Abstract:In various regions, we often find marriage processions that are guided by customary and Islamic laws that apply as ancestral heritage. Unfortunately, the pattern of syncretism between custom and Islam in marriage is rarely…
ly known by society in general. The aim of this research is to describe lingual syncretism in the Motolobalango tradition in Gorontalo. This research is oriented towards qualitative descriptive methods. The results of the research show that the syncretism of Motolobalango marriage customs is indicated in two forms, namely verbal language which appears in five representations of tuja'I speech acts in the form of: greeting, asking for permission, inviting, praising, requesting, and making non-verbal promises to cultural attributes in the form of aato dalalo, tonggu permata, pata potolongito, and yila-yilapito.
Abstract:Strategic planning of educational support facilities and infrastructure constitutes an essential aspect in enhancing the overall quality and efficacy of educational systems. The availability and suitability of educational…
l facilities serve as critical determinants influencing the smooth execution of teaching and learning activities, as well as the attainment of long-term institutional objectives. A frequent challenge encountered by educational institutions is the discrepancy between actual needs and the allocation of facilities and infrastructure, potentially leading to resource inefficiencies and degradation of educational service quality. Hence, an in-depth investigation into comprehensive strategic planning mechanisms is imperative to support precise, data-driven decision-making processes. This study employs a literature review methodology, integrating diverse scholarly sources, including indexed international journals, academic textbooks, national education policies, and other pertinent documents, to delineate an adaptive and sustainable conceptual framework for strategic planning. The findings affirm that the strategic planning process for educational facilities and infrastructure encompasses three principal stages: (1) empirical and prospective needs analysis, taking into account learner dynamics and curricular changes; (2) budget planning prioritizing fiscal efficiency and optimal resource utilization; and (3) procurement prioritization based on urgency, relevance, and impact on educational quality enhancement. The scope of facilities and infrastructure planned includes various categories ranging from physical infrastructure, consumables, immovable assets, to modern educational technology devices. The novelty of this research lies in the development of a holistic and participatory strategic planning model that accommodates the needs of all stakeholders and adapts to the evolving global educational landscape. Practical implications of this study are anticipated to reinforce governance in the procurement of educational facilities and infrastructure, ensuring effectiveness, transparency, and sustainability, while simultaneously supporting national educational transformation toward superior quality and heightened competitiveness.
Abstract:Massive digital transformation has reshaped patterns of interaction, modes of thinking, and the spiritual construction of the millennial generation, thereby creating serious challenges for the church in nurturing a mature,…
e, authentic, and contextually relevant Christian faith. The abundance of information, instant culture, and growing skepticism toward religious institutions raise a critical research problem concerning how to formulate effective strategies to develop a theologically sound understanding of faith that is also adaptive to digital culture. This study aims to construct a strategic approach that bridges faith tradition and digital dynamics through a qualitative-reflective method based on recent theological literature and critical observation of digital ministry practices. The analysis identifies four primary strategies: contextual proclamation of faith, optimization of digital platforms as spaces for testimony and education, formation of supportive online communities, and strengthening digital and theological literacy among church leaders. The findings indicate that millennials possess a deep spiritual longing but seek integrity, open dialogue, and practical relevance of faith in daily life. The study concludes that a paradigmatic transformation of church ministry is necessary by positioning digital space as a participatory and dialogical locus of spiritual formation, while the novelty of this research lies in the systematic integration of theological reflection and contextual digital pastoral strategies as an adaptive ministry model for the millennial generation in the era of technological disruption.
Abstract:This study originates from the increasing prevalence of subclinical narcissistic traits among church congregants, manifested in religious practices that appear devout yet are latently oriented toward external validation…
rather than an intimate relationship with God. This phenomenon generates a distortion of spirituality, as religious identity is constructed upon social recognition, thereby hindering spiritual-psychological well-being and displacing the longing for divine love. The research problem focuses on how subclinical narcissism operates as a psycho-spiritual disorder within the context of worship and how faith community engagement moderates this dynamic. Employing an integrative conceptual analysis and critical engagement with the psychology of religion literature, including the typology of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, this study finds that performance-based community cultures intensify narcissistic tendencies through symbolic competition and religious self-imaging, whereas inclusive and transformational communities function as corrective spaces that reorient the existential framework of congregants. The study concludes that restoration cannot be achieved merely through behavioral modification or the intensification of religious activities, but through a reorientation of worship that restores the True Self in relationship with Christ as the authentic source of self-worth. The novelty of this research lies in its conceptualization of subclinical narcissism as a form of worship disorder and in its emphasis on the role of faith community as a moderating variable within holistic spiritual therapy, thereby offering both theoretical and pastoral contributions to contemporary churches facing the challenges of performative spirituality.
Abstract:The crisis of integrity, ethical disorientation, and the declining quality of strategic decision-making in contemporary leadership demand a robust and transhistorical normative foundation. The figure of King Solomon in ancient…
ncient Israelite tradition represents a prototype of leadership legitimized by divine wisdom, making it critically relevant for scholarly examination. This study addresses the problem of how the construction of Solomon’s character and the praxis of his wisdom in Old Testament texts can be transformed into a conceptual paradigm for modern leadership without falling into historical romanticism. The objective of this research is to formulate a theoretical leadership model grounded in biblical wisdom through an analysis of Solomon’s character, theological orientation, and decision-making patterns. The method employed is a theological hermeneutical approach integrated with interdisciplinary literature studies, including leadership theory, public ethics, and Old Testament theology. The analysis focuses on key narratives that portray the judicial, administrative, and spiritual dimensions of Solomon’s leadership. The findings indicate that Solomon’s wisdom is theocentric, deliberative, and oriented toward distributive justice, thereby shaping an integrative and visionary model of leadership. The relevance of these findings lies in their capacity to offer a normative framework for leadership formation rooted in transcendent morality while remaining adaptive to modern social complexity. The novelty of this study resides in the formulation of a hermeneutical reconstruction model of Solomonic wisdom as a normative-strategic paradigm for the development of contemporary leadership theory based on sacred texts.
Abstract:Psalm 15:1-5 presents an ethical framework that integrates ritual piety and social responsibility as an authentic expression of faith before God. This study is motivated by the need to formulate a comprehensive model of…
Christian ethics that emphasizes not only personal morality but also social commitment within the context of practical theology. The central issue examined is how the ethical principles contained in Psalm 15 can be theologically interpreted and operationalized for ecclesial life and social praxis. Employing a qualitative theological method with an exegetical approach to the Hebrew text, this study interprets the ethical structure of Psalm 15 from a theological–moral perspective. The findings reveal three fundamental ethical axes: first, personal integrity, which affirms moral wholeness and a life aligned with the will of God; second, relational ethics, which demands the rejection of slander, injustice, and exploitation as a form of responsibility toward others; and third, moral stability, which is rooted in the holiness of God as the foundation for sustaining an ethical life. Based on these findings, the study develops a biblical ethical model that produces Ecclesial Ethics, embodied in the formation of the congregation’s moral habitus through spiritual discipline, and Social Ethics, defined as a commitment to uphold justice, integrity, and compassion in the public sphere. The novelty of this study lies in its integrative formulation that unites ecclesial and social ethics within a single transformative ethical paradigm. The study concludes that Psalm 15 provides a holistic foundation for Christian ethics in practical theology, positioning worship and social service as an inseparable unity of faith praxis.
Abstract:The growing dominance of self-image construction in modern religious practice has diminished the authenticity of faith and shifted moral orientation from God toward public approval, indicating the need for an ethical framework…
mework capable of realigning the direction of Christian witness. This study employs Matthew 5:16 as the basis for reinterpreting the ethics of light as a corrective to performance-oriented religiosity and for formulating principles of sincere, theocentric, and contextually relevant faith testimony. The research utilizes literature review and historical-grammatical exegesis of the key Greek terms φῶς (phōs), καλὰ ἔργα (kalā erga), and δοξάσωσιν (doxasōsin), drawing on academic commentaries and recent scholarly findings. The analysis demonstrates that the ethics of light is not merely a moral exhortation but a participatory ethic that positions human beings as reflectors of God’s love rather than autonomous producers of moral virtue. Authentic good works direct glory to the Father, eliminating the pursuit of social recognition and rejecting religious self-presentation. The concept of hidden righteousness emerges as a theological critique of visual culture that prioritizes visible spiritual performance, affirming instead that genuine piety grows through inner integrity and spiritual perseverance. Its relevance to the digital age is expressed through a form of faith witness that promotes justice, solidarity, and consistent spiritual character within public spaces shaped by identity curation. The study concludes that the ethics of light constitutes a spirituality of witness integrating faith, morality, and social responsibility while offering novelty through a theocentric reinterpretation of the ethics of light as a constructive critique of contemporary religious self-imaging and an ethical paradigm for cultivating authentic Christian faith in the digital era.
Abstract:The cultural transformation resulting from secularization, digitalization, and a crisis of values in the modern era has posed serious challenges to the resilience of Christian marriages. The relationship between husband…
and wife is threatened not only by external issues but also by a lack of deep understanding of marital spirituality in the light of Christian faith. This study aims to examine marital counseling from pastoral and biblical perspectives as a theologically integrative approach to Christian family formation. The focus of the study is directed toward identifying the absence of a counseling model grounded in contextual theology and rooted in biblical foundations. The methodology employed is a literature review with a critical analysis of pastoral theology sources, biblical studies, and contemporary counseling practices published between 2015 and 2025. The findings reveal that marital counseling, when grounded in pastoral and biblical frameworks, serves not only as a means of conflict resolution but also as a channel for reconciliation, faith development, and relational restoration based on God's grace. The novelty of this study lies in its formulation of a marital counseling approach that contextually integrates transformative pastoral principles and biblical theological narratives. Theoretically, this research expands the horizon of pastoral family theology in the digital-modern context, while practically, it provides a pastoral framework for churches to facilitate the restoration and formation of Christian households. Thus, pastoral-biblical-based marital counseling can play a strategic role in building a resilient and theocentric marital spirituality.
Abstract:Students at the Theological Seminary (Sekolah Tinggi Teologi, STT) of GPI Papua bear a dual identity, not only as prospective church ministers but also as individuals with personal aspirations concerning academic achievement,…
ment, social mobility, and future professional paths. The tension between vocational calling and personal ambition constitutes an existential challenge that influences the construction of motivation, spirituality, and life orientation among theology students. This study aims to analyze the dialectical dynamics between these two dimensions and to examine how local Papuan cultural values shape students’ interpretations and efforts to harmonize them. The research problem stems from a lack of integrative theological understanding of personal ambition within the context of vocational ministry. Employing a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design, data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically to identify meaning structures, internal conflicts, and integration strategies employed by the students. The findings reveal that personal ambition is not necessarily antithetical to the calling of ministry; rather, it can serve as a constructive force when interpreted through a reflective spirituality grounded in contextual theology. Ambitions guided by Christian values can enhance ministerial capacity and foster authentic personal growth, whereas unmanaged ambition tends to lead to spiritual fragmentation. This study contributes a scientific model of integration between spiritual, personal, and cultural dimensions within theological formation. It recommends a reformulation of curriculum and spiritual formation strategies that are contextual, dialogical, and oriented toward the development of a holistic and culturally relevant vocational identity.
Abstract:Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 presents a fundamental and provocative theological statement about the reality of death as an inevitable fate for all humanity, without distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked. This discourse…
se explicitly challenges the retributive ethical framework that assumes a linear relationship between morality and reward, while also revealing the existential absurdity of humans who often seek meaning through fragile worldly achievements. This study aims to interpret the pericope through an existential and contextual theological approach, focusing on its theological relevance in addressing the crisis of spirituality and ethics in modern culture dominated by ambition for power, economic exploitation, and the marginalization of transcendental values. Utilizing a reflective-critical hermeneutical method, this study argues that awareness of mortality should not lead to ontological despair, but rather serve as a starting point for forming a more authentic, relational, and ethical orientation to life. Death in this text functions as an epiphanic moment that unveils human limitations while reorienting existential focus toward God and social responsibility. The novelty of this research lies in its prophetic reading of a wisdom text that has often been interpreted pessimistically, highlighting its potential as a theological critique against modern nihilistic and anti-spiritual ideologies. This study contributes to the development of a contextual theological framework capable of constructively and transformatively responding to the crisis of meaning and ethics in contemporary society.