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This research is motivated by the reality of ethnic and cultural diversity in congregation life which reflects the dynamics of a multicultural society, where differences in cultural identity have the potential to cause social friction if not managed wisely. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with normative studies, with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentation of informants consisting of pastors, congregation councils, and presbyters. The theory used is Ralph Linton's role theory which explains how individuals carry out social functions according to their status in society. The results of the study indicate that the life of the GMIT Sion Oepura congregation is characterized by multicultural dynamics as seen from the diversity of ethnicities such as Timor, Rote, Sabu, Flores, and Alor which not only enriches church life through cultural expressions in worship and church activities, but also gives rise to symbolic friction between ethnic groups, such as the tendency for the dominance of certain cultural symbols and the emergence of group ego attitudes in several worship activities, for example in the celebration of Language and Culture Month. In this situation, religious leaders play a role as leaders who embrace diversity, mediators in managing potential conflicts, and social and moral role models for the congregation through sermons, pastoral guidance, and various service activities that involve the entire congregation without differentiating cultural backgrounds. Despite the existence of cultural differences and the tendency for certain symbolic dominance, religious leaders are able to manage this diversity normatively so that it does not develop into open conflict. This study concludes that the role of religious leaders is very important in strengthening social solidarity and maintaining harmony in multicultural congregations.

Penelitian ini mengkaji kisah perjumpaan Yesus dengan pemuda kaya dalam Injil Matius 19:16–30, Injil Markus 10:17–31, dan Injil Lukas 18:18–30 dalam perspektif teologi perdamaian dan keadilan sosial. Latar belakang penelitian ini bertolak dari realitas ketimpangan sosial-ekonomi yang semakin meningkat di era modern, yang ditandai oleh kesenjangan antara kelompok kaya dan miskin serta kemiskinan struktural yang terus berlangsung. Dalam konteks tersebut, kisah Yesus dan pemuda kaya dipahami tidak hanya sebagai ajaran moral mengenai keterikatan terhadap harta, tetapi juga sebagai kritik profetis terhadap struktur sosial-ekonomi yang tidak adil. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kepustakaan (library research) dan hermeneutika kontekstual. Data primer diperoleh dari teks Alkitab dalam ketiga Injil Sinoptik, sedangkan data sekunder berasal dari buku, jurnal ilmiah, dan literatur teologi yang relevan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa konsep shalom dalam teologi perdamaian mencakup keadilan relasional, kesejahteraan sosial, dan solidaritas terhadap kaum marginal. Perintah Yesus kepada pemuda kaya untuk menjual hartanya dan membagikannya kepada orang miskin menunjukkan bahwa iman Kristen tidak dapat dipisahkan dari tanggung jawab sosial. Kekayaan dipahami sebagai stewardship yang harus digunakan demi kesejahteraan bersama. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa gereja dipanggil untuk menjadi agen transformasi sosial melalui praksis keadilan, pemberdayaan ekonomi, pendidikan perdamaian, dan solidaritas sosial di tengah masyarakat Indonesia yang plural dan masih menghadapi ketimpangan sosial-ekonomi.

Majelis Taklim (Islamic study groups) in urban areas play a strategic role beyond traditional religious education, specifically as a means of empowering women's social movements. This study aims to analyze the mechanisms of women's empowerment through Majelis Taklim Dar El Ihsan and its impact on strengthening social solidarity in Bambu Apus Village, Pamulang. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, primary data were collected through in-depth interviews with administrators and congregants, supported by participant observation and documentation studies. The results indicate that Majelis Taklim Dar El Ihsan implements an empowerment model by integrating religious material with practical guidance, such as on family management and microeconomic empowerment. The resulting social solidarity is manifested in emotional and material support (bonding social capital) and social inclusiveness (bridging social capital), which bridges interactions between existing residents and newcomers. These findings confirm that Majelis Taklim effectively functions as a "third space" in building social resilience in urban communities through empowering women's institutions.

This study analyzes the role of the indigenous belief system of the Dayak Tomun community as a foundation for social solidarity, a mechanism of non-formal social control, and a strategy of cultural adaptation in the context of modernization. Grounded in Émile Durkheim’s sociology of religion, particularly the concepts of mechanical solidarity and collective consciousness, this research employs a qualitative approach through a phenomenologically oriented literature review. Data were obtained from ethnographic documents, customary law manuscripts, scholarly articles, and official publications. The findings indicate that indigenous rituals, such as Babukung and Bana’i Tamu, function as means of strengthening emotional bonds and reproducing collective values through communal participation and sacred symbols. Customary law and the pamali system operate effectively as mechanisms of non-formal social control derived from supranatural authority, while simultaneously serving as strategies for ecological conservation. Indigenous beliefs also constitute the foundation of collective consciousness through the internalization of values such as mutual cooperation, respect for nature, and veneration of ancestors. Amid modernization, the Dayak Tomun community demonstrates creative adaptation through ritual reinterpretation, flexible application of pamali, and the integration of formal education with indigenous knowledge. This study affirms that the indigenous belief system of the Dayak Tomun functions as a strategic social, cultural, and ecological instrument in sustaining social cohesion, community resilience, and the continuity of collective identity in the face of contemporary social transformation.