Helping Congregations to Know, to Want, and to Be Able

IL News 005/2014

56th Citizenship Education (Training-of-Trainers)

Rantepao (South Sulawesi), 24-27 March 2014

Christians should become responsible citizens. That is, they should share the responsibility of anything that happens in their country. It is a logical consequence of the status of Christians as citizens of the Kingdom of God and of Indonesia.

To arrive at the practical realization of the Christian’s responsibility as a citizen, Christians need to be educated to know, to want , and to be able. How could they know if not taught? How could they want to if not motivated and directed? And, how could they have the ability if they don’t try simple but concrete action steps?

Motivated by the desire to help church congregations to know, to want, and to be able to participate as citizens responsibly, the Leimena Institute, in partnership with the Toraja Church Synod, held the Training-of-Trainers (TOT) for the Citizenship Education on March 24-27, 2014. The program which took place at the Toraja Church’s “Tangmentoe” Study and Training Center in Rantepao, North Toraja, was opened by Toraja Church Synod’s Vice Chair Rev. Daniel Rori. The training was attended by 42 pastor from churches Toraja, Luwu, Batam, Bekasi, Jakarta, Surabaya, and other cities and provinces.

In the training, participants not only learned the Citizenship Education modules, such as Politics and Christianity, Your Voice is Precious, Constitutional Amendment Impact on Citizens’ Role, but they also practiced teaching the modules to the students at the Christian Religion State College in Toraja.

The participants acknowledged that they were very happy and satisfied to be able to share with the students. This is beyond their own expectation, that they were able to teach the Citizenship Education modules successfully. This is a good first step for the participants to become future facilitators for the Citizenship Education program in their own churches or even in other places.

The following are some comments from the participants:

This program has provided a new understanding of politics, which used to be considered as taboo, that the church is actually called to minister in this field as well. (Rev. Noriana W.S. Luden – Toraja Church, “Eranbatu” congregation, West Sangalla’ District, Tana Toraja)

I learn the task and responsibility as a citizen. My knowledge on politics and the Constitutional amendment has increased. (Rev. Elia Buntugajang – Toraja Church, “Jatiwaringin” congregation, East Jakarta)

Through this program, I’ve gained the skill to educate the congregation to learn their role and responsibility as Indonesian citizens. (Rev. Elieser A. Batupadang –Toraja Church, “Kanandede” congregation, North Luwu)

Understanding of the responsibility as a citizen is increased. I’m also motivated to be more critical and to watch the government. (Rev. Alpius Juru –Toraja Church, “Golgota” congregation, Tana Toraja)

At the end of the TOT program, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Toraja Church Synod, represented by the Synod General Secretary rev. Suleman Allo Linggi, and the Leimena Institute, represented by the Executive Director Matius Ho.