LWF remembers Indonesian church leader Nababan as "a leader with vision and passion for the church”

Former LWF Vice President Rev. Dr Soritua A.E. Nababan passes away

(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) sent condolences to the Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP) following the death of former HKBP Ephorus and former LWF Vice President Rev. Dr Soritua A.E. Nababan remembering him for his “longstanding participation in and contribution to the life and work of the LWF.”

Nababan, who served two terms as LWF vice president from 1970–1977, and then again from 1984–1990, passed away on 8 May in Jakarta.

In a letter to the current HKBP Ephorus Rev. Dr Robinson Butarbutar, LWF general secretary, Rev. Dr Martin Junge, extended the Lutheran communion’s confidence that “even when confronted with the temporariness of life, we remind ourselves of the promise of the resurrection.”

In 1956, Nababan graduated from Jakarta Theological Seminary and in 1963 was honoured with a doctorate in theology from Heidelberg University.   

Junge wrote that Dr Nababan was always willing to bring a prophetic voice to the global communion and that “he was truly a leader with vision and passion for the Church.”

When Nababan was the general secretary of the Indonesia Council of Churches (PGI) in the 70s, he spoke out against the Indonesian government’s proposal to enact an ‘anti-mission’ law, because he believed that such legislation would bring the Indonesian churches into a very difficult situation.

Junge further recalled how Nababan often sought to uplift the voice of the Indonesian context, “helping the global communion to understand not just the realities and challenges, but also the gifts offered by the Lutheran churches in Indonesia.”

The LWF will remember all the above, and also many other contributions made by Dr Nababan, with a deep sense of gratitude.

In the letter, the LWF asked that the church “kindly convey condolences to his wife, Mdm. Alida Lumbantobing, their children and grandchildren.

Nababan will be buried in the Siborongborong district of the North Sumatra province in Indonesia, today.