Rev. Dr. AMSAL YOWEI, SE, M.Pd.K. CONVEY THE MATERIAL CONCEPT OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN BATAM

Batam, March 26, 2024 A total of 75 participants from various institutions and churches at the provincial level attended the dialogue on the internal harmony of religious communities and Christian moderation development held at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Riau Islands province. The event was enlivened by the presence of the director of Christian Affairs, Rev. Dr. Proverbs Yowei, SE, M.Pd.K., who delivered important material on "the concept of religious moderation in the in the Ministry of Religion." In his speech, Rev. Dr. Proverbs Yowei emphasizes the importance of the role of church leaders and Christian religious institutions in supporting religious moderation. He stated that their participation in the event was a concrete step in establishing themselves as pioneers in driving religious moderation, not just the responsibility of the government alone. This is in line with the principle of mutual assistance to achieve harmony among religious communities. Rev. Dr. Proverbs Yowei also highlights the important role played by Christian extension workers spread throughout Indonesia. With a total of about 9,000 people, they are at the forefront of delivering messages of religious moderation and messages of peace to the community, especially in the "deepest, outermost, underdeveloped (3T) areas." This is a real effort toward realizing equality, justice, and integrity within the framework of religious moderation. The material presented also includes four important indicators of religious moderation: national insight, tolerance, anti-violence, and acceptance of tradition. Rev. Dr. Proverbs Yowei reminds us that religious moderation aims to bring society to moderate attitudes and views, avoiding extremism. Therefore, he encouraged the participants to apply the concept of religious moderation in everyday life, starting from themselves, families, and churches to the community. In addition, on this occasion, the director of Christian Affairs also discussed the revitalization program of the Office of Religious Affairs (Kua), as instructed by the Minister of Religious Affairs. The positive response from the participants, including provincial church leaders and the Synod, showed strong support for the government's efforts in achieving a peaceful and harmonious Indonesia. Thus, the dialogue of internal harmony among religious people and the development of Christian moderation in the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Riau Islands Province managed to bring a deeper understanding of the importance of religious moderation as the foundation of harmony and harmony in a multicultural Indonesian society.