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This study examines Christian ethics in responding to the moral crisis of young people in the digital era. The development of social media, algorithmic culture, and the attention economy has shaped how young people construct identity, manage desire, build relationships, and make moral decisions. The central issue explored in this study is not merely digital misconduct, such as hoaxes, cyberbullying, pornography, self-display culture, and social media addiction, but the fracture of Christian self-awareness that separates faith from everyday digital practices. This research employs a descriptive qualitative method through library research and theological-ethical analysis. The data were analyzed through thematic reduction, categorization of digital moral issues, and interpretation based on Christian ethical principles. The findings show that the digital moral crisis must be understood as a problem of identity, desire formation, and character development. Therefore, this study constructs a model of digital Christian ethics consisting of digital moral literacy, digital character discipline, digital discipleship community, and digital witness. The implication is that families, churches, and Christian educational institutions must develop systematic, contextual, and transformative digital ethics formation.

This study examines in depth the meaning of gratitude expressed in the traditional Wu’u Nura ceremony in Daniwato Village, West Solor, as well as in the Eucharistic celebration, which stands as the central liturgy of the Catholic Church. The Wu’u Nura ceremony is a communal tradition of thanksgiving for the harvest, expressed through symbolic rituals, offerings of agricultural produce, collective prayers, and ceremonial practices that reflect a harmonious relationship between humans, nature, ancestors, and God. Through these rituals, the community strengthens social cohesion, cultural identity, and religious awareness that have been passed down across generations. In contrast, gratitude within the Eucharistic celebration is understood as an expression of faith and a theological response to God’s salvific grace manifested through Christ’s sacrifice, made present in the consecration of bread and wine. Using a qualitative method and comparative approach, this study reveals that although differing in expression, structure, and theological foundations, both practices uphold gratitude as a universal value that fosters spiritual relationships and social solidarity. The findings affirm that dialogue between local culture and Church liturgy—within the spirit of inculturation—can enrich the understanding of faith, deepen spiritual life, and support the preservation of meaningful local traditions. This study contributes significantly to cultural and theological scholarship, as well as pastoral efforts aimed at fostering harmony between religion and culture in pluralistic societies.

Indonesia's cultural diversity demands a process of inculturation, in which local values ​​enter into dialogue with faith. This study examines the Lodong Me tradition in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, as a ritual of thanksgiving for birth that is essential and relevant amidst the challenges of modernity. The aim is to describe the meaning of Lodong Me and analyze its encounter with Christian faith through an inculturation approach. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with key informants and tested using source triangulation. The results show that Lodong Me is interpreted culturally and theologically as gratitude for divine grace, where gratitude to ancestors and God (Ama Pu) is placed in a harmonious arrangement. This ritual has been proven to meet the criteria for genuine adaptation because it has compatible values ​​(such as work ethic and responsibility to care for creation) and effectively strengthens the congregation's faith experience. By implication, this case study enriches the literature on inculturation in Indonesia and makes an important contribution to the Church's pastoral care in Sikka to prevent duality of belief.

The statement of Jesus in Luke 18:16, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them,” contains a theological message that remains relevant for the church throughout the ages. This study aims to examine the meaning of this phrase through a biblical exegesis approach, considering the historical, grammatical, and theological context of the Gospel of Luke. The research employs a qualitative method with historical-grammatical hermeneutics and a literature review on children’s ministry from a New Testament perspective. The findings indicate that the phrase emphasizes Jesus’ indiscriminate acceptance of children as full members of the faith community while rejecting any structural, cultural, or spiritual barriers that diminish the value and rights of children in congregational life. The implication for the contemporary church is the need to develop an inclusive, holistic, and child-friendly ministry in liturgy, education, and spiritual formation, as well as to remove obstacles that may hinder the spiritual growth of children. Thus, the message of Luke 18:16 provides a strong theological foundation for building a church that honors and empowers children as heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Christian Religious Education (PAK) plays a strategic role in instilling foundational faith and moral values in children from an early age. Through the VAK learning style ( Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic). In the context of modern education, PAK functions not only as a medium for delivering biblical teachings but also as a framework for character formation that aligns with children’s developmental needs. This study aims to analyze the role of PAK as a means of shaping faith and moral values, as well as to describe how PAK learning practices strengthen children’s spiritual growth through modeling, habituation, and learning interactions relevant to their daily lives. This qualitative research employs a descriptive approach, with data collected through literature studies, limited observations, and reflections on field experiences. The findings indicate that contextually designed PAK learning significantly influences children’s ways of thinking, behaving, and acting. The integration of school, family, and church further reinforces the impact of PAK as a spiritual foundation and moral guide in everyday life. This study emphasizes that PAK is not merely the transmission of religious content but a process of value internalization that directs children toward a life of faith, strong character, and responsibility.

The phenomenon of introduction through social media has become very common in this digital era. Social media offers ease and efficiency in introducing individuals to others, allowing them to meet, interact, and build relationships in a different way than traditional methods. However, the introduction of a partner through social media also brings its own challenges, emotional manipulation, and limitations in understanding the partner in depth. In the context of Catholic marriage, this phenomenon poses a serious challenge to canonical law. Canon law strictly regulates marriage in order to remain faithful to the Church's teaching of lifelong union and openness to procreation. However, the introduction of a couple through social media can affect the validity of the agreement, psychological readiness, and understanding of the nature of marriage. The Church needs to meet these challenges with a new pastoral approach, including the development of specific guidelines for the companionship of couples who start relationships through social media. This approach includes strengthening more intensive and comprehensive pastoral mentoring, utilizing social media as a tool for education and counseling and reminding couples of the importance of transparency and honesty in relationships. Thus, the Church faces the challenge of ensuring the psychological readiness of both parties and helping couples to understand more deeply about the marital commitments they make and to maintain the values of the sacrament of marriage in an ever-evolving digital world.

This study aims to analyze the role of catechesis in preparing couples for marriage in the Catholic Church comprehensively, encompassing theological, spiritual, mental, and emotional dimensions. The background of this study is based on the phenomenon that some couples still enter into marriage without adequate faith preparation, thus implicating a low understanding of the meaning of the sacrament of marriage as a holy and inseparable life partnership. The research method used is a quantitative approach with a Likert-scale questionnaire as the data collection technique. The research instrument was compiled based on three main indicators, namely understanding the teachings of the sacrament, family function, and church life. Data were analyzed descriptively to measure respondents' perceptions of the effectiveness of catechesis in preparing for Catholic marriage. The results showed that the role of catechesis obtained a high average score of 37.34, with 83.87% of respondents in the strongly agree category. This indicates that catechesis plays a significant role in shaping the spiritual and psychological readiness of prospective couples. The implications of this research confirm that catechesis does not only function as a process of teaching faith, but also as an integral pastoral tool in building Catholic families based on love, loyalty, and Christian responsibility, and contributes to strengthening the faith of the church community. .

This study aims to formulate theopreneurship as a theological-entrepreneurial paradigm for empowering the church and society. The study is grounded in the problem that church ministry often remains predominantly charitable, while poverty, economic vulnerability, limited congregational independence, and weak access to productive ecosystems require a more transformative approach. This research employs a qualitative approach using a conceptual-constructive method through a literature review of theology of work, vocation, stewardship, social entrepreneurship, religion and entrepreneurship, and faith-based community empowerment. The data were analyzed through thematic content analysis and conceptual synthesis to construct a theopreneurship framework that avoids reducing church engagement in entrepreneurship to church business, commercialization of ministry, or prosperity theology. The findings indicate that theopreneurship can be understood as a reconstruction of the church’s ministry paradigm from a charitable model toward a productive empowerment ecosystem. Theopreneurship integrates theological values, ethical governance, congregational capacity formation, economic innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and social impact measurement. The central finding of this study affirms that the church does not need to become a corporation to generate economic impact; rather, it must become an empowerment ecosystem that forms congregants who are productive, ethical, independent, and socially transformative.  

This study examines the Lom Plai tradition of the Dayak Wehea community from the perspective of Catholic inculturation theology. Although this tradition has been widely studied from an anthropological perspective, no research has specifically examined the meaning of its values, symbols, and rituals in the light of inculturation. Therefore, this study is important to see the possibility of dialogue between the Gospel and local culture. The purpose of this study is to understand how elements of Lom Plai culture can be interpreted and processed within the framework of inculturation theology and how the values ​​contained therein can enrich the pastoral life of the community. The study uses a literature review method with a qualitative-contextual theological approach through analysis of theological literature, Church documents, and ethnographic studies of the Dayak Wehea. The research findings indicate that the values ​​of harvest gratitude, respect for the land, community solidarity, and symbols such as rice and thanksgiving rituals are aligned with Christian spirituality and have the potential to be integrated into pastoral practice. The implications of this study emphasize the need for ongoing discernment so that the inculturation process runs authentically, enriches the community's faith, and maintains the cultural identity of the Wehea community.  

This research aims to reinterpret the vision of the Protestant Batak Christian Huria (HKBP) "to be a blessing to the world" from the perspective of diakonia. This research uses a literature method with a qualitative approach through the study of theological literature, history, and church documents. The results of the study show that diakonia is the main entrance to the gospel message in the Land of Batak that brings social, educational, and health transformation to the community. However, in its development, HKBP's diakonic practice tends to be centered on church institutions and has not fully involved the active participation of congregation members. In addition, there is a tendency for service that is charitable without sustainable empowerment. Therefore, it is necessary to reinterpret the vision of HKBP by emphasizing the formation of a diaconal congregation, where all members of the congregation should be equipped and encouraged to be involved in the service of love in the community. Thus, diakonia is not only a program of the church, but a real and transformative practice of living of faith, so that the church truly becomes a blessing to the world. Furthermore, strengthening congregational capacity through contextual theological education and the development of local needs-based ministries is an important strategy in realizing a responsive and inclusive church. This approach is expected to be able to encourage the sustainability of diakonia services which not only has a short-term impact, but also builds independence and community welfare holistically.

Divorce has become an increasingly prevalent moral and social phenomenon within modern society, including among Christian communities, with profound implications for family structures, spiritual life, and the church’s testimony in the world. This study analyzes divorce from the perspective of Christian ethics, grounded in a theological and moral reflection on Matthew 19:1–12 as the biblical foundation for understanding marriage and faithfulness. The findings reveal that divorce is not merely a legal or social concern but represents a spiritual crisis and a failure to uphold the sacred covenant established by God. Contributing factors such as infidelity, domestic violence, economic pressure, and weak faith formation erode the moral values of love and fidelity. Christian ethics emphasizes love, forgiveness, and moral responsibility as fundamental principles for healing and reconciliation within broken relationships. The church is called to exercise pastoral responsibility through guidance, counseling, and restoration, fostering ethical awareness and marital integrity among believers. Thus, applying Christian ethics to the issue of divorce is essential for nurturing spiritual maturity, strengthening family unity, and preserving the moral witness of the Christian community.  

The use of gongs and drums in the liturgy of the Catholic Church in Timor is a tangible form of inculturation, which is a process of dialogue between faith and local culture that enriches the spiritual experience and strengthens the identity of the people. Gongs and drums, which in Timorese culture have a symbolic meaning as a means of communication with ancestors and a marker of unity, are presented in the liturgy as a means of spiritual and cultural expression, making the liturgy a meeting space between tradition and faith. This process not only adds an aesthetic dimension, but also deepens the spiritual appreciation of the people and strengthens the liturgical communion. However, inculturation also brings theological and pastoral challenges, such as the risk of syncretism and cultural abuse, so adequate pastoral assistance and liturgical education are needed in order for the process to maintain the integrity of the faith and the values of the liturgical screen. Thus, inculturation is carried out wisely as a means of establishing faith, strengthening the identity of the local Church, and deepening the spiritual experience of the people in the land of Timor.

This research examines the paradox of Christian leader integrity in facing political polarization and group identity in Toraja society. The background of the problem is a contradictive phenomenon where Christian communities strongly emphasize ethical character of leaders, yet strong group identification can blind them to ethical inconsistencies of supported leaders, especially in the dynamics of regional and presidential elections that divide churches. This research aims to analyze the paradox of Christian leader integrity, identify psychological, theological, and sociological factors causing ethical blindness, and formulate leadership principles that can maintain integrity amid political pressure. Using qualitative descriptive methods based on literature study, this research collects data from leadership theology literature, group identity psychology, and empirical studies on political practices in Toraja Christian communities. Research findings show that the integrity paradox manifests in local political dynamics where ethical standards become loose when leaders come from the same identity group. Factors causing ethical blindness include in-group bias and cognitive dissonance (psychological), sacred-secular dualism and permissive interpretation (theological), as well as clan structure and conformity pressure (sociological). The formulated leadership principles include commitment to biblical standards, theology-based political education, transformative prophetic role, accountability systems, contextual leadership, and building mature faith communities. The implication is that this research provides theoretical contributions to the development of contextual leadership theology and practical recommendations for church leaders in navigating the complexity of identity politics. Research recommendations include developing theology-based political education programs in churches, building leadership accountability systems, and further empirical research to validate the conceptual framework that has been built.

The church, as the body of Christ, carries a vital responsibility in shaping the congregation’s understanding of biblical doctrine as the foundation of a sound life of faith. However, in practice, there remains a gap between the theological instruction provided and the congregation’s actual comprehension in daily life. This study aims to analyze the level of understanding among local congregations regarding biblical doctrine, identify the factors influencing this understanding, and examine the discrepancies between teaching and its application in everyday life. This research employs a qualitative approach using a library research method, focusing on the examination of biblical texts, theological works, and relevant academic literature. The findings indicate that the congregation’s level of understanding of biblical doctrine varies and is influenced by internal factors such as spiritual motivation and faith experience, as well as external factors such as the quality of teaching and ecclesiastical leadership. The gap between teaching and understanding is attributed to the lack of contextual and interactive learning methods. This study underscores the importance of continuous and dialogical theological formation within local churches so that congregants may not only comprehend doctrine cognitively but also embody it practically in faith and action. These findings are expected to enrich the field of practical theology and serve as a reference for developing faith education within the church.

This research is driven by the prevalence of patriarchal perspectives within the Christian theological tradition, which frequently marginalises the role of women. Contemporary feminist theology emerges in this context as a critical effort to reinterpret women’s experiences of faith and suffering in light of God’s liberating love. This study analyses the martyrdom of the Virgin Mary and Neerja Bhanot as examples of witnessing to faith and humanity, affirming the spiritual power and courage of women in the face of patriarchal structures. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method, adopting a literature review approach to the Holy Scriptures, church documents and feminist theological literature. The results show that Mary’s martyrdom reflects quiet, prophetic faithfulness as a white martyr, while Bhanot displays universal humanitarian martyrdom. Both reveal a God who is present in love and solidarity with human suffering. This research affirms that feminist theology is a reflective praxis of liberation, demanding a transformation in the Church’s and society’s views on the dignity and role of women in the work of salvation.

This study examines the doctrine of Pietism within the context of postmodern culture, highlighting a gap in the literature that connects the rich historical and spiritual heritage of Pietism with contemporary philosophical challenges. The central issue explored is how this revivalist movement, which emphasizes personal piety and lived religious experience, can maintain its relevance and authenticity amid the dominant postmodern tendencies of relativism and excessive individualism. The purpose of this research is to critically analyze the potentials and risks of Pietism in the postmodern era and to propose practical recommendations for Pietist church communities to remain contextually relevant without losing their theological essence. This study employs a literature review method by examining key theological and philosophical works. The findings indicate that Pietism remains relevant due to its focus on living faith (experientia) and ethical transformation expressed through love and service, which serve as antidotes to skepticism and religious formalism. However, the movement faces a significant risk of falling into excessive subjectivism when personal experience becomes detached from the objective truth of Scripture and the communal dimension of love.

Pastoral ministry is at the core of the life of the Church which requires the active and qualified involvement of its implementers, especially facilitators. At St. Joseph Tanjung Balai Karimun Church, the role of facilitators is very important in reviving the Ecclesiastical Base Community (KBG) as the main means of fostering the faith of the people. However, the limited number and capacity of facilitators are obstacles in supporting the effectiveness of pastoral ministry. This community service activity aims to increase the capacity of facilitators through training that focuses on developing communication competencies, faith mentoring, and pastoral leadership. The method used was observation and participatory training for three months, with periodic evaluation through reflection with participants. The results of the activity showed a significant increase in confidence, empathic communication skills, and the effectiveness of facilitators in managing group dynamics. In addition, the KBG meeting became more lively and participatory. Pastorally, this activity shows that strengthening the capacity of facilitators is not only a technical solution, but also a long-term strategy in building an independent, synodal and empowered Church. This activity is expected to be a model for other parishes in developing pastoral services that are contextual and relevant to the lives of today's people.

This study explores the discipleship and character of the Samaritan woman as portrayed in the Gospel of John. The background emphasizes that discipleship is not merely about listening to Jesus’ teachings but involves a personal relationship, obedience, and life transformation. The Gospel of John offers a unique perspective by presenting that Christ’s disciples are not limited to men but also include women, as illustrated in the narrative of the Samaritan woman at the well. This research employs a qualitative method with a literature review approach, focusing on biblical texts and relevant studies. The findings reveal that the discipleship process of the Samaritan woman demonstrates a progressive transformation: from initial skepticism to faith and recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. This transformation unfolds through three key dimensions: the dialogue on living water, the understanding of true worship, and the testimony shared with her community. The Samaritan woman emerges as a genuine disciple through her faith, courageous witness, and role as Christ’s representative in proclaiming universal salvation. Her notable traits include openness, honesty, curiosity, courage, and willingness to change. The study highlights that the Gospel of John portrays discipleship as inclusive, affirming the role of women as models of faith. Its implications provide theological insight into the equality of disciples in Christ and offer relevance for today’s church in fostering participatory and transformative faith communities.

This research is entitled "Theology of Embrace: Perspectives of Indonesian Christian Pastors on Concern for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People." The focus of the research is directed at how pastors of the Indonesian Christian Church (HKI) understand and respond to the presence of the LGBT community within the congregation, as well as how the concept of embrace theology can be implemented in Church services. The background of this research arises from the persistence of stigma, discrimination, and rejection of LGBT people in the church environment, which impacts their alienation from fellowship. This research method uses a qualitative with a descriptive approach, the researcher interviewed 10 HKI pastors in 9 regions to explore their perspectives. The results show that 3 HKI pastors still hold conservative views regarding LGBT, viewing it as behavior that is contrary to the values ​​of Christian faith. There are also 7 pastors who are starting to open themselves to embracing LGBT people through a more humane and compassionate pastoral approach. The concept of embrace theology according to Miroslav Volf is a relevant theological offer for creating an inclusive church space, solidarity, and relationship restoration. This research is expected to contribute to the church, especially HKI, in formulating pastoral policies that are fair, relevant, and in line with the values ​​of Christ's love for all people without exception.

This study aims to understand the perspectives of pastors from the Punguan Kristen Batak Church (GPKB) regarding disability-friendly services for congregants. As a faith community, the church has a significant responsibility to create an inclusive environment where every member, including those with disabilities, is accepted and served equally. People with disabilities are seen not only as part of human diversity but also as part of the whole body of Christ, and therefore, their service must be prioritized in church life. This research uses a qualitative descriptive analytical approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews with six pastors from GPKB districts in Indonesia to explore theological understanding, practical experience, and challenges in serving congregants with disabilities. Data analysis was conducted thematically to identify patterns of views, service practices, and obstacles that arise. The results show that 84% of pastors have a positive perspective on inclusive service and support congregants with disabilities. However, the study also found challenges such as inadequate physical facilities, minimal service strategies, and limited theological understanding of disabilities. In conclusion, a paradigm shift, capacity building for pastors, and ongoing institutional support are needed to create an inclusive and disability-friendly church.