Batak Christian Protestant Church
| Batak Christian Protestant Church | |
|---|---|
| Huria Kristen Batak Protestan | |
| Abbreviation | HKBP |
| Classification | Christianity |
| Orientation | Protestant |
| Scripture | Protestant Bible |
| Theology | Lutheran (with influences of Protestant Unionism) |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| First Ephorus | Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen |
| Current Ephorus | Victor Tinambunan |
| Associations | See below |
| Region | Indonesia, United States, Europe, Singapore, and Malaysia |
| Language | Indonesian, Toba Batak |
| Headquarters | Hutatoruan V, Tarutung, North Sumatra, Indonesia |
| Origin | 7 October 1861 |
| Separated from | Rhenish Missionary Society (RMG) |
| Separations | |
| Members | > 6,500,000 (as of 2024) |
| Official website | hkbp.or.id |
The Batak Christian Protestant Church (Indonesian: Huria Kristen Batak Protestan), abbreviated as HKBP, is an Evangelical Lutheran church among the Batak ethnic group, generally the Toba Batak people of Indonesia. This church uses an Ecumenical worship style influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church due to the influence of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia, as well as the Pietistic legacy left by the Rhenish Missionary Society when the church was founded. With a membership more than 6,500,000 (as of 2024), the church synod is the largest among the Protestant churches in Indonesia. It is one of the largest Protestant churches in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, making it the third largest religious organization in Indonesia after Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah. Its present leader is Ephorus (bishop) Victor Tinambunan.
HKBP also has several churches abroad, such as in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States of America.
HKBP is headquartered in Pearaja (North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra) which is about 1 km from the city center of Tarutung, the capital of the regency. Pearaja is a village located along the road to Central Tapanuli Regency and Sibolga city. The HKBP headquarters complex is located in an area of about 20 hectares (49 acres). In this complex there is also an Ephorus (bishop) as the head of the HKBP office. Although Toba Batak is the majority ethnic group, HKBP is also open to other ethnic groups.