Developing Public Leaders

IL News 015/2014

Johannes Leimena School of Public Leadership

Jakarta, August 17 to 23, 2014

The Leimena Institute held a special program for public leadership training called Johannes Leimena School of Public Leadership (JLSOPL), from August 7 to 23, 2014, at Wisma PGI Teuku Umar, Jakarta. The program aims to prepare public leaders with integrity and understanding of their identity as a nation of Indonesia, who are willing and capable of pursuing the nation’s ideals as citizens in their communities, through public policies and state instruments, from local to national levels.

JLSOPL program was attended by 22 young leaders from various church synods, Christian organizations, government offices, and universities. They came from North Sumatera, Jakarta, Jogjakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Kalimatan, Maluku, and Nusa Tenggara Timur. Their professions also varied, such as Pastor, Enterpreneur, Village Head, Member of Parliamant, Lecturer, Civil Servant, Journalist, Public Lawyer, Teacher, and Student.

The sessions were designed with the head, hand, and heart approach. Therefore, this program was divided into several parts. First, lecture on the biblical perspective on Christianity and politics. Second, lecture on principles of nation and state. Third, public policy advocacy and voting rights workshops, and visits to the Parliament, Constitutional Court, Vice Governor of Jakarta, and the Indonesian Conference of Religion and Peace. Fourth, sharing of life stories from national figures, such as Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Ambassador Irzan Tanjung, Ambassador Jakob Tobing, Constitutional Court Justice (ret) Maruarar Siahaan, Pontas Nasution, Theo Sambuaga, and Maj. Gen. (ret) RK Sembiring Meliala.

JLSOPL equipped me as a pastor in my pastoral ministry for the church members who serve in social political arena. (Rev. Christiana Riyadi, pastor at the Javanese Christian Church)

Living models of leaders who have caught the vision and faithfully pursued their calling. This encourages me to diligently do my part (now as a journalist) for the nation and state, rather than to keep busy with myself. (Desca Lidya, journalist at the Antara News)

Changing of perception toward the Constitution. Previously, I didn’t consider it important to study the Constitution well, because it wasn’t my field. But now I understand that all the people should know the Constitution to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens. (Linda Bustan, lecturer at the Petra Christian University)

A new understanding of Pancasila. Studied the history of the birth of Pancasila, political struggles characterizing its formation, and the fundamental purpose of the Pancasila state. It gave me a new understanding about the Indonesian-ness. Magnificent Indonesia! (Yusuf Rahmat, village head in Mamasa, representative of the Toraja Mamasa Church)