THE POLITICAL PARADOX OF BUREAUCRACY: REGULATORY INTEGRATION AND A PASTORAL-MISSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE BELU REGIONAL ELECTION

Abstract

The position of State Civil Apparatus (ASN) as public servants requires the maintenance of neutrality to achieve justice and government integrity. However, bureaucratic politicization remains widespread, notably during the 2024 Belu Regency Pilkada where 90 ASNs were reported for neutrality violations. This qualitative-descriptive research using a grounded theory approach and interdisciplinary analysis aims to identify the root causes of ASN neutrality violations based on Law Number 20 of 2023 on ASN and integrate missiological, pastoral, and homiletical perspectives. The results reveal that the authority of the Personnel Officer (PPK) in civil service transfers and repositioning serves as a political pressure instrument creating existential fear among ASNs. The dissolution of the Civil Service Commission (KASN) further weakens meritocracy supervision. The missiological perspective views the ASN profession as a divine calling (vocatio) to uphold public justice. The pastoral care perspective provides psychological-spiritual support to free ASNs from political mutation trauma, while prophetic homiletics utilizes the church pulpit to educate public political ethics and criticize PPK power abuses. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of revising the ASN Law to limit or eliminate PPK transfer authority, complemented by holistic ethical-pastoral guidance.