Contemporary decolonial theology approach and its influence on church leadership in Indonesia

Abstract

This research explores the contemporary decolonial theological approach and its impact on church leadership in Indonesia. Historically, churches in Indonesia have often adopted leadership models influenced by Western traditions, which are less relevant to the local social and cultural context. The aim of this study is to examine how decolonial theology can serve as a foundation for developing a more inclusive and contextual church leadership model. The research method used in this research is a qualitative method, analysing decolonial theology and its relevance to church leadership in Indonesia. The results indicate that the decolonial theological approach enables church leaders to integrate local values, such as gotong royong [mutual cooperation] and musyawarah [deliberation] into leadership practices. The discussion reveals that this approach helps the church become more responsive to local socio-cultural challenges, thus renewing leadership models to be more relevant and contextual.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study has significant intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary implications. In Indonesia, the decolonial theological approach offers a new perspective in contextual theology, ethics, and ecclesiology by challenging the dominance of Western theology. This approach enriches the understanding of church leadership through the integration of local values, such as musyawarah and gotong royong, making it more aligned with the local socio-cultural context. In other fields, such as anthropology, sociology, and postcolonial studies, this approach connects cultural, social, and political aspects that influence the formation of churches in Indonesia, and encourages further discussions on the interaction between religion and local traditions while deconstructing the legacy of colonialism.