Conceptualisation of ideal church leaders in the Society Revolution 5.0

Abstract

The church is facing new challenges in the Society Revolution 5.0 era that require the adaptation of leaders to the development of digital technology without neglecting spiritual values. Ideal church leaders need to have a character in harmony with the teachings of the Bible and are also required to integrate technology into ministry, evangelism and discipleship. Therefore, this research aimed to analyse the literature and the perspectives of experts on church leadership, digitisation of service and the influence of Society 5.0 on ecclesiology using a descriptive qualitative method. The results showed that church leadership adaptive to digital transformation could expand ministry reach, form a virtual faith community and increase active congregation participation. However, several challenges should be a serious concern, including low digital literacy and the risk of dehumanisation. The discussion showed the importance of a balance between the use of technology and the maintenance of deep spiritual relationships. Digital ministry was not only a tool but also an integral part of the future church’s strategy.
Contribution: Future research is recommended to explore empirical models of digital leadership training based on spirituality and contextualisation of church missions in the digital space.