Christian Church in South Sulawesi (GKSS)
The history of Christianity in South Sulawesi has been marked by centuries of living side by side with the Muslim community and facing up to Islam. Even the GKSS lives and works in a distinctly Muslim environment. It started in the 19th century as part of the Dutch church for government officials and became independent in 1949. At the outbreak of World War II, the GKSS had approximately 10,000 members. By 1952, membership had shrunk to a mere 600 as a result of two waves of persecution. Today parish membership has climbed back up to 6,000 again. Despite its small size, the GKSS has decided to provide self-help and missionary work to poor rural communes. It finances a training centre for development work in villages. Just as much it is preoccupied with its confrontation with various religions, the church is very interested in networking and ecumenical cooperation. For example, it gladly sends its theologians to work as lecturers at the theological university in the provincial capital of Makassar and has also seconded ecumenical workers to Germany.
