Dari Mimbar ke Dapur: Refleksi Teologi Kontekstual atas Peran Gereja dalam Penanggulangan Stunting di Desa Takaplager, Sikka

Abstract

Stunting is a complex and multidimensional public health issue that reflects deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural disparities and directly impacts the quality of life for future generations. This study aims to analyze the contribution of contextual theology in addressing stunting, with a specific focus on the lack of church involvement in Desa Takaplager, Nita District, Sikka Regency. Employing a qualitative approach through pastoral ethnography, the research utilizes in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and literature review to explore the social and spiritual dynamics influencing the church’s role in public health. The findings reveal that the church in Desa Takaplager has not actively participated in stunting prevention efforts, including nutritional education, family support, or cross-sectoral collaboration. This absence stands in contrast to the principles of contextual theology as articulated by Stephen Bevans and Robert Schreiter, which emphasize the church’s engagement with the concrete realities of its community, including health and well-being. The lack of involvement reflects structural and theological barriers that continue to separate spiritual ministry from the congregation's physical needs. The study recommends that the church expand its pastoral mandate to include family health services and establish strategic partnerships with government and health institutions. Thus, living theology becomes not only a reflection of faith but also a transformative praxis that touches the body and the kitchen of the people. The church is called to be an agent of liberation, manifesting God’s love tangibly in the collective effort to overcome stunting.