Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): Transformative Theology and the Church’s Role in Building an Inclusive, Just, and Sustainable Society

Editorial Note

Transformative Theology and the Church’s Role in Building an Inclusive, Just, and Sustainable Society

Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ. By His grace, Jurnal Teologi Pambelum Volume 5, Number 2 (February 2026) has been published. This edition presents nine articles illustrating how Christian theology engages dynamically with social, ecological, digital, cultural, and pastoral realities in an integrative and transformative manner.

The first article, “Urban Society, the Church, and Waste Management: A Theological Review of Urban Planning and Ecological Sustainability in Naikoten I, Kupang” by Esry Wahyuni Beama and Rolin Ferdilianto Sandelgus Taneo, highlights the church’s role in advocating for ecological care amid urban waste challenges.

The second article, “Theological and Spiritual Meaning of the Icon of Christ for Christians in Poso” by Shanti Rualemba and I Gede Supradnyana, explores how the Christ icon serves as a spiritual medium, offering inner healing and embodying God’s presence in a post-conflict context.

The third article, “The Utilization of Artificial Intelligence as Digital Apologetics in the Postmodern Era According to Acts 17:16–34” by Samuel Sampelan and Ineke M. Tombeng, presents Paul’s model of rational dialogue, cultural sensitivity, and theological articulation as a framework for digital apologetics today.

The fourth article, “The Church’s Mission Through a Study of John 9:1–41: Introducing a Paradigm Toward People with Disabilities” by William Sesa and Ramli Sarimbangun, uses the healing of the man born blind as a theological foundation for an inclusive mission that restores dignity and dismantles stigma.

The fifth article, “Parents as Christian Educators for Enhancing Cognitive Development of Children Aged 6–15 Years” by Nicetricia Zega, Murnihati Gulo, Hadirman Gulo, and Erinida Gulo, demonstrates the significant role of parents in motivating and supporting children’s cognitive development within a Christian framework.

The sixth article, “Spiritual Leadership and Moral Accountability: A Theological-Biblical Response to Corruption in Indonesia” by Setio Dharma Kusuma and Onesiporus Pengharapan Lase, argues that integrity-based spiritual leadership, grounded in 1 Samuel 2:12–36, is a critical response to the moral and spiritual roots of corruption.

The seventh article, “Ecotheology and the Management of Patchouli Distillation Waste: A Case Study of Farmers in Lansot Tomohon” by Imanuel Kristen Tuerah Mokorimban and Ramli Sarimbangun, addresses ecological and social crises from unstructured waste management, proposing a contextual ecotheology informed by local Minahasa values to foster integrated ecological and spiritual transformation.

The eighth article, “Transforming Pastoral Care in the Era of Disruption: A Networked and Trauma-Informed Care Model for Industrial Congregations” by Prayveen Renalchris Uka, highlights the need for relational, networked pastoral care and trauma-informed approaches to address mental health challenges among industrial workers.

The ninth article, “A Comparative Study of Gotong Royong and Bastazete: The Role of Local Churches in Addressing Poverty in the Nias Islands” by Harlinton Simanjuntak, Anastasya Laoli, and Fioli, illustrates how integrating the biblical principle of bastazete (Galatians 6:2) with the local culture of gotong royong enables the church to respond effectively to poverty.

Together, these articles demonstrate that theology moves beyond conceptual reflection into concrete praxis across multiple dimensions of life. The unifying theme is a contextual and transformative theology that not only engages with reality but also empowers the church as an agent of social, ecological, and cultural transformation rooted in the values of God’s Kingdom.

This edition aims to deepen academic reflection, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and strengthen the church’s praxis in building an inclusive, just, and sustainable society amid the challenges of contemporary life.

Warm regards,
Lia Afriliani, M.Th., Editor-in-Chief Jurnal Teologi Pambelum