GKE, Evangelical Reformed Church in Kalimantan

The Protestant Reformed Church in Kalimantan (GKE) is active in the areas of education and health, Advancement of Women and livelihood security. It offers legal support for securing land rights and works interfaith with Muslim organizations. Mission 21 supports numerous GKE projects such as income support for women, training scholarships for young adults from families affected by poverty, awareness-raising and support on violence in partnerships and interfaith cooperation. Mission 21 also promotes theological education and training and the implementation of contextual theology at the theological seminary in Banjarmasin. From 2014 until the beginning of 2019, Uwe Hummel, an ecumenical employee of Mission 21, taught there as a lecturer in theology. As part of Mission 21's peace program in Indonesia, some projects of the GKE and the theological college are also being implemented. Sekola Tinggi Teologi (STT) is financed. The programs of the Women's Commission of the GKE also receive special support. 

Relations with the GKE date back to the early 20th century, and since the 1960s Mission 21 (then still known as the Basel Mission) has been increasingly involved in the Cooperation projects of the church. In addition to its pastoral theological tasks, the CCR is particularly active in the areas of community development, health services and education, including craftsmanshipseducation, agriculture and the advancement of women. She seeks Cooperation with the Indonesian Government. In 1963, the GKE church leadership, together with the Basel Mission, decided to build a new church at the centrally located site, which was easily accessible thanks to the river. Mandomai to establish a technical training center for carpentry and woodworking. It was opened as a school in 1967 and in 1980 a production plant was added. . The GKE has over a thousand members in Kalimantan, the majority of whom live in remote rural areas and are looked after by 650 pastors. The majority of the 330,000 members belong to the ethnic group of the Dayak to. There are some urban centers such as Palangka Raya and Banjarmasin, but most of the church members live in rural areas where agriculture is the main occupation. With its projects on agriculture, wood processing and fair trade in handicrafts, GKE is trying to prepare young people for a working life in a rapidly changing society and thus contribute to improving the quality of life in their community. The majority of 330'000 Members belong to the ethnic Ggroup the Dayak to.

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