Simatupang, Tahi Bonar (1920-1990)
Indonesian Christian leader in the ecumenical movement
Born to a Batak family in Sidikalang, Sumatra, Simatupang became an Indonesian army staff officer and was trained at the royal Dutch military academy in Bandung. During the war of independence he was chief of staff of the armed forces in defense of the Republic of Indonesia. After early retirement he served with the National Council of Churches in Indonesia, then was president of the Christian Conference of Asia (1973-1977) and a president of the World Council of Churches (1975-1983). He was noted as a speaker and writer on social ethics and ecumenical concerns in Indonesia and in other Asian countries and in the West. Because of his prominent role in the national movement for independence in Indonesia (1949-1954), he was able to promote the cause of the Protestant churches in relation to the government as well as in society generally. He was the author of numerous articles and books in Indonesian, some of which were translated into other languages.
Lothar Schreiner, “Simatupang, Tahi Bonar,” in Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, edited by Gerald H. Anderson (New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 1998), 621.
This article is reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, Macmillan Reference USA, copyright © 1998 Gerald H. Anderson, by permission of Macmillan Reference USA, New York, NY. All rights reserved.
Bibliography
T. B. Simatupang, “The Situation and Challenge of the Christian Mission in Indonesia Today,” South East Asia Journal of Theology 10, no.4 (1969): 10-27.
“Kurzer Ruckblick auf die Geschichte der christlichen Kirche in Indonesien,” in Rolf Italiaander, ed., Indonesiens verantwortliche Gesellschaft (1976), pp. 37-85.
Dynamics for Creative Maturity,” in Gerald H. Anderson, ed., Asian Voices in Christian Thelogy (1976), pp. 87-116.
“Doing Theology in Indonesia Today,” CTC Bulletin 3, no.2 (1982): 20-29.
Gelebte Theologie in Indonesien, zur gesellschaftlichen Verantwortung der Christen (1992).