BANDUNGAN, Indonesia - For many years conflict was simmering within the Javanese Mennonite Church (GITJ) in Indonesia. As far back as 1978 there were divisions within the church, but the problems were hidden, said pastor Hendro Suradi, one of the GITJ leaders. By 1996 this conflict could no longer be hidden. The executive committee had not been giving account of its dealings for a long time. A synod meeting was long overdue. The younger generation decided to call a synod meeting that year, and that brought to light the split which had actually started many years earlier.

Pastor Suradi shared this information with me at recent synod meeting.

This one had been called specifically to seek to reunite the two groups. The meeting was being held November 9-11 at the beautiful Bandungan location, away from the GITJ area.

A lot of work had been done prior to this special synod meeting which was seeking to bring about reconciliation. The breakaway group was much larger than the old one, but the latter was recognized by the Soeharto government. That regime made government recognition mandatory.

The split was deep and painful. Pastor Saptojoadi, who is the writer of the hymn, "O Prince of Peace," said that what hurt most was that people started to pretend they didn't know each other. He himself remained neutral, because he believes the church is the body of Christ and should be one.

Yet right from the beginning there were strong urges to seek reconciliation. Pastor Pujo Kartiko, who is now the president of the new synod--voted in by an overwhelming majority--summed up the story as follows: Already in 1996 both groups stated clearly that unity was their most important goal. Neighboring churches, such as the other Mennonite churches on Java, offered mediation. The chairperson of the Indonesian Council of Churches repeatedly traveled to the Muria area home of GITJ to go back and forth between the two parties. Charles Christano offered mediation; so did the Dutch Mennonite Church, which has historic links to GITJ. Most importantly, the people in the local churches were clearly unhappy with the situation, thereby creating a strong push for reconciliation.

On the basis of this movement, Lawrence and Shirley Yoder, who served as Mennonite Central Committee representatives in Indonesia in the past, succeeded in bringing the two groups together. It took several meetings, but now the two groups have come together. The groups' two separate boards have been disbanded and a new one has been installed. This is the cause of much joy. Everybody can see that the Holy Spirit is at work here. The new-found unity is both a gift from God and a challenge.

The new board has two years to consolidate this unity, and there are still many unsolved problems. Farmer Sudiro, for instance, says justice is missing. Nobody is being held accountable for mistakes and wrongdoings in the past. For him a glimmer of hope is that the synod members apparently have become more critical and are more ready to hold their leaders accountable both in the church and in the nation.

Others are expressing caution. They say, let's wait and see what these two years will bring. But in spite of the cautions this was a wonderful occasion, and many hymns were sung and prayers of thankfulness sent up. Here is a church that has become a beacon for all of us and a sign of hope for the Indonesian nation, where a lot of reconciliation is badly needed.