REVITALIZATION OF CHURCH MUSIC THROUGH A CREATIVE ECONOMY APPROACH: STRATEGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Revitalisasi Musik Gereja melalui Pendekatan Ekonomi Kreatif: Strategi dan Peluang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36526/santhet.v9i5.6161Keywords:
Church Music, Creative Economy, Congregational Economic Development, Church Business Strategy, MinahasaAbstract
Abstract
This study explores the revitalization of church music within the Minahasa Evangelical Christian Church (GMIM) through the lens of creative economy, identifying opportunities, and formulating contextually grounded development strategies. Despite rich musical traditions and high congregational competence in choral and traditional performances, these assets remain underutilized as economic resources because of the absence of professional management, digital infrastructure, and institutional policies. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, direct observations, and document analysis across selected GMIM congregations in Minahasa. Thematic analysis revealed four key opportunity domains: physical products, digital content, performance services, and strategic collaboration. While digital platforms and inter-institutional partnerships offer high economic potential, their implementation is hindered by their limited technical capacity, copyright awareness, and formal revenue-sharing mechanisms. The findings indicate that current music-related activities are primarily driven by spiritual and communal motives, with economic benefits remaining incidental rather than systemic. To address this, this study proposes a four-pillar development framework of management, production, marketing, and values centered on the establishment of a church-based creative unit (“Bait Musica”), capacity-building programs, digitalization, and cultural preservation. Strategic initiatives, such as an annual Minahasan Sacred Music Festival, cooperative-based distribution, and monetized digital content, are recommended to ensure sustainability and inclusivity. Crucially, the model emphasizes ethical commercialization, ensuring that economic development aligns with spiritual integrity and communal values. This study contributes to the discourse on faith-based creative economies by demonstrating how religious institutions can serve as catalysts for local economic empowerment without compromising cultural or theological authenticity. The proposed framework offers a replicable model for other religious communities seeking to transform sacred art into sustainable community-driven enterprises.
References
References
Atuahene, J. O. (2022). A Practical Theological Exploration into the Methodist Church Ghana’s Use of Social Media.
Bangsawan, G. (2023). Kebijakan Akselerasi Transformasi Digital di Indonesia: Peluang dan Tantangan untuk Pengembangan Ekonomi Kreatif. Jurnal Studi Kebijakan Publik, 2(1), 27–40.
Bogdan, A. (2024). The Church’s Mission in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities. Orizonturi Teologice, 1, 105–129.
Damanik, R. (2024). Penguatan Peran Pendidikan Agama Kristen Terhadap Pelayan Gereja GKPS dalam Mengembangkan Ekonomi Kreatif Jemaat dan Masyarakat di Tanah Simalungun. Universitas Kristen Indonesia.
Darnita, C. D. (2022). Seni Pertunjukan Dalam Ibadah Ekspresif Di Gereja Sidang Jemaat Allah (GSJA) Lembah Pujian Kasongan. SERVIRE: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 2(2), 101–110.
di Era, I. P., Narang, A. T., GKE, C. B., Maden, K. M., Ugak, K. S., Kasongan, J. G. K. E., Pidjath, D. T., Berwibawa, P., & To’u, T. (2020). SEKOLAH TINGGI TEOLOGI GEREJA KALIMANTAN EVANGELIS. Jurnal Teologi Pambelum Vol, 9(1).
Doma, Y., & Yohanes, B. H. (2023). Pemuridan di Gereja dalam Upaya Pengentasan Kemiskinan. Proceeding National Conference of Christian Education and Theology, 1(1), 95–103.
Halim, C., Raharjo, Y. K., & Puri, A. D. (2024). Inkulturasi Budaya Jawa Pada Komunitas Pemuda Gereja Kristen Jawa (GKJ) Baki, Kabupaten Sukoharjo. Jurnal Artefak, 11(1), 87–102.
Harnish, D. (2019). Music education and sustainability in Lombok, Indonesia. Celt: A Journal of Culture, English Language Teaching & Literature, 19(1), 1–19.
Hearn Jr, M. D. (2013). How information communication technology can reshape missional ecclesiology: the making of a technomissional church.
Kusni, M. (2020). Jiwa entrepreneurship pemimpin dalam penatalayanan gereja. PNEUMATIKOS: Jurnal Teologi Kependetaan, 10(2), 160–175.
Lae, Y. H. (2025). Digital Transformation and Challenges in Christian Religious Education: A Critical Perspective. Journal Didaskalia, 8(1), 1–10.
Langi, E. A., Nyaming, F. G., Palempung, F. F., Pantow, A. G. F., Nendissa, J. E., & Kowal, J. R. (2025). Cultural Transformation through Contextual Mission Approach in the Digital Age. Studia Philosophica et Theologica, 25(1), 18–34.
Liliweri, A. (2021). Makna seni dan kesenian: Seri pengantar studi kebudayaan. Nusamedia.
Luqma, M. L., Susilowati, D., & Sari, N. P. (2023). Peran Ekonomi Kreatif dan Sektor Pariwisata dalam Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Indonesia. Community Development Journal: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 4(2), 3331–3339.
Mangayi, L. (2016). Mission in an African city: Discovering the township church as an asset towards local economic development in Tshwane. University of South Africa (South Africa).
Maringka, F. R., & Tarumingi, D. A. (2024). Teknologi Sebagai Media Konstekstualisasi Nyanyian Gerejawi Bagi Remaja. Educatio Christi, 5(1), 54–62.
Moss, A. (2025). Spurred By Faith: Harnessing the Power of Non Denominational Christian Churches for Socio-Economic Advancement. Columbia University.
Nana, A. E. (2024). Religion And Cultural Tourism: An Enabler Of Economic Sustainable Development. Crowther Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(2).
Natonis, R. J. I., Bako, Y., Arnold, V. J., Timo, Y., Djuka, R. R., & Dethan, G. (2024). Workshop Ansambel Musik Modern Dan Tradisional Dalam Tata Ibadah Klasis Belu. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Nusantara, 6(1), 301–306.
Ndjama, J. D. N. (2025). Bridging the Digital Divide in the Access and Usage of Technology Through Digital Literacy in Rural Vocational Schools. In Institutes of Higher Education (IHE) and Workforce Collaboration for Digital Literacy (pp. 91–124). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Opuni-Darko, G. (2024). Examining the Synergy Between the Marketplace and the Church in Ghana: Strategies for Enhancing Socio-Economic Development.
Polhaupessy, Y., & others. (2024). Pengembangan Metode Kodaly Dalam Proses Pelatihan Paduan Suara Anak Pada Jemaat GKI Solafide Sereh. Cantata Deo: Jurnal Musik Dan Seni, 2(1), 38–54.
Pransinartha, P. (2024). Pemberdayaan Bakat Musik Jemaat di GKE Imanuel Mandomai. Jurnal Ilmiah Religiosity Entity Humanity (JIREH), 6(1), 43–56.
Purba, E. D., Kumala, I. P., & others. (2022). Implementasi Musik Liturgi pada Tim Musik dan Song Leader dalam Ibadah Gereja Batak Karo Protestan Yogyakarta. Tonika: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengkajian Seni, 5(2), 84–97.
Rammelmeier, M. (2025). Revitalising Rural Areas: Churches as Cultural Hubs for Youth Engagement and Spatial Transformation. Rural Theology, 1–17.
Rusman, A. D. P., Suwardoyo, U., & others. (2022). Penerapan Sistem Informasi Berbasis IT Pengolahan Data Rekam Medis untuk Peningkatan Pelayanan di Rumah Sakit. Penerbit Nem.
Sandiki, R., & Kustiadi, J. (2024). ENTREPRENEURSHIP DALAM PELAYANAN GEREJAWI: ANALISA PERAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP BAGI PELAYANAN GEREJAWI BERDASARKAN KISAH PARA RASUL. TEOLOGIS, RELEVAN, APLIKATIF, CENDIKIA, KONTEKSTUAL, 3(1), 61–89.
Saputra, D. N., Ichwan, C. I., & Herdiati, D. (2022). Pelatihan Musik Remaja di Gereja Pantekosta Serikat di Indonesia (GPSDI) Sukorejo. Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 4(1), 74–85.
Sinambela, T. (2020). Kebijakan dan Insentif Pajak di masa Pandemi Covid-19: Panduan dan Aplikasi. Yayasan Anak Bangsa Cendekia.
Sipayung, A. R., Sinaga, H. G., Sijabat, K. H., Malau, Y. G., & Purba, M. (2024). PERAN ALAT MUSIK TRADISI DALAM PELAKSANAAN IBADAH GEREJA GKPS PADANG BULAN KECAMATAN MEDAN BARU, KOTA MEDAN, SUMATERA UTARA. Jurnal Multidisiplin Inovatif, 8(6).
Siregar, R. I., Harianja, J., Bagariang, A., Sinaga, R. V., & Surbakti, O. R. K. B. (2023). Strategi Gereja Dalam Meningkatkan Perekonomian Jemaat Di Era Disrupsi. Jurnal Teologi Injili Dan Pendidikan Agama, 1(4), 16–27.
Syafitri, A. D. A., & Nisa, F. L. (2024). Perkembangan serta Peran Ekonomi Kreatif di Indonesia dari Masa ke Masa. Jurnal Ekonomi Bisnis Dan Manajemen, 2(3), 189–198.
Syahroni, S. A., & Irawan, F. (2024). Suluk dan Transformasi Diri: Pendekatan Spiritual dalam Kehidupan Budaya Melayu Baru. Jurnal Tapak Melayu, 1(02).
Untung, N., Benyamin, P. I., & Mahendra, Y. (2021). Inkulturasi Liturgi Gereja Bethel Indonesia. THRONOS: Jurnal Teologi Kristen, 2(2), 65–74.
Zsupan-Jerome, D. (2014). Connected toward communion: The church and social communication in the digital age. Liturgical Press.
