{"id":5533,"date":"2025-05-22T13:47:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/?p=5533"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:47:01","slug":"setia-3-discovering-faith-through-coffee-cultivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/2025\/05\/22\/setia-3-discovering-faith-through-coffee-cultivation\/","title":{"rendered":"SETIA #3: Discovering Faith Through Coffee Cultivation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The third installment of the SETIA seminar series, titled \u201cTouching the Divine Through Coffee Beans,\u201d<\/em> took place at the Rev. Dr. Rudi Budiman Lecture Hall on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. This session featured Rev. Prof. Dr (h.c.) Emanuel Gerrit Singgih, Ph.D., Rev. Devina Widiningsih, M.Th<\/a>., and a team of researchers. The seminar presented findings from their research on church congregants who work as coffee farmers, focusing on the motivations behind their engagement in coffee cultivation.<\/p>\n

A census conducted by the East Java Christian Church (GKJW) revealed that out of its members, 9,800 are farmers. Ironically, despite farming being a vital pillar of Indonesia\u2019s economy, many of these individuals face economic hardship. In response, an Economic Empowerment Task Force (PEW) was established in 2002 and expanded into a working group (Pokja PEW) in 2006 to help improve the livelihoods of congregants through organized support.<\/p>\n

The study also explored coffee cultivation practices within Republik Tani Mandiri<\/em>, a farming cooperative formed in 2017 comprising 30 members from both Muslim and Christian communities. Of these, 10 members are part of the GKJW Kucur congregation. The group is chaired by Nur Ali Romadhon, a Muslim farmer, showcasing a model of interfaith cooperation.<\/p>\n

Another key focus was the Sumberdem-Bangelan<\/em> farming community, where roughly 80% of the population depends on coffee for their livelihood. In 2023, the community, with support from the local church, formed the Berkah Tani Nyawiji<\/em> farmer group, consisting of 28 members and officially recognized by the government in 2024.<\/p>\n

The Tunas Baru<\/em> cooperative, supported by GKJW Purwosari in Jengger near the slopes of Mount Semeru, was also highlighted. Here, an estimated 95% of residents rely on coffee farming as their main source of income.<\/p>\n

The research revealed deeper insights: for many, coffee is more than a commodity\u2014it\u2019s a cultural identity. Some farmers see coffee as a heritage passed down through generations, others view it as a divine blessing, while some regard it as a promising business opportunity.<\/p>\n

Another key finding involves the evolving role of the church. Traditionally focused on spiritual nourishment, the church is now embracing a more holistic approach, addressing both the spiritual and material well-being of its members. This shift signals a broader commitment to social and economic upliftment, strengthening community ties among coffee-farming congregants.<\/p>\n

However, the study also outlined several challenges. Conflicts have emerged between some cooperatives and church bodies due to differing perspectives. Additionally, the dominance of middlemen, or bakul<\/em>, in the coffee market remains a pressing issue. Many farmers, constrained by limited resources and urgent financial needs, remain dependent on these intermediaries, limiting their ability to profit from their own harvests.<\/p>\n

Despite these obstacles, the research highlighted key interpretations. A growing sense of faith and personal accountability is evident among coffee farmers when reflecting on their work. The study also observed strong interfaith solidarity in some cooperatives, along with a growing environmental consciousness among farmers.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, the research calls for stronger collaboration with public institutions to shape policies that benefit smallholder coffee farmers. It also urges churches to develop empowerment strategies aimed at fostering self-sufficiency. Ultimately, the hope is for these farmers to scale their operations and enter international markets. [Jonathan\/trans.drr]<\/p>\n

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            The third installment of the SETIA seminar series, titled \u201cTouching the Divine Through Coffee Beans,\u201d took place at the Rev. Dr. Rudi Budiman Lecture Hall on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. This session featured Rev. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":5535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-berita"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5533\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukdw.ac.id\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}