Phenomenological exploration of pastoral theology praxis among IPI Malang alumni as lay missionaries

Andri Fransiskus Gultom; Wiwin

doi:10.31893/multiscience.2025581

Keywords:

praxis in pastoral

pastoral theology

lay missionary

husserlian phenomenology

spiritual transformation

inculturation

Abstract

Lay missionaries play a crucial role in proclaiming the gospel, particularly within inclusive and community-oriented pastoral contexts. The Indonesian Pastoral Institute (IPI) has produced numerous alumni who serve as lay missionaries in diverse regions, facing theological, cultural, and social challenges. This research employs Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology to explore the essential meaning of lay missionaries' experiences in practicing pastoral theology, particularly in light of Paul Janssen’s theological insights. This research aims to uncover the essential meaning of the missionary experience in the practice of pastoral theology. Additionally, it seeks to understand the personal and spiritual transformations experienced by lay missionaries and their impact on the communities they serve. This research adopts a qualitative approach using Husserlian phenomenology. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with IPI alumni who have undertaken pastoral missions. The analysis follows the phenomenological reduction method, incorporating epoché, noesis-noema analysis, and the constitution of meaning through intersubjectivity. The research reveals that the lay missionary experience is a multidimensional transformation encompassing theological, emotional, and social aspects. The duality of experience, between joy and struggle—is an inherent part of their spiritual journey. The proclamation of the gospel within a pastoral context is not only verbal but also manifests in social and cultural engagements, demonstrating a more inculturated and dialogical approach to pastoral theology. This research recommends that pastoral education institutions such as IPI emphasize an integrative approach in their curriculum. This should include phenomenological reflection training, inculturated evangelization methods, and enhanced social and emotional competencies for future lay missionaries. By adopting these approaches, alumni will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of pastoral missions and serve as effective agents of transformation.
References
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2. Bevans, S. B. (2002). Models of contextual theology. Orbis Books.
3. Bosch, D. J. (1991). Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission. Orbis Books.
4. Dulles, A. (1985). Models of the church. Image Books.
5. Emmons, R. A. (2021). Relational agency in ministry: A constructive framework. Journal of Pastoral Theology, 31(2), 145–162.
6. Farley, E. (1983). Theologia: The fragmentation and unity of theological education. Fortress Press.
7. Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: A modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne University Press.
8. Gittins, A. J. (2000). Ministry at the margins: Strategy and spirituality for mission. Orbis Books.
9. Grenz, S. J., & Olson, R. E. (1992). 20th-century theology: God and the world in a transitional age. InterVarsity Press.
10. Gutiérrez, G. (1988). A theology of liberation: History, politics, and salvation. Orbis Books.
11. Husserl, E. (1970). Logical investigations (J. N. Findlay, Trans.). Humanities Press.
12. Husserl, E. (2014). Ideas for a pure phenomenology and phenomenological philosophy: First book: General introduction to pure phenomenology. Hackett Publishing.
13. Janssen, P. (1972). Metodik pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia Malang.
14. Janssen, P. (1978). Praktek pekerjaan pastoral 1: Pengantar pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia Malang.
15. Janssen, P. (2021). Tujuh teknik pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia (IPI) Malang.
16. Kroeger, J. (2014). The gift of mission: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Orbis Books.
17. Lewis, G., & Demarest, B. (1996). Integrative theology. Zondervan.
18. Louw, D. J. (2021). A Christian spirituality of imperfection: Towards a pastoral theology of descent within the praxis of orthopathy. Acta Theologica, 41(2), 70–95. https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i2.5
19. Magesa, L. (2014). What is not sacred? African spirituality. Orbis Books.
20. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.
21. Riyanto, F. A. (2022). Sejarah misi Surabaya (Vol. 2). Grafika Mardiyuwana.
22. Riyanto, F. X. E. A. (2024). Praxis of pastoral theology: Paul Janssen’s contribution to catechist education in Indonesia. Proceedings International Conference on Catholic Religious Education and Philosophy, 1(2), 1–14. https://iccrep.stpdianmandala.ac.id/index.php/ICCREP/article/view/1
23. Schaeffer, F. A. (2020). The God who is there. InterVarsity Press.
24. Schillebeeckx, E. (1983). The understanding of faith: Interpretation and criticism. Seabury Press.
25. Schreiter, R. J. (1985). Constructing local theologies. Orbis Books.
26. Schreiter, R. J. (1999). The new catholicity: Theology between the global and the local. Orbis Books.
27. Shiraishi, T. (2000). Phenomenological study of preaching: Imagination of the congregation and the meaning-creation (Doctoral dissertation, Drew University).
28. Shorter, A. (1994). Evangelization and culture. Geoffrey Chapman.
29. Smith, J. K. A. (2012). Thinking in tongues: Pentecostal contributions to Christian philosophy. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
30. Sundararajan, L. (2015). Faith in context: Missionary empathy and the dynamics of local spirituality. International Bulletin of Mission Research, 39(1), 24–30.
31. Van Engen, C. (1996). Mission on the way: Issues in mission theology. Baker Academic.
32. Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. State University of New York Press.
33. Wahyudi, S. (2019). Contextual mission theology: A phenomenological study of lay pastoral workers in NTT. Kanisius.
34. Williams, J. (2021). Reconceptualising conversion: A phenomenological analysis of religious conversion, with particular reference to Maurice Merleau-Ponty. https://doi.org/10.7488/era/1419
35. Wiwin, W., Nini, K., & Fua, M. B. A. (2024). The concept of Paul Janssen’s pastoral spirituality in the experience of alumni of the Indonesian Pastoral Institute in Church ministry. Jurnal Moral Kemasyarakatan, 9(2), 422–434. https://doi.org/10.21067/jmk.v9i2.10876

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Gultom, A. F., & Wiwin. (2025). Phenomenological exploration of pastoral theology praxis among IPI Malang alumni as lay missionaries. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 7(12), 2025581. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2025581

[1] Adebayo, K. F. (2023). Theory and praxis of social ministry in the mission of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. https://doi.org/10.5463/thesis.254

[2] Bevans, S. B. (2002). Models of contextual theology. Orbis Books.

[3] Bosch, D. J. (1991). Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission. Orbis Books.

[4] Dulles, A. (1985). Models of the church. Image Books.

[5] Emmons, R. A. (2021). Relational agency in ministry: A constructive framework. Journal of Pastoral Theology, 31(2), 145–162.

[6] Farley, E. (1983). Theologia: The fragmentation and unity of theological education. Fortress Press.

[7] Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: A modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne University Press.

[8] Gittins, A. J. (2000). Ministry at the margins: Strategy and spirituality for mission. Orbis Books.

[9] Grenz, S. J., & Olson, R. E. (1992). 20th-century theology: God and the world in a transitional age. InterVarsity Press.

[10] Gutiérrez, G. (1988). A theology of liberation: History, politics, and salvation. Orbis Books.

[11] Husserl, E. (1970). Logical investigations (J. N. Findlay, Trans.). Humanities Press.

[12] Husserl, E. (2014). Ideas for a pure phenomenology and phenomenological philosophy: First book: General introduction to pure phenomenology. Hackett Publishing.

[13] Janssen, P. (1972). Metodik pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia Malang.

[14] Janssen, P. (1978). Praktek pekerjaan pastoral 1: Pengantar pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia Malang.

[15] Janssen, P. (2021). Tujuh teknik pekerjaan pastoral. Institut Pastoral Indonesia (IPI) Malang.

[16] Kroeger, J. (2014). The gift of mission: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Orbis Books.

[17] Lewis, G., & Demarest, B. (1996). Integrative theology. Zondervan.

[18] Louw, D. J. (2021). A Christian spirituality of imperfection: Towards a pastoral theology of descent within the praxis of orthopathy. Acta Theologica, 41(2), 70–95. https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i2.5

[19] Magesa, L. (2014). What is not sacred? African spirituality. Orbis Books.

[20] Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.

[21] Riyanto, F. A. (2022). Sejarah misi Surabaya (Vol. 2). Grafika Mardiyuwana.

[22] Riyanto, F. X. E. A. (2024). Praxis of pastoral theology: Paul Janssen’s contribution to catechist education in Indonesia. Proceedings International Conference on Catholic Religious Education and Philosophy, 1(2), 1–14. https://iccrep.stpdianmandala.ac.id/index.php/ICCREP/article/view/1

[23] Schaeffer, F. A. (2020). The God who is there. InterVarsity Press.

[24] Schillebeeckx, E. (1983). The understanding of faith: Interpretation and criticism. Seabury Press.

[25] Schreiter, R. J. (1985). Constructing local theologies. Orbis Books.

[26] Schreiter, R. J. (1999). The new catholicity: Theology between the global and the local. Orbis Books.

[27] Shiraishi, T. (2000). Phenomenological study of preaching: Imagination of the congregation and the meaning-creation (Doctoral dissertation, Drew University).

[28] Shorter, A. (1994). Evangelization and culture. Geoffrey Chapman.

[29] Smith, J. K. A. (2012). Thinking in tongues: Pentecostal contributions to Christian philosophy. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.

[30] Sundararajan, L. (2015). Faith in context: Missionary empathy and the dynamics of local spirituality. International Bulletin of Mission Research, 39(1), 24–30.

[31] Van Engen, C. (1996). Mission on the way: Issues in mission theology. Baker Academic.

[32] Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. State University of New York Press.

[33] Wahyudi, S. (2019). Contextual mission theology: A phenomenological study of lay pastoral workers in NTT. Kanisius.

[34] Williams, J. (2021). Reconceptualising conversion: A phenomenological analysis of religious conversion, with particular reference to Maurice Merleau-Ponty. https://doi.org/10.7488/era/1419

[35] Wiwin, W., Nini, K., & Fua, M. B. A. (2024). The concept of Paul Janssen’s pastoral spirituality in the experience of alumni of the Indonesian Pastoral Institute in Church ministry. Jurnal Moral Kemasyarakatan, 9(2), 422–434. https://doi.org/10.21067/jmk.v9i2.10876

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References

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