Waiting For A Long 38 Fiscal Years, Three Churches And Pastor's Houses In South Sulawesi Now Have A Certificate

Photo via Antara

The waqf land certification program and houses of worship organized by the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) helped the Association of Indonesian Churches in South, West and Southeast Sulawesi to obtain land certification after 38 years without a certificate.

Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN Raja Juli Antoni said that the certification of houses of worship is a manifestation of the application of national noble values, and the Ministry of ATR/BPN is committed to ensuring that all houses of worship must be certified in 2024.

"This is the state's obligation, the state is obliged to provide a sense of security and comfort for religious adherents. Therefore, if there are still those who have not been registered, they must immediately coordinate with the local BPN Office," said Raja Juli.

The chairman of the PGI Sulselbara Pdt. Adrie O Massie said that this certification is a long wait after a long time of not having legal legal force.

The chairman of PGI expressed his gratitude when receiving the certificate to the ranks of the Ministry of ATR/BPN for the attention that had been given. For him, this certificate means a lot to the church congregation.

The handover of this land certificate ended the wait for our land certification after 38 years. Finally we got a certificate too. Thank you very much," he said.

Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN said the government is targeting all land for waqf houses of worship to be interpreted in 2024.

Raja Juli Antoni said that the President of the Republic of Indonesia instructed the Ministry of ATR/BPN to accelerate the registration process for waqf land and land places of worship for the people. "Without exception, be it waqf land for Muslims, houses of worship for Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists," he said.

The Deputy Minister of ATR also hopes for support from all levels of society regarding registration, because those who understand the intricacies of land identity are the original owners.

During the certificate handover ceremony in South Sulawesi, the Deputy Minister of ATR/BPN handed over 5 certificates consisting of 2 certificates in the name of PGI, 1 certificate of the Catholic Church Stasi Santo, 1 certificate of the priest's residence, and 1 Toraja Church certificate of the Kole Congregation.