A Moral Contribution To The Discourse: Pastor And Money In Africa

The subject of church finance and the pastor’s involvement has long been a topic of discussion and controversy. Opinions and practices vary as to whether the pastor should be allowed unrestricted oversight of church money, or completely uninvolved with church money, or work with a committee to oversee the monetary business of the church . The craze for money has infiltrated every segment of our society. From the religious leadership to traditional and political leadership there is no much difference. Men and Women of God who claimed to be followers of Christ steal, embezzle, misappropriate and divert money meant for the church, or community, and others for self aggradisement .

John Knox and John Calvin

John Calvin and John Knox were very different personalities, with the Scotsman looking to the French Reformer for religious leadership and defending Calvin’s reputation with fierce loyalty. Their personal relationship was forged between 1554 and 1559 when Knox was based in Geneva and served as co-minister to the English exile congregation in the city. When dealing with this enthusiastic, if independent, Scottish admirer, Calvin demonstrated patience and forbearance. Knox sought to follow Calvin’s lead on predestination but was prepared to go his own way on worship and especially on the validity of resistance to a ruler. Knox’s 1558 resistance tracts, not sanctioned by Calvin, brought major consequences for the way in which Calvin, Beza, and the ‘example of Geneva’ were viewed in Tudor England and Stewart Scotland. This had long-lasting implications for the Protestant identities of the two kingdoms and for the unity of the wider Reformed family.

DEDIKASI ULAMA KALIMANTAN DALAM MENGATASI POLEMIK PANDEMI COVID-19

Ulama are community leaders who have the highest religious competence in society and lead Ulama to become religious leaders. In addition to religious leadership, ulama also have social leadership that is able to control many individuals or groups. This study aims to reveal the form of clerical leadership in South Kalimantan during the Covid-19 condition. This study uses a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis. The research data is taken from some information posted on trusted websites. The results of the study show that ulama in South Kalimantan practice religious transformational leadership in society.

Safety and Reverence: How Roman Catholic Liturgy Can Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The current COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for many religious denominations. The Roman Catholic Church strongly depends on physical communal worship and sacraments. Disagreements grow concerning the best balance between safety and piety. To address this issue, I review the major transmission risks for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and list certain measures to enhance the safety of the Roman Catholic Liturgy without compromising its intrinsic beauty and reverent spiritual attitude. This can be achieved through assimilation of several traditional elements into the modern liturgy. I emphasize that religious leadership and decision-making should be transparent and based on inclusiveness, pluralism, best scientific evidence and voluntary cooperation.

Women’s Leadership in New Religions and the Question of Gender Equality in Post-Communist Lithuania

This article discusses features of women’s religious leadership, social innovations, and transmission of existing gender relations patterns within diverse new religions in post-communist society in Lithuania. The article is based on participant observation in Pagan and Hindu-origin religious groups and interviews with women leaders of these groups. The narratives of women leading Pagan and Hindu religious groups in Lithuania reflected their agency, features of their leadership, and the basis for the construction of their religious authority. Research data showed that the women interviewed took leadership of their respective religious groups after gaining professional experience in their careers. Their agency was not permeated by feminist ideas, but instead the importance of men in their life choices was emphasized throughout their narratives. The three case studies indicate that female religious leadership in these new religions follows the tendency toward a return to patriarchal values in post-communist society in Lithuania, rather than moving towards an ideal of gender equality.