Etika Keuangan Hamba Tuhan: Kajian Eksegetikal Terhadap 1 Timotius 6:3-10

The background of this article was the financial problems that occurred in the context of a clergy's life and ministries institution. There were court cases of clergies and church organizations due to legal disputes and asset issues. This article aimed to get ethical principles from biblical research according to the minister's life and how they related to money matters. The research question tried to answer was, what are the economic ethics principles for the ministers based on 1 Timothy 6:3-10? Method applied in this research was qualitative descriptive with a literature study approach. The authors used the exegetical method for some keywords in the focused text to elaborate and explain the text. The finance ethical principles for the ministers found are: not making a material gain as a purpose of the ministries, living with contentment, developing self-control, warding off materialism.

Factors Determining the Involvement in Non-Religious Activities in the Parish: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Catholic Laity

Charitable activities of the Catholic Church in Poland are carried out primarily at two levels: national church organizations, diocesan and religious, and at the level of less formalized parish organizations. The data show a relatively low percentage of people who are strongly involved in parish activities and in non-religious (social, charitable) affairs of the parish community. The first purpose of this paper is to indicate the socio-demographic features that characterize people who are socially engaged. The second aim is to search for model regularities indicating determinants of social activity of parishioners. We conducted the research in parishes of Lublin Archdiocese in 2020. The research sample was 1867 people, of whom 70% were women. The average age of the respondents was 54.31 years. We have selected predictors that characterise the participants of the non-religious activities in the parish. Referring to the theoretical model of social participation and the concept of social capital, we have indicated the factors that shape the pro-social attitudes of parish members.

Polycentric mission leadership: Toward a new theoretical model: OCMS Montagu Barker Lecture Series: “Polycentric Theology, Mission, and Mission Leadership”

As the world faces rapidly increasing cycles of disruption, challenges, and disorder, mission leaders are stretched to adapt, trying to catch up with the pace of change and provide leadership to further the mission God has given his Church. This paper, presented at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies Montagu Barker Lecture Series: “Polycentric Theology, Mission, and Mission Leadership,” focuses on ways leadership is changing, suggesting a new theoretical model for mission leadership. It reviews the idea of polycentrism through mission history, mission and church organizations, movement theory, and governance, identifying themes of an emerging theory of polycentric mission leadership.

Inculturation Methodology as the Medium towards the Formulation and Establishment of an African Ecclesiology of Ubuntu.

The emergence of ecclesiology scholarship in recent theological discourse has exposed the various approaches that ecclesiology has been studied as a distinctive discipline. The traditional ecclesiological approach has prioritized the scholarship of ecclesiology from the perspective of specific denominational orders. There has also been an approach of ecclesiology that revolves around the perspective of some renowned theologians on the basis of their affiliation to their respective church organizations. The most recent approach has been the global ecclesiology that prioritizes the concept of contextualization while looking at ecclesiological discourse from distinct sociocultural-geographical contexts. Three geographical regions hold a wealth of significance by virtue of the global trajectory of Christianity towards the global South: Asia, Africa and Latin America. African ecclesiology plays a critical role in this arrangement and is a major contributor to global ecclesiology. In this understanding, it is imperative for the pursuit of an African ecclesiology to appreciate the concept of Ubuntu as a definitive expression of the African identity. The problem is the methodology of ecclesiological scholarship in Africa that ignores the significance Ubuntu has and resultantly births a foreign ecclesiology to the indigenous African population. It is important to acknowledge that the approach of ecclesiology that will thrive in Africa is nothing less than an Ubuntu ecclesiology that prioritizes community and relationships reminiscent of our traditional African portrait as foundational pillars for her establishment. The formulation and establishment of an African friendly ecclesiology of Ubuntu can only be facilitated by the usage of the inculturation method of theology. This methodology accords due consideration to the African heritage with regard to their culture, spirituality and religious background emphasizing the values from traditional Africa that are helpful to Christian life and condemning those practices that are non-Christian in nature.

Forskningsperspektiver på kirke og menighet som organisasjon

Understanding churches as organizations inevitably means borrowing models and premises from organizational theory (OT). This chapter outlines the basic assumptions underlying dominant perspectives in OT, enhancing the possibility for an informed utilization and exploration of the commonalities and diversities between religious and other organizations. It provides a framework for differing clusters of theories and review of some major research contributions of ecclesial and congregational organizations within each theoretical perspective or cluster. Lastly, the chapter addresses how and in which direction further research of church organizations might be developed, pointing at institutional pluralism, hybrid organizations and institutional work as prospective avenues for further exploration.

The Belarusian Orthodox Church and Its Role in the Belarusian Regime

This text, conceived as an interpretative case study, deals with the role that the Belarusian Orthodox Church plays in the contemporary Belarusian regime. In light of the fact that the Belarusian Orthodox Church is an exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the author will also look at whether the Belarusian Orthodox Church can actually be considered an instrument of Russian in Belarus. Within the research, the author will show that on the one hand, there are favorable conditions for the development of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. But on the other hand, although the state declares the de facto independence of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, any opposition activity on its part is seen as a threat to the state, which allows the state to interfere with its policy. This leads church organizations in such systems to become significantly weakened within this “cooperation with the state”, even though they have an influence on society and thus a legitimizing potential. As a result, the church is strongly dependent on the state and limited as an actor in civil society within the Belarusian regime. In addition, the author will also conclude in the study that it is difficult to consider the Belarusian Orthodox Church to be a tool of the Kremlin’s influence.

ALGORITHM FOR PROCLAIMING AUTOCEPHALY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

The article analyzes the process of system formation of the structure of Ecumenical Orthodoxy at the current stage. Church life is a dynamic process. The Church is constantly moving forward and has to respond to social demands and problems. It is determined that the institution of autocephaly went through a difficult path of formation, however, even today there is no clear regulated mechanism for the acquisition of autocephalous status by the new Local Church. It has been proven that a number of national churches, such as Montenegro, Macedonia and Belarus, have been defending their own church independence for a long time. However, due to external political-ecclesiastical pressure and the lack of an algorithm for the autocephalization process, they cannot acquire an independent status. In addition, it has been established that such "daughter" churches as Macedonian and Ukrainian are much older than their own kyriarchal patriarchates (Serbian and Moscow). The study found that an obvious violation of canonical rules is the presence of two jurisdictions (two canonical bishops) in the same territory. It has been proven that such a situation exists in a number of countries, such as the United States, where a number of churches in the diaspora of different jurisdictions operate in parallel. A similar situation has already formed in Ukraine. Two significant church organizations operate simultaneously. It has been proven that due to the pressure and reluctance of the mother churches to release the subsidiary churches from the field of influence and their own canonical territory, a similar situation could potentially occur in Montenegro, Macedonia and Belarus. As in Ukraine, some of the parishes will move to the newly created autocephalous church, for example, the Belarusian one, and some will remain loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church. However, it has been established that the coexistence of different mutually recognized Local Churches on the same territory contradicts a number of canons and traditions of the Orthodox Church. The article proves that the Conciliar fullness of the church does not justify such a status of churches, however, in general, the phenomenon of parallel jurisdictions is justified by the time and public demand of the population of different countries, as well as by the political situation. The Grand Council of Crete has not found a compromise solution for an authorized resolving of the problem of the diaspora and "parallel jurisdictions". The article establishes that institutional disputes between Local Churches related to borders and "canonical territory" and the proclamation of new Local Churches in autocephaly status can be resolved only by a conciliar way and with the participation of all Orthodox hierarchs. Existing approaches to solving the "temporary" problem of "parallel jurisdictions" have led to the incorporation of existing non-canonical entities into recognized churches. It has been proved that only the autocephalous system is a unanimously accepted version of the existence of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Thuse, the striving of a number of national churches for their recognition and independence is just. Therefore, further scientific explorations of autocephalous topics and the canonical work of the holy fathers will complement the study.

Religious Tolerance as a Law and Practice (in Islam and Orthodoxy)

The article analyzes the concept of religious tolerance in the context of the relationship be-tween its legal support and the practice of interfaith relations. Tolerance is viewed as one of the key principles of modern policy and practice of interfaith relations in the Russian poly-confessional religious community in close connection with the principles of freedom of con-science and confessional equality. The measure of religious tolerance is social loyalty and hu-manistic potential of a particular religious denomination. The historical origins of religious toler-ance in Islam and Orthodoxy, as well as pre-revolutionary, Soviet and modern Russian models of interfaith relations and religious politics are investigated. The characteristic of the legislative base of the modern Russian model of religious tolerance is given. Tolerance as a norm of inter-faith relations is considered on three levels. At the level of individual religious behavior of be-lievers, religious tolerance is manifested as a loyal attitude towards non-believers and atheists. At the level of interchurch relations of confessions, tolerance is realized as an orientation towards the inter-confessional world, dialogue and cooperation of confessions in maintaining the socio-cultural stability of Russian society. At the level of the religious policy of a poly-confessional state, religious tolerance is viewed in the context of the flexible, situational implementation of the principles of freedom of conscience, confessional equality, as well as ensuring effective co-operation between traditional churches and the Russian state in improving the spiritual potential and social stability of Russian society. The authors state that religious tolerance is an ultimate principle for modern spiritual situation in the Russian Federation although there is not complete correspondence between its legislative declaration and the real practice of interfaith relations. The task of state policy in the field of religion is to optimize interfaith relations in the country, relying on the support and organization of effective dialogue and cooperation between church organizations of traditional Russian confessions, both at the regional level and at the level of their central, governing bodies.

Being a Church in a Time of Violence: Peruvian Church during the Armed Internal Conflict 1980 to 2000

During the war with Shining Path (1980–2000) violence in Peru was brutal and extensive. Massive violations of human rights were common, with victims from all regions and social classes, but were particularly intense in rural areas like Ayacucho where the insurgency began. The churches supported and defended rights by providing organizational space, legal defense, publicity (through their radio networks) and by remaining among populations in danger, working with them and often sharing their fate. Important elements in the churches including leaders, priests, members of religious orders, sisters catechists, and ordinary people working through church organizations, were prominent among the victims. They were attacked both by Shining Path (who saw them as competitors) and by army and police forces, who saw their commitment to social justice and collective action as subversive. The choice to defend human rights in theory and action is rooted in a long term process of transformation in the church which drew strength and inspiration from the “option for the poor” articulated at the Catholic bishops meetings in Medellin (1968) and Puebla (1979), and in numerous statements and organizational efforts since then. The process of violence in Peru and the role of the churches is documented in the reports of the Peruvian Commission for Truth and Reconciliation and others from the Peruvian church as well from as regional and local groups.

Between East and West: Government–Nonprofit Relations in Welfare Provision in Post-Socialist Central Europe

This article reviews the main developments in social welfare provision in East Central Europe (ECE), the emergence of nonprofit organizations as welfare providers, and changing nonprofit–government relations in social welfare provision since the early 1990s. In assessing the strengths and weaknesses of nonprofit organization (NPO)–government relations in social welfare provision in ECE, the article suggests that after establishing a firm basis by the mid-2000s, to varying degrees in different countries, nonprofits have not been able to maintain a secure independent role in the face of fluctuating government attitudes to their role and growing competition from private sector and church organizations.