Menenun Persekutuan yang Kudus: Kajian Teologi Feminis

Mery  Kolimon; Felpina Norma Ataupah

doi:10.46567/ijt.v13i1.611

Authors

Mery Kolimon Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana
Felpina Norma Ataupah Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46567/ijt.v13i1.611

Keywords:

women, weavers, feminist ecclesiology, intercultural, communio sanctorum, West Timor

Abstract

Protestant churches in Indonesia, including in West Timor, still find it difficult to articulate the relationship between living believers and their deceased family members and ancestors. This article aims to develop a contextual theology of holy communion in West Timor. The article draws upon a dialogue between the practice of offering woven cloths to bereaved families among the Timaubus community in Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, with the Christian observance of holy communion (communio sanctorum). In the Timaubus tradition, when a close relative dies, women present woven cloths, which serve not only as a sign of solidarity and support for the bereaved family (amut) but also as provisions for the deceased and a deposit for the ancestors (sofit). At burial, a woven cloth from the closest relative is placed in the coffin as a gift to the ancestors. This article suggests that Christians in Timor offer woven cloths to bereaved families and their deceased, as an expression of their faith in relation to holy communion. Our study employs qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and literature review. We utilize Elizabeth Johnson’s feminist theology to create a dialogue between the practice of presenting woven cloths at death and feminist theological principles concerning communio sanctorum.

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Author Biographies

Mery Kolimon, Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana

Mery Kolimon is a faculty member at Program Pascasarjana Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana, Kupang. She earned her doctoral degree from The Protestant Theological University Kampen with a dissertation titled A Theology of Empowerment. Reflections from A West Timorese Perspective (Lit Verlag, 2008). She was the Coordinator of Jaringan Perempuan Indonesia Timur untuk Studi Perempuan Agama dan Budaya (JPIT). With her friends in JPIT, Mery researched and wrote books, including: Memori-Memori Terlarang: Perempuan Penyintas Tragedi 1965 di NTT (2012), Para Perempuan di Garis Terdepan (2015), and Perempuan, Konflik dan Perdamaian (2021). She also served as Ketua Majelis Sinode GMIT (2015–2019 and 2020–2023). Her most recent book is Misi Pemberdayaan: Perspektif Feminis (2022). Mery is a member of the Central Committee WCC for 2022–2029 and one of the Ketua Majelis Pekerja Harian Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia for 2024–2029.

Felpina Norma Ataupah, Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana

Felpina Norma Ataupah became a graduate student at Magister Teologi program at Universitas Kristen Artha Wacana, Kupang, in 2023 and completed the thesis titled “Integrasi Ekodiakonia dan Gereja Ramah Anak di GMIT Bet’el Oesapa Tengah: Perspektif Sosio-Teologis Masyarakat Kota.” As an ordained minister at GMIT, Felpina served at GMIT Wilayah Lunu, Klasis Amanatun Selatan (2005–2015), GMIT Baitel Oeletsala Klasis Kupang Tengah (2015–2020), Bet’el Oesapa Tengah Klasis Kota Kupang Timur (2020–2025), and GMIT Elim Bolok Klasis Kupang Barat since June 2025.

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