Anies Calls for Tolerance, Justice and Equality, in Words and Deeds

 

JAKARTA ( KONTAK BANTEN)  In the midst of the buzzers’ attacks and insults against him, Anies Baswedan speaks about tolerance and equality in state treatment in one breath, words and deeds and, this statement is most appreciated by the church community.

Jakarta Governor Mr. Anies Baswedan expressed his happiness to Catholics who had just inaugurated the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) of East Jelambar, North Jakarta, Saturday, September 3, 2022.

“I congratulate the GBI Jelambar Timur congregation who has completed the construction of their building or house of worship,” said Anies.

The leader of the City Hall of Jakarta wants the city to be a home for all groups. Because, he said, justice, equality, opportunities are given should be in complying with all provisions.

With the provisions, Anies continued, equality can be implemented properly as it is now.

“We are happy that in Jakarta, each religious community can practice their religion well, and if that is the case I will continue to make it happen. So, this city, a happy city, a calming city and the atmosphere is calm, peaceful and everything,” explained the father of four children.

The former Minister of Education and Culture reminds again to always build tolerance with a sense of care, a sense of understanding. It should not move in one direction, it must be reciprocal, he said.

So attendance is not only beneficial for the congregation who worships at the GBI Jelambar Timur church. But, said Anies, the worship is also beneficial for the surrounding environment.

“So the community there provides space for the congregation in East Jelambar to have a church and carry out their worship. On the other hand, good management of the congregation also respects and appreciat the residents around the GBI building,” he said.

Anies admitted that he did not remember the exact number of houses of worship he had inaugurated during his tenure as Governor.

“Wow, that’s a lot,” he said.

The number one person in the Jakarta provincial government emphasizes that the Provincial Government only provides support for building permits (IMB). As for the financing, it is done independently by the respective congregations.

“We (the DKI Provincial Government) are the authority to issue the permits, if the construction is all self-supporting,” he said.

Anies thanked the Chairperson of the Jakarta Pentecostal Church (GPdI) Reverend Jason Balompapueng who helped build a Catholic house of worship to send a message of peace.

“Thank you Pastor Jason for visiting here and there, everywhere reaching out to all, sending messages of peace from Jakarta. Hopefully it will have a contagious effect in many places throughout Indonesia,” he concluded.

Two churches inauguration in one day

As an effort to maintain equality, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan inaugurated two churches simultaneously on Saturday 3 September 2022, namely the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) Jelambar Timur in Penjaringan, and the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia (GPdI) the Jordan Gading Griya Lestari Congregation in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

Anies said that Jakarta is the node of all elements in Indonesia, so the sense of unity must be strengthened, especially in collaboration to build houses of worship.

Anies emphasized the importance of an attitude of mutual tolerance so that any equality between religious rights can be organized and managed.

“This can be an example and an illustration of how we can live together and be united. To achieve Indonesian unity and integrity, every individual must practice an attitude of tolerance and an attitude of equality in all aspects,” said Anies, Saturday.

“In the end, we also want this unity to be sustainable,” he stressed.Then, the former Chancellor of Paramadina University also hoped that the congregations from both GBI Jelambar Timur and GPdI Jemaat Jordan Gading Griya Lestari were able to be significantly involved in the unity and integrity of the nation.

He also assessed that the inauguration of the building of worship aside from aiming to provide a sense of equality in worship, is also expected to make the spirit of the congregation grow and be encouraged to do good deeds.

“Hopefully, this church will become a place that is felt useful for the surrounding environment. We also express our appreciation to all parties involved in the construction of the church building in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.

According to Anies, this is important to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment and Jakarta’s spatial planning, so that inter-religious harmony is maintained and adds peace to Jakarta.

He also assessed that the inauguration of the building of worship aside from aiming to provide a sense of equality in worship, is also expected to make the spirit of the congregation grow and be encouraged to do good deeds.

“Hopefully, this church will become a place that is felt useful for the surrounding environment. We also express our appreciation to all parties involved in the construction of the church building in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.

According to Anies, this is important to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment and Jakarta’s spatial planning, so that inter-religious harmony is maintained and adds peace to Jakarta.

In words and deeds
Pastor Poppy expressed his appreciation to the DKI Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Anies who facilitated and assisted in licensing the construction of the East Jelambar GBI.

The East Jelambar Indonesia Bethel Church (GBI) building was inaugurated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, in the afternoon. At the inauguration, Pastor Poppy Wairissal said he was grateful that the construction process for the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) of East Jelambar had been completed.

He also said he was happy because the East Jelambar GBI building could be used again for worship by the Catholic congregation. “Today it was inaugurated so that it can then be used for worship,” said Poppy at the location, North Jakarta, Saturday, September 3, 2022.

On that occasion, Pastor Poppy expressed his appreciation to the DKI Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Anies for facilitating and assisting in licensing the construction of the East Jelambar GBI.

“We express our deepest gratitude for the support from all the congregations, both from the neighborhood of RT, RW, the Regional Work Agency for the Indonesian Bethel Church (BPD GBI DKI Jakarta), the GBI Indonesia Synod, local residents, Penjaringan Village, Pejagalan District, Mayor of Jakarta. North Jakarta, which is of course the support of the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Mr. Anies Baswedan, who has given permission to build a house of worship in this place,” said Pastor Poppy.

According to Pastor Poppy, the existence of GBI in the community has been more than 40 years. “We hope that the existence of the East Jelambar GBI can continue to contribute to the surrounding community and have a positive impact on community life and inter-religious people,” he said.

His party also continues to expect support from all circles so that the existence of this house of worship has a positive impact on the surrounding environment and the East Jelambar GBI congregation.

“You can live your life as a citizen who is religious, behaves well and obeys government rules in aspects of social life,” he said.

He also apologized to the surrounding community if during the construction process the GBI Jelambar Timur building interfered with his activities and comfortable time. “We also apologize if the construction process of this building causes inconvenience to local residents,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, said that the inauguration of the worship building was not only at providing a sense of equality in worship, but also hoped to encourage the congregation to be motivated to do good deeds.

“Hopefully, this church will become a place that is felt useful for the surrounding environment. We also express our appreciation to all parties involved in the construction of the church building in accordance with applicable regulations,” Anies explained. According to Anies, this is important to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment and spatial planning of Jakarta, so as to maintain inter-religious harmony in Jakarta.

Future authentic leader required
Chairman of the Jakarta Pentecostal Church Management (GPdI) Pastor Jason Balompapueng assessed that Governor Anies Baswedan was not an arbitrary figure. According to him, the number one person in the capital city is a great person.

“Anyway, Pak Anies is a great person and he has the ability to be a great leader,” he told KBA News, Sunday, September 4, 2022.

He also emphasized that the former Chancellor of Paramadina University was not a radical and intolerant figure as alleged by some groups. According to him, this is only because they do not like Anies’ success in the capital city.

“We’ve seen it. Jakarta is safe for 5 years. Churches were safe for 5 years (when Anies Baswedan became governor),” he said.

As previously reported, in maintaining equality and tolerance, yesterday, Anies Baswedan inaugurated two churches at once.

Anies said, Jakarta is the node of all elements in Indonesia, so the sense of unity must be strengthened, especially in collaboration to build houses of worship. He also emphasized an attitude of mutual tolerance so that any equality between religious rights could be organized and managed.

“This can be an example and an illustration of how we can live together and be united. To achieve the unity and integrity of Indonesia, every individual must practice an attitude of tolerance and equality in all aspects. Then a sense of justice will emerge, so that a sense of unity will be formed. In the end, we also want this unity to be sustainable,” he said.

He hoped that the congregations from both the East Jelambar GBI and the GPdI of the Jordan Gading Griya Lestari congregation would be able to be significantly involved in the unity and integrity of the nation.

He also assessed that the inauguration of the building of worship aside from aiming to provide a sense of equality in worship, is also expected to make the spirit of the congregation grow and be encouraged to do good deeds.

“Hopefully, this church will become a place that is felt useful for the surrounding environment. We also express our appreciation to all parties involved in the construction of the church building in accordance with applicable regulations,” he explained.

“This is important to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment and spatial planning of Jakarta. So that maintaining inter-religious harmony can further add peace and shade to Jakarta,” he said.

Haz Pohan, Editor-