Pastors should also act as managers, says official

JAKARTA (JP): Experts said yesterday that better managed religious services are needed to help congregations cope with changes brought on by economic and technological developments.

"Religious services should be conducted in ways sensitive to plurality and religious freedom, but also based on good management principles," said Jan Kawatu, the director general overseeing Protestant affairs for the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

In a seminar about priesthood after 2000, he said that many churches are currently weak in management and administration.

"Future pastors should be good managers, though they don't need to go to management schools," Jan said in a prepared paper for the discussion, which was attended by a number of Protestant pastors from across the country.

Kawatu pointed out that many pastors are not even aware of how their own congregations are faring.

"The pastors never send us exact reports on their people," said the director general.

He suggested that pastors place independent theological thinking and church financing at the top of their agenda.

The seminar also featured former home affairs minister Rudini, who said that many are returning to religion to cope with an increasingly materialistic community.

"The coming century is often called 'the age of the return of religious glory,'" said Rudini, who is now a political observer.

People can no longer rely solely on science and technology as the two will never be able to discern the true meaning of human life, he said.

Another speaker, Supreme Advisory Council Chairman Sudomo, said the church could be compared to a company.

"Pastors should act as executive managers who not only search for a less costly service but fulfill the people's needs," he said.

Sudomo pointed out that modern management science could inspire pastors in their daily work. (16)