UKDW Welcomes PGI: Synergy for Impactful Church Ministry
Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) welcomed a delegation from the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) at the Rev. Dr. Harun Hadiwijono Seminar Room. The visit was part of PGI’s 2025 Capacity Building agenda and a continuation of the strategic partnership established the previous year.
The PGI delegation included the General Chairperson, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, alumni of UKDW’s Faculty of Theology, and several other PGI members.
UKDW Rector, Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., warmly received the visit and reaffirmed UKDW’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with PGI through both academic collaboration and information technology support.
“UKDW has seven faculties, and we are ready to engage in collaboration—whether through expertise, joint research, or strengthening church governance. We also offer UKDW’s expertise in information systems to support PGI,” she explained.
She added that UKDW is currently developing a second campus in Sedayu, which includes the construction of a teaching hospital in support of the Faculty of Medicine. In the field of continuing education, UKDW also offers collaboration opportunities through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program, enabling church staff to pursue further studies online.
Prof. Dr. Robert Setio, Dean of UKDW’s Faculty of Theology, emphasized that UKDW was born from the merger of the Jogjakarta Theological Academy and the Bale Wiyata Theological School in Malang, with the support of 12 founding churches from across Indonesia.
“UKDW is not just an educational institution, but part of a Christian service complex that includes Bethesda Hospital, secondary schools, and churches. This is a legacy that must be preserved,” he said.
He underlined that the ecumenical spirit and fellowship remain the foundation of the university’s development and must continue to be strengthened in the life of today’s church.
PGI General Chairperson, Rev. Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty, expressed appreciation for UKDW’s warm welcome and highlighted the importance of field visits as a way to directly understand the dynamics of church ministry.
“We serve 105 member churches, but our relationships are often administrative in nature. That is why we go directly to the regions—so PGI staff can grasp the realities of ministry on the ground and foster more meaningful connections,” he said.
He cited a local initiative such as GKJTU’s biogas development, which has reached Papua, as an example of impactful church ministry that often goes unnoticed in the broader ecumenical narrative.
“Stories like these matter. We hope that synergy with UKDW will strengthen PGI’s role in presenting a Christianity that is relevant to society,” he added.
PGI General Secretary, Rev. Darwin Lumbantobing—an alumnus of UKDW’s Faculty of Theology—pointed to two major concerns currently prioritized by PGI: Christian education and the environmental crisis.
“The PGI Assembly identified education as one of the key crisis points. We invite UKDW to join in raising awareness and building a vision to improve the quality of Christian education,” he emphasized.
He also asked for UKDW’s support in hosting the upcoming National Consultation on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) this October, as part of the church’s response to the increasingly urgent environmental crisis.
UKDW Vice Rector IV, Rev. Wahju Satria Wibowo, Ph.D., noted that collaboration between PGI and UKDW has so far been centered on the Faculty of Theology. Moving forward, however, cooperation is expected to expand to other faculties as well as research centers under UKDW’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM).
“We are opening opportunities for collaboration in areas such as disaster management, information system development, and community empowerment. This meeting marks a new beginning for joint contributions between UKDW and churches in Indonesia,” he stated.
This strategic meeting underscored the importance of synergy between the church and Christian universities in advancing ministry that is relevant, contextual, and impactful for society. With an ecumenical spirit, UKDW and PGI are committed to shaping a Christianity that is inclusive, collaborative, and meaningful within Indonesia’s pluralistic society.
W-ID: mpk | Ed. (ENG): drr
