Memaknai Ulang Ecclesia Domestica di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

The pandemic covid-19 has compeled Catholic families to pray at home instead of going to the Church every Sunday, and it changed the expression of their faith. This new condition helped families to realize their role as formators of spiritual life for the family members. The purpose of this research was to look out how the social distancing effects the role of the family as the formator for faith formation of their children during pandemic covid-19. The research conducted by qualitative and quantitative approach toward fivety Catholic families. Through this research it was shown that during covid-19 pandemic family had a big chance of doing the role as the Church Family (ecclesia domestica) that emphasizing the future mission of the Church is depending on the family life. The Church Family is understood as the smallest cell of the Church as the sacrament, the visible sign of God, and becomes a place for encountering the faithful to Jesus Christ in the world.Abstrak. Pandemi covid-19 telah memaksa keluarga-keluarga Kristiani untuk beribadah di rumah dan mengubah cara menggereja mereka. Situasi itu menjadikan keluarga menyadari perannya sebagai pembina utama hidup rohani anggota keluarga. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat bagaimana pengaruh pembatasan sosial terhadap peran keluarga dalam pendidikan iman anak di masa pandemi covid-19. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dan kualitatif terhadap 50 keluarga Katolik. Melalui penelitian ini diperoleh gambaran bahwa dalam masa pandemic covid-19 ini keluarga berkesempatan menjalankan peran sebagai Gereja keluarga (ecclesia domestica) yang menekankan masa depan pewartaan Gereja adalah melalui hidup keluarga. Gereja keluarga dipahami sebagai sel terkecil yang menjadi bagian dari Gereja sebagai sakramen, tanda yang kelihatan dari Allah, dan menjadi medan pertemuan orang beriman dengan Yesus Kristus di dunia.

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’: What do science and faith have to do with youth ministry?

Dating back to medieval times, and some would contend even ancient biblical times, scholars of the faith have made significant contributions to scientific discovery. Theology was considered foundational to the understanding of our natural world, and possibly the motivation for scientific enquiry. No tension existed between observation and study of the natural world and faith. In modern times the rift between science and faith, from a conservative evangelical perspective, has been ever-widening with both sides viewing the other with growing suspicion. This article reflected on the impact that this approach to science and faith has had on the faith formation of youth raised within evangelical faith communities. It investigated how conservative evangelical teachings concerning the creation story has hindered the faith formation of youth in this context. We connected this tension between science and faith as we considered connections to environmental justice as it related to youth in marginalised communities in South Africa. This article served as an introductory exploration of why we believe young people are not engaging with environmental issues.Contribution: As part of the special edition on youth, faith and climate change, this article reflects on the impact that the conflicted evangelical approaches to science and faith have on the faith formation of youth raised within evangelical faith communities. It investigates how fundamentalistic evangelical teachings concerning the creation story has hindered the faith formation of youth in this context. Within the context of environmental justice and inequality, this article highlights the need for church engagement on issues related to these conflicted approaches, its effect on how youth engage on issues affecting their environments, and youth ministry practice within evangelical churches.

Mendidik Generasi Z Gereja: Peran Media Sosial di Tengah Bahaya Always-On Attention Deficit Disorder

Generation Z, presumbably has a very big influence in the world, and also lives in the use of internet. Churches are facing opposite and side by side with this generation need to do shifting-ups with the use of the internet in Christian education, one of which is through social media. However, it cannot be denied that social media also has an impact that needs to be examined, one of which is the danger of Always-On Attenton Deficit Disorder. Information and relations can instantly be transformed into distractions. Therefore, incarnational Christian education can be an important thing to pay attenton to. The incarnational educator will not refuse to enter into the world that Generation Z lives in, but rather create and seek opportunities for face-toface connections but also pay attenton to virtual meeting. Incarnational educators will entersocial media, but do not fall into the dangers of distraction, but rather influence the exemplary life of Jesus who embraces those who are forgo􀆩 en. This is done by presenting relevant faith formation to generation Z. Some important things become guide for educators summarized in several terms, namely Double Content, Share and Comment and Log in-Log out. AbstrakGenerasi Z yang terbilang memiliki pengaruh sangat besar di dunia, dan juga hidup dalam penggunaan internet. Gereja yang hadir berhadapan dan berdampingan dengan generasi ini perlu melakukan shift ing-up dalam hal penggunaan internet khususnya di bidang pendidikan Kristen, salah satunya adalah melalui media sosial. Namun demikian, tidak dapat dipungkiri bahwa media sosial pun memberi dampak yang perlu diwaspadai, salah satunya adalah bahaya Always-On Attention Deficit Disorder. Informasi dan relasi dapat sekejap bertransformasi menjadi distraksi. Maka dari itu, pendidikan Kristen yang inkarnasional dapat menjadi hal yang penting untuk diperhatikan. Pendidik yang inkarnasional tidak akan menolak masuk ke dalam dunia yang generasi Z hidupi, melainkan mencipta dan mencari kesempatan untuk koneksi tatap muka namun juga memperhatikan perjumpaan virtual. Pendidik yang inkarnasional akan masuk ke media sosial, namun tidak terjerembab ke dalam bahaya distraksi, melainkan memberikan pengaruh teladan hidup Yesus yang merangkul mereka yang terlupakan. Hal ini dilakukan salah satunya dengan menghadirkan pembentukan iman yang relevan kepada generasi Z. Beberapa hal penting yang dapat menjadi pegangan pendidik terangkum dalam beberapa istilah, yakni Double Content, Share and Comment, dan Log in-Log out.

The Influence of Liturgy on Human Memory: From the Perspective of Neuroscience

Generally, there has been a lack of understanding about liturgy and ritual among reformed tradition. The Reformed and Presbyterian church has had a tendency to look down on the formative power of Christian liturgy while emphasizing cognitive knowledge and catechism education. However, liturgy is not just the repetition of a meaningless act. Liturgy has a formative power in the process of faith formation through its practice and repetition. This article studies how liturgy impacts human memory and faith formation based on several brain studies. First, while examining split-brain studies, it is argued that there is the possibility of ritual knowledge while participating in Christian worship. Second, through the discoveries made in mirror neuron studies, the way human learning is a result of not only interacting with objects, but also the observation of objects, is examined. Third, based on Eric Kandel’s habituation and sensitization experiment, it is claimed that even though liturgical worship can suffer the pitfalls of habituation, a well-balanced liturgical worship can aid sensitization. Lastly, while examining various sorts of memory, various ordo and elements of Christian worship are revealed; in combination these can create a Gestalt perception, and greatly impact human memory and the formation of Christian faith.

Die rol van die ouerhuis in die intergenerasionele geloofsvorming van die jeug in belang van ’n geïntegreerde jeugbediening

The role of the parental home in the intergenerational faith formation of the youth for the sake of an integrated youth ministry. This article deals with the following question: What is the role of parents in the intergenerational faith formation of the youth for the sake of an integrated youth ministry? Several studies nationally and internationally have convincingly pointed out that parents have the biggest influence on their children’s faith formation. However, parents are currently still not sufficiently inclusively involved or supported in youth ministry. Osmer’s fourfold reflective equilibrium model forms the frame for how this article is structured. Nel’s theory of inclusive youth ministry is used as a theological framework from which the role of parents in intergenerational faith formation is investigated. The empirical research (quantitative, as well qualitative) was conducted among 175 parents and 10 ministers coming from 29 congregations in the Noordelike, Oostelike, Hoëveld- and Goudland synods of the Dutch Reformed Church. These congregations all have a family and/or intergenerational focus in their (youth) ministry. The research has shown that youth ministry cannot by means of programmes, structures and even relationships in any way replace the important role played by parents in the lives of their children, regardless of what happens in the youth ministry. When the parental home and youth ministries do not act as partners in the faith formation process, it does not only lead to weak faith, but also to a lack of commitment, unsustainability and ultimately alienation. Youth ministries can therefore not function effectively without an integrated ministry, which includes the parental home. With all the challenges threatening their capacity, the parental home can also not function effectively as faith mediators without an inclusive youth ministry. The research thus clearly indicates that Nel’s theory of inclusive youth ministry, is not only noteworthy, but it is also in the long term, necessary to work towards the congregation’s eschatalogical sustainability.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Youth ministries do not involve parents as the core part of their ministry. When youth ministries integrate parents into their ministry, children will be better guided in their faith formation. This adjustment calls for a paradigm shift in the focus of traditional youth ministry. Intergenerational faith formation in this study was approached within the framework of Practical Theology, Congregational Development and Youth Ministry.

Personal Bible Reading and the Faith Formation of Teenagers in a Digital Age

History shows that the use of the Bible by Christians has changed over the centuries. With the digitization and the ubiquitous accessibility of the Internet, the handling of texts and reading itself has changed. Research has also shown that young people’s faith adapts to the characteristics of the ‘age of authenticity’, which changes the role of normative institutions and texts in general. With regard to these developments this article deals with the question: How relevant is personal Bible reading for the faith formation of highly religious Protestant German teenagers? Answers to this question are provided from previous empirical surveys and from two qualitative studies among highly religious teenagers in Germany. The findings indicate, that other spiritual practices for young people today are more important as a source of faith than reading the Bible. The teenagers interviewed tend to seek an individual affective experience when reading the Bible, so that the importance of cognitive grasp of the content takes a back seat to personal experience.

Ubuntu Apologetics in Faith Formation: An Ethnography of Youth Ministry in Nairobi

Faith formation is a crucial area in youth ministry. Although the area of apologetics may be a helpful bridge, the theory and praxis of apologetics in the African context is scanty. The work of apologists such as William Lane Craig, John Frame, Ravi Zacharias, and John Lennox has responded to the post-Christian context of Europe and North America. Much needs to be done in light of the African contextual realities. Using a practical theological methodology, this paper considers how ubuntu apologetics – which honors both the cognitive and affective development of adolescents – can lead to holistic faith formation of African youth. This research paper will 1) consider youth ministry contextual realities in Kenya and Africa; 2) analyze foundational methods of apologetics; 3) utilize an ethnographic methodology in analyzing the data and 4) offer recommendations for youth ministry education and practice in Nairobi and Africa at large.