Jurnal Teologi Pambelum

Editorial Note

Contextual Theology and Church Ministry in Responding to Social, Ecological, Digital, and Pastoral Issues in the Contemporary Era

Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ, for His grace enables the publication of Pambelum Journal of Theology, Volume 5, Number 1 (August 2025). This edition presents nine articles that demonstrate how theology, deeply rooted in Scripture and tradition, remains responsive to the challenges of our contemporary context—social, ecological, digital, and pastoral.

The first article, “Digital Theology as a Concept in Offerings via QRIS in the Digital Era” by Ebenhaezer Yoshua Goni, Henny W. B. Sumakul, and Altje Lumi, reflects on how digital theology provides a theological foundation for offering practices through QRIS as an expression of faith in a digital society.

The second article, “Enhancing Environmental Awareness in Waste Management Based on Jürgen Moltmann’s Theology of Hope” by Gabriela Veren Kapoh, Hellen Masambe, and Nontje Mery Timbuleng, explores an eschatological perspective to encourage sustainable ecological practices within congregations.

The third article, “The Story of Job as a Pastoral Critique of Stigma toward People with HIV/AIDS” by Jenniver Capriaty, Anggryel Maviana, Andri, and Junardi, critiques retributive theology and proposes a correlational pastoral approach that rejects stigmatization of PLWHA.

The fourth article, “The Church and Holistic Health Care for the Elderly: A Study of the GKE Eppata and GKE Eben Ezer Congregations in Banjarmasin” by Keloso S. Ugak, Lia Afriliani, and Rena Berkatni, presents a study on how GKE congregations in Banjarmasin serve the elderly holistically—physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.

The fifth article, “Systematic Theology and Christian Education in the Church” by Dewi Magdalena, Susanti Birahim, and Happy Wahyu Nizar, underlines the importance of systematic theology as the foundation of Christian education to nurture spiritually mature believers.

The sixth article, “Building a Relationship Paradigm According to John Calvin’s Teachings on Salvation in the GMIM Alfa Omega Rinegetan Congregation” by Givenly Talumingan, Roy Tamaweol, and I Ketut Suwetja, emphasizes the relational dimension of salvation as articulated in Calvin’s theology.

The seventh article, “Pak Ogah and the Reality of Marginalization: A Socio-Theological Study of Urban Banjarmasin” by Maria Apriana Angela, Sudianto, and Kinurung Maleh, examines the informal traffic workers known as “Pak Ogah” as a representation of marginalized urban communities, offering a Christian perspective of justice and compassion.

The eighth article, “Reinterpreting Genesis 1:28–30 from a Bioregionalism Perspective and Its Implications for the Ecological Crisis” by Delviero, provides an ecological reinterpretation of the creation mandate that stresses stewardship rather than exploitation of nature.

The ninth article, “Church and the Rights of Children with Special Needs: A Qualitative Study on Sunday School at GKE Galilea Palangka Raya” by Tahan Mentria Cambah, Alexandra Binti, and Selpie, highlights the importance of inclusive ministry for children with disabilities in sustaining the vitality of the church.

Together, these articles underline that Christian theology is not abstract but deeply contextual—engaging digital transformation, ecological crises, health and aging, Christian education, social marginalization, and disability inclusion. For this reason, the theme of this issue, “Contextual Theology and Church Ministry in Responding to Social, Ecological, Digital, and Pastoral Issues in the Contemporary Era,” encapsulates the commitment of this journal to contribute to theological scholarship and the life of the church.

We wish you insightful reading, and may these reflections inspire us to embody God’s Kingdom in today’s ever-changing world.

Warm regards,
Dr. Idrus Sasirais, Editor-in-Chief, Pambelum Journal of Theology