Sintuwu Maroso: Building People’s Spirit of Mutual Help in Central Sulawesi

IL News 009/2013

48th and 49th Citizenship Education

Tentena and Tomata, Central Sulawesi, June 17th – 21st, 2013

Sintuwu Maroso is a motto in Pamona language in Central Sulawesi which means that there is strength in togetherness. It is an invaluable cultural heritage that needs to be preserved and nurtured in the midst of today’s modern culture and past conflict experience in this region.

To help preserve this spirit of Sintuwu Maroso, the Institut Leimena held its 48th and 49th Citizenship Education program in Tentena and Tomata, in partnership with the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST) Synod. Both programs were facilitated by Budi Setiamarga and Matius Ho from the Institut Leimena and attended by more than 100 people, consisting of church pastors, elders, and GKST Synod leaders.

In her opening remarks for the 48th Citizenship Education program in Tentena, GKST Synod Chairman Rev. Dr. Yuberlian Padele expressed her hope to foster the Synod and Institut Leimena partnership to educate GKST church members to become responsible citizens.

In Tomata, GKST Synod Vice Chairman Rev. Omnesimus Kambodji, M.Th. opened the 49th Citizenship Education program and emphasized the importance of educating the citizens, so that church members as citizens can participate in the public square to build the nation for a better future.

In this visit, the Cooperation Agreement between the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST) Synod and Institut Leimena was signed by Synod Chairman Rev. Yuberlian Padele and Leimena Executive Director Matius Ho.

Some comments from the program participants in Tentena and Tomata:

GKST Church Synod will facilitate and coordinate regular meetings of the Citizenship Education alumni to discuss current issues facing the church and society. (Rev. Omnesimus Kambodji, 1st Vice Chairman at GKST Synod).

We will form a Citizenship Discussion group in our place to discuss and solve existing problems in our community. (Rev. Akriamawati Pangku, Senior Pastor at GKST “Adriani Kuku” church).

This adds my knowledge about politics and how the church, especially pastors, should position themselves during election campaign. (Rev. Wengga Agustina Mawuntu, Senior Pastor at GKST “Efrata Kamba” church).