notes | Ingot Simangunsong
REVEREND Dr. Victor Tinambunan was officially elected as the 18th Ephorus of Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) for the 2024-2028 period.
The election took place at the 67th Godang Synod Session of HKBP held at the Sipoholon Seminary, North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on 2-8 December 2024.
With this victory, Rev. Victor replaces the previous Ephorus, Rev. Dr. Robinson Butarbutar, who has completed his term of office.
Background of Rev. Dr. Victor Tinambunan
Rev. Dr. Victor Tinambunan is a theologian and church leader who is widely known among HKBP.
Before being elected as Ephorus, he had held various strategic responsibilities in the HKBP environment, including as a resort pastor, theology lecturer, and held several important positions in the HKBP organizational structure.
As an intellectual, Pastor Victor earned a doctorate in theology from a leading university abroad, with a focus on church development and strengthening the faith of the congregation.
He is known to have a great vision to make HKBP a relevant church in the modern era, both nationally and globally.
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Election process
The election of the Ephorus of HKBP was carried out through a democratic process involving hundreds of synod participants from various HKBP districts.
This process began with the accountability report of the previous Ephorus, followed by a discussion on the direction and challenges of the church in the future.
Pastor Victor Tinambunan received the support of the majority of votes after going through several rounds of elections that took place with enthusiasm and openness.
In the election of the Ephorus of HKBP, there were 3 Ephorus candidates who would be elected in the event, namely: Rev. Maulinus Siregar, Rev. Victor Tinambunan and Rev. Roida Situmorang.
Vision and Mission for HKBP 2024-2028
In his first speech after being elected, Pastor Victor conveyed his vision and mission for his leadership period.
He emphasized the importance of:
1. Renewal of Church Service: Pastor Victor is committed to strengthening HKBP’s service among the congregation by focusing on relevant and contextual theological teaching. He also wants to improve the quality of church servants through training and further education.
2. Congregation Development in the Digital Era: Realizing the challenges of the times, he highlighted the importance of digital transformation in church service, including the use of technology to reach congregations in various regions, both in Indonesia and the Batak diaspora abroad.
3. Attention to Youth and Families: Pastor Victor emphasized the need to focus on fostering the younger generation and Christian families.
He believes that congregation regeneration is the key to the sustainability of HKBP in the future.
4. Increasing the Social Role of the Church: HKBP under the leadership of Pastor Victor will be more actively involved in social issues, such as education, health, and poverty alleviation, as part of the manifestation of Christian faith in real action.
Congregation’s Hopes
Many congregations welcomed the election of Pastor Victor with enthusiasm and great hope.
They believe that his experience, knowledge, and humility will lead HKBP in a better direction.
However, great challenges await Pastor Victor, including strengthening unity within the church, increasing congregational trust, and facing social and political dynamics that affect the church.
With the support of the congregation and strong synergy between all elements of HKBP, the future of the largest church in Southeast Asia is expected to be brighter under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Victor Tinambunan.
Author, INGOT SIMANGUNSONG, Editor-in-Chief of Segaris.co
