak, who has been a pastor at his congregation for only three months, also sees great value in teaching his parishioners the catechism.

“I remember how Luther’s Catechism, step by step, lost its meaning, so…we must keep its meaning in the middle of the church and in our ministry,” he said.

Rev. NaThalang believes translating and printing solidly Lutheran materials in Bahasa Indonesia will make a great impact on the churches’ teachings and practices.

“In a positive way, I believe it will be like a tsunami, causing an undercurrent or ripple that grows to widespread effect,” he said.