The pro-Soritua camp and the majority of HKBP members refused to recognize the leadership of Siahaan over HKBP, citing unconstitutionality and external intervention. The government-backed camp held an extraordinary Sinode Godang in February to elect a definitive Ephorus. On the last day of the event—13 February 1993—P. W. T. Simanjuntak was elected as the government-backed Ephorus, while S. M. Siahaan became Simanjuntak's secretary general. The conflict between Soritua faction—later known as the AP-SSA faction (Aturan Paraturan-Setia Sampai Akhir, Rules and Guidance-Faithful Until the End) split HKBP into two. International organizations kept recognizing Soritua as the legitimate Ephorus, a decision which was shunned by Simanjuntak.
