Jakarta – The moderator of the World Council of Churches, Walter Altman, paid a visit to the embattled GKI Taman Yasmin congregation in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

During the visit, Altman said he hoped the prolonged dispute between the church and Bogor municipal administration could be resolved quickly so that the congregation could worship as normal.

During his 20-minute visit, in the presence of Bogor public order officers and the police, Altman also said, "We hope we can settle this dispute peacefully. I will plead to the communion of churches to pray [for this]."

The call for peace comes after tensions escalated in a clash on Sunday, when Bogor public order officers attempted to remove the congregation who were holding a service on a street.

Bogor Public Order Office chief Bambang Budianto was injured in the incident and taken to hospital for treatment. Bambang subsequently filed assault charges against GKI member Jayadi Damanik over alleged assault.

The clash broke out when GKI members refused to board buses that public order officers said would take them to a new place of worship.

Despite a Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of GKI Yasmin, Bogor administration has refused to allow the church to reopen.