International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

West Papua in a Contemporary Crisis: The Prophetic Responsibility of the Church

The land of West Papua is currently in a precarious phase of humanitarian and ecological crisis, marked by an increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) reaching 105,878 people in early 2026 and massive deforestation of almost one hectare due to the National Strategic Project (NSP). This article aims to explore the prophetic responsibility of the Church in the midst of such a storm of crisis through the lens of progressive theology. Using a critical analysis of data from Human Rights Monitor (HRM), LIPI, and Greenpeace, this study finds that the roots of the conflict in West Papua are deterministic and rooted in unresolved historical problems. This article maps three theological constructions of the Church in West Papua: State Theology, Government Theology, and Progressive Theology. The results of the discussion affirmed that the Church must leave the liturgical comfort zone and adopt the act of Parrhesia of courage to speak truth in the face of power. As a solution, this article offers a model of “Ecospiritual Advocacy” that integrates the defense of human rights with the protection of the integrity of creation (integral ecology) in order to restore the dignity of the Imago Dei of the indigenous people of West Papua.