The church generally has representatives in the LMD and can thus influence decision-making.
In some cases, the church motivates people to support government economic programs. The
GPM also may have its own economic and social programs, as in Hutumuri. There are church
groups for men, women and youths (see below).
4.6.2 Pelwata
The Pelwata is the church organization for women. The aim is to serve and motivate Christian
women. The central committee consists of a chair (always the wife of the church minister), a
vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer. There are sections, led by chairladies, dealing with
issues of faith, communications, fundraising, economic development, and the household.
Besides drafting programs, the central committee presents implementation proposals and
financial reports that are taken back to members in each section to be studied. The members
can express feedback during a subsequent service.
Membership varies, but rarely covers more than 30% of the village women. Social pressure to
join the meetings is high. Time constraints, lack of child care and irrelevance of the activities
to the women’s daily lives, however, dampen the enthusiasm of women to join. Women that
do join generally prefer the bible services. Programs may be passed down from the Synod or
formulated by the local members. The local programs include: 1) spiritual activities, e.g.,
bible services and discussions, 2) pastoral services, e.g., visiting the sick and elderly, 3) family-
based economic activities and skills training, e.g., vegetable gardens, and 4) sports. The external
programs, formulated at the Synod level by the women’s section, are sent to the Klasis and
forwarded to the local groups for discussion by selected representatives of each section. In
this meeting, ideas from members may be included in the final programs or the whole program
can be rejected if it is unsuitable. For example, Pelwata in Seri did not apply a program named
“comparative study” in which women were to visit groups in other churches. In other villages,
a program may be accepted but in most cases, it is only partly realized. The local officials
have an obligation to present a yearly report to the Klasis through a Pelwata conference.
4.6.3 Youth wing
The youth wing (Angkatan Muda) has a chair, and a number of deputies, secretaries, and
treasurers, depending on the size of the group. The average number of officials is
approximately 12 men and women. The aim is to train youth in useful skills, build good
attitudes, and strengthen their faith in God. It is hoped that members who have been trained
will become leaders in other social groups in the future. Membership is usually around a
third of eligible youngsters in the village. Lack of time, marriage, and shyness after a long
period of absence, or a feeling of inferiority (low education), are commonly expressed reasons
for the inactivity of potential members.
As with the women’s groups, youth activity programs may be developed locally or externally.
Activities include weekly spiritual services and social works, e.g., cleaning-up of public
facilities (in collaboration with the congregation and village government), visits to groups in
other villages, sports, economic activities (growing animals and vegetables), and a pastoral
program to recruit new members. In Seri, the economic program is done in conjunction with
a group of new university graduates. The youth wing is functionally independent of the local
church but is accountable to other levels of the youth organization in the church hierarchy
(i.e., sub-branch, branch, region, province). In addition, the sub-branch has to report its
activities to its members in an annual general meeting.
Village Level Socio-Political Context 43