On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Center for the Study of Religion and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSR-CMR) at Satya Wacana Christian University (SWCU) held an executive meeting with a representative of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, namely, the Center for Religious Harmony (Pusat Kerukunan Umat Beragama) and the Center for the Financing of Religious Education and the Education of Religiosity (Pusat Pembiayaan Pendidikan Agama dan Pendidikan Keagamaan).
The meeting aimed at exploring the possibility of collaboration between CSR-CMR (and SWCU in general) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, particularly the Religious Harmony Center and the Religious Education Financing Center. Sumanto Al Qurtuby, chairman of CSR-CMR, opened the meeting by introducing his center, its teams, and the meeting participants. After the introduction, SWCU’s Vice Rector for Collaboration, Yafet Yosafet Wilben Rissy, gave a brief remark on the University’s vision and outreach programs, including cooperation with multiple actors and stakeholders in Indonesia and beyond. Professor Rissy also welcomed collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
After that, the ministry’s representatives explained the two centers and their primary programs, followed by Q&A sessions. Adib Abdushomad, PhD, Head of the Center for Religious Harmony, stated that his center has a variety of programs, aiming at creating harmonious relations among religious communities, including adherents of local beliefs, in Indonesia. These programs include international symposiums, national seminars, podcasts, harmony awards for government officials and non-government actors who contribute to interfaith peacebuilding and dialogue, and the Young Ambassador for Peace and Harmony, among many others. “CSR-CMR and SWCU can collaborate with us for all of these programs,” explained Dr. Abdushomad.
More specifically, Mr. Abdushomad plans to include CSR-CMR in his upcoming event: INSPIRE 2026, an international symposium involving religious leaders and scholars of religion from all over the world to promote Indonesia’s experience of interreligious tolerance and engagement to international communities. His center will also include students of SWCU for the Young Ambassador for Peace and Harmony program.
Moreover, Dr. Ruchman Bashori, Head of the Center for Religious Education Financing, opened the possibility of collaboration with SWCU, including CSR-CMR, in scholarships, research, financial assistance, and so forth. Mr. Bashori also explained that the Master’s Sociology of Religion Program in the Faculty of Theology at SWCU will be included in the list of academic programs eligible for a scholarship from the Ministry. His center also has a financial assistance program for doctoral students (or, possibly, master’s students) who come from the “family” of the Ministry (e.g., staff/employees of the Ministry or teachers/lecturers of educational institutions under the Ministry) and are at the latest stage of their study.
Several leaders and lecturers at SMCU attended the executive meeting, including Willi Toisuta (a former rector of SWCU), Ferdy Semuel Rondonuwu (Vice Rector of Academics), Izak Lattu (Dean of the Faculty of Theology), Agastya Rama Listya (Dean of the Faculty of Language and Arts), and Suwarto (Head of the Doctorate Program in Sociology of Religion), among others.
