Eight house churches shut down in Indonesia

BANDUNG, West Java, Indonesia — Government officials in Bandung, West Java, ordered eight house churches in the Rancaekek Kencana housing complex to cease meeting in private homes starting Jan. 15.

Each church received the order by letter Jan. 13, following a meeting Jan. 12 attended by local government officials, police, the commander of the local military and the leader of a local Muslim forum. Several of the churches in the complex met for worship Jan. 15 anyway, saying they had no alternative venue. The churches first applied for permits in 1993 but were rejected. Under a ministerial decree issued in 1969, all religious groups must apply for permits — and since neighbors must give their approval before a permit is granted, the decree is a huge obstacle for churches meeting in majority-Muslim communities.