8/5/2024 Indonesia (International Christian Concern)— Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas recently told a group of church leaders that it will soon be easier for new churches to obtain building permits.
Yaqut said churches will soon only need to request building permits through the Ministry of Religion. Previously, they had to obtain recommendations from the Ministry of Religion and the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB). Yaqut said the FKUB had previously been an obstacle to many churches gaining approval.
“There are two recommendations (in the old rules) that must be fulfilled,” Yaqut said on Aug. 3 during the National Dialogue and National Working Meeting of the Greater Indonesia Christian Movement (Gekira) at the Bidakara Hotel, South Jakarta. “Of course, this makes it difficult for all of you, especially when there are many Muslims, and they are the majority.”
He added that Hadi Tjahjanto, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, had agreed to the rule change. Yaqut also said he is committed to continuing to simplify the process of establishing a house of worship and that the latest such regulations would be issued soon.
“Yesterday, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs agreed with us and the Minister of Home Affairs for this to be made a presidential regulation,” he explained. “So, in a moment, hopefully, the establishment of this house of worship will no longer be difficult.”
The change in the rules comes as multiple churches have obtained building permits after years and even decades of waiting.
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