Strategies for Developing the Competence of Christian Religious Education Teachers through Narrative Reflection at SMA Negeri 1 Sawo

Abstract

In the current era of educational transformation, Christian Religious Education teachers play a strategic role in shaping students’ moral character and spirituality. Within Indonesia’s pluralistic context, CRE teachers are not only expected to deliver biblical and theological knowledge but also to embody professional, pedagogical, social, and personal competencies rooted in Christian values. However, classroom realities reveal that CRE teachers’ responsibilities extend beyond technical instruction to include a spiritual vocation that integrates faith with pedagogy. Narrative reflection has emerged as a promising approach to address this challenge, enabling teachers to critically reinterpret teaching experiences while nurturing professional identity and spiritual depth. This study employed a qualitative exploratory-descriptive design to investigate the use of narrative reflection as a strategy for developing teacher competence at SMA Negeri 1 Sawo. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analysis from two purposively selected CRE teachers. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify recurring patterns and meanings within teachers’ reflective practices, with validity ensured through triangulation and member checking. Findings indicate that narrative reflection significantly enhanced teachers’ pedagogical awareness, professional self-understanding, and spiritual formation. Teachers not only refined instructional strategies to be more contextual and student-centered but also redefined their professional identity as spiritual companions to students. The process fostered openness to feedback, empathy toward learners, and renewed vocational commitment. This research concludes that narrative reflection offers a holistic framework for professional development, positioning CRE teachers as lifelong learners who integrate faith, pedagogy, and spirituality in transformative ways.