Kognisio

ETHICAL-THEOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONGREGATIONS, ELDERS, AND DEACENTS IN THREE GKJTU WITHOUT PAMULANG

Rinaldo Panggabean — 2025-07-31

This study examines the ethical-theological responsibility of congregations in the Gereja Kristen Jawa Tengah Utara (GKJTU) that operate without a pamulang, namely pastors or evangelists who hold special offices in the church alongside elders and deacons. The research focuses on three GKJTU congregations: Gedong, Tayeman, and Talitakum Sleker, located in Getasan, Klasis Kopeng. Employing a qualitative method with a narrative-descriptive approach, data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. The findings reveal that the absence of a pamulang compels congregations, elders, and deacons to take on greater roles in church ministry. The congregation is understood as a moral agent who is active, responsive, and responsible in realizing the church’s vision. An important finding indicates that ministry in GKJTU without a pamulang occurs within a stage of liminality, supported by dialogical collaboration between the congregation and the church council. In conclusion, Christian ethical responsibility in the context of GKJTU without a pamulang is manifested through a sense of belonging and the collective involvement of congregations in ministry.

Theology of the Womb:

Prionaray Bram M — 2025-07-31

In this study, we try to see how the theology of mercy speaks in the current context. The world health organization that also presents anxiety and worry in the scope of Christianity, also helps to oppress the lives of believers. The church must also contribute greatly to speaking to what extent the Bible speaks about the struggles of believers' lives. Christy Angelle Bauman's theology of mercy in her book reflects on the struggles of women which are considered as struggles in general. In this study, we use qualitative research with a literature study approach to strengthen the search for relevant theories. Through this study, we found that the theology of mercy seeks to compare God and women. In the bleeding that women must feel as a gift, it turns out to have similarities to the bloodshed carried out by Jesus for the source of life (salvation). The responsibility in seeing the current context, more specifically facing the phenomenon of the mother wound, requires humans to reflect on the mercy that exists. Part of God's care, the audience is the same as a woman who must breastfeed her child through her breast as a gift. Those who put their hope in the womb have the duty and responsibility to care for the womb. Not in the sense of conceptualizing sexual identity, but simply showing that the task and responsibility of maintaining mercy is a universal responsibility.

THEOLOGY OF WORK AND BIVOCATIONAL MINISTRY PASTORS IN 1–2 THESSALONIANS:

Wirna Tololiu — 2025-07-31

This study is motivated by the ongoing debate regarding the legitimacy of bivocational ministry among pastors in Indonesian churches. While some churches require pastors to serve full-time, others allow or even encourage them to take on additional work. This article aims to analyze the work norms in 1–2 Thessalonians and connect them with the reality of bivocational ministry among pastors in Minahasa. The research employed a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with ten pastors from Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Reformed denominations, along with an exegetical analysis of 1–2 Thessalonians. The findings reveal that seven out of ten pastors are bivocational due to economic reasons or as a form of witness, while three others focus on full-time ministry supported financially by their congregations. The discussion highlights that Paul’s work ethic in 1–2 Thessalonians not only refers to secular labor but also affirms ministry as work, requiring contextual interpretation. In conclusion, bivocational ministry is acceptable as long as it does not compromise the quality of pastoral service and is aligned with denominational context.

THE CHURCH'S ROLE IN FORMING THE IDENTITY OF THE ALPHA GENERATION BASED ON PHILIPPINS 4:6-7

Kardia Kaligis — 2025-07-31

This study explores the role of the church in shaping the identity of Generation Alpha, based on Christian principles found in Philippians 4:6-7, which emphasizes the importance of living without worry. The main issue addressed is the increasing level of anxiety among Generation Alpha and the lack of a strong self-identity formed from an early age. The purpose of this research is to identify how the church can contribute to building a strong and spiritually healthy identity for Generation Alpha. This study uses a qualitative approach through literature review of theological and child psychology sources. The results show that Bible-based teaching, spiritual development activities, and active involvement in church communities significantly contribute to instilling Christian values and inner peace in children. In conclusion, the church plays a crucial role in fostering a firm identity free from anxiety through the application of Philippians 4:6-7.

TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN FUND MANAGEMENT IN RURAL CHURCHES

Meilike Panggolong — 2025-10-01

The church, as both a spiritual and social entity, requires sustainable financial support to sustain its ministries. However, financial management in rural churches often faces challenges such as limited resources, manual record-keeping, and insufficient administrative training. This study aims to examine the fundraising practices of Bukit Horeb Batangbabasal Congregation, a local church in rural Central Sulawesi, focusing on the level of congregational participation, satisfaction with the system implemented, and perceptions of financial transparency. The research employed a quantitative method with a descriptive approach. The findings reveal that congregational participation in fundraising activities is remarkably high, particularly through traditional methods such as worship offerings and special envelopes for major church events. The congregation also expressed high satisfaction with the positive impact of fundraising, although improvements are still needed in terms of the ease of the donation process. Furthermore, perceptions of financial transparency were highly positive, reinforcing trust and participation among members. In conclusion, fundraising in rural churches serves not only as a financial mechanism but also as an expression of solidarity, mutual support, and testimony of faith, with transparency and accountability as the foundational principles for sustaining church ministry.

PARENTS' INTEREST IN CONTINUING THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IN THEOLOGY STUDY PROGRAM

Nosvin Batombukan — 2025-10-01

This study aims to explore the interest of parents in Jemaat Kalvari Kelapa Lima, a local church in Banggai Laut Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, in encouraging their children to pursue a theology degree. The main focus of this study is to identify how social-economic factors and parents' perceptions of career prospects in theology influence their decisions. This study uses a quantitative approach with a descriptive method, where data is collected through a survey questionnaire consisting of 9 statements with five response options based on a Likert scale. The questionnaire was distributed to 30 parents who have children who graduated from high school in the congregation. The results of the data analysis using SPSS show that most parents consider theology education important for their children's moral and spiritual development, but there are challenges regarding the frequency of discussions about theology education and career prospects in this field. This study concludes that while there is significant interest in theology education, parents tend to focus more on economic factors and job stability when supporting their children's educational decisions. The study recommends introducing career opportunities outside the church and developing strategies to enhance parental involvement in supporting theology education.