Kalosara and Christian Education as a Cultural-Theological Framework for Transformational Leadership in Fostering Peace and Social Harmony in the Tolaki Community

Rico Yohanes Sammy; Haris Danial

Authors

Rico Yohanes Sammy Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Haris Danial Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Indonesia

Keywords:

Christian Education, Collective Stewardship, Communal Unity, Cultural-Theological Framework, Kalosara

Abstract

This study examines the integration of Kalosara—a Tolaki cultural value system emphasizing unity, justice, and cooperation—with Christian education principles of servant leadership, social justice, and reconciliation as a cultural-theological framework for transformational leadership in fostering peace and social harmony in the Tolaki community of Southeast Sulawesi. Using a qualitative ethno-theological case study, data were collected through in-depth interviews with traditional and church leaders, Christian educators, youth leaders, and Tolaki students; participatory observation of Kalosara rituals and Christian education programs; and analysis of customary manuscripts, Christian curriculum materials, and public speeches. Thematic analysis with value-based coding identified three intersecting dimensions: communal unity, restorative justice, and collective stewardship. These shared values inform a cultural-theological leadership model that enhances social cohesion, strengthens cross-cultural legitimacy, and mitigates horizontal conflict. The study’s novelty lies in proposing an academically grounded model of transformational leadership rooted in both indigenous wisdom and Christian theological ethics, a framework not previously documented in the Tolaki context. This model bridges local culture and religious education within modern leadership theory, offering practical and policy-relevant insights while contributing to peace studies through an ethno-theological perspective applicable to other multicultural societies.

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