Pastors should also act as managers, says official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Experts said yesterday that better managed
\nreligious services are needed to help congregations cope with
\nchanges brought on by economic and technological developments.<\/p>\n
"Religious services should be conducted in ways sensitive to
\nplurality and religious freedom, but also based on good
\nmanagement principles," said Jan Kawatu, the director general
\noverseeing Protestant affairs for the Ministry of Religious
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
In a seminar about priesthood after 2000, he said that many
\nchurches are currently weak in management and administration.<\/p>\n
"Future pastors should be good managers, though they don't
\nneed to go to management schools," Jan said in a prepared paper
\nfor the discussion, which was attended by a number of Protestant
\npastors from across the country.<\/p>\n
Kawatu pointed out that many pastors are not even aware of how
\ntheir own congregations are faring.<\/p>\n
"The pastors never send us exact reports on their people,"
\nsaid the director general.<\/p>\n
He suggested that pastors place independent theological
\nthinking and church financing at the top of their agenda.<\/p>\n
The seminar also featured former home affairs minister Rudini,
\nwho said that many are returning to religion to cope with an
\nincreasingly materialistic community.<\/p>\n
"The coming century is often called 'the age of the return of
\nreligious glory,'" said Rudini, who is now a political observer.<\/p>\n
People can no longer rely solely on science and technology as
\nthe two will never be able to discern the true meaning of human
\nlife, he said.<\/p>\n
Another speaker, Supreme Advisory Council Chairman Sudomo,
\nsaid the church could be compared to a company.<\/p>\n
"Pastors should act as executive managers who not only search
\nfor a less costly service but fulfill the people's needs," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sudomo pointed out that modern management science could
\ninspire pastors in their daily work. (16)<\/p>",
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