ECCLESIAL LEADERSHIP AMID AN INTEGRITY CRISIS: Reflections on Indonesia’s National Struggles

Abstract

This article addresses the integrity crisis within church leadership in Indonesia, a problem that reflects broader national failures in ethics, governance, and public trust. As political and institutional corruption intensifies, the church—once expected to provide moral clarity—has instead shown signs of the same decay: financial abuse, moral compromise, political collusion, and lack of accountability. This is not an isolated leadership failure but a systemic erosion of values within ecclesial structures. Drawing on theological foundations and contemporary leadership discourse, the article outlines five key interventions: intentional character formation, transparent and accountable governance, a return to servant leadership models, ethical distance from partisan politics, and regular performance evaluation. Without these, the church risks irrelevance—not just as a spiritual body, but as a credible voice in national life. Restoring integrity is not optional; it is essential for the church to reclaim its prophetic and public role.

Keywords: Church leadership; integrity; Indonesia; accountability; public trust; servant leadership; systemic reform