Correction and Retraction Policy

Theological Journal KERUGMA is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes its responsibility to correct published articles when necessary and to retract publications when serious errors or ethical violations undermine their reliability. All decisions concerning corrections and retractions are made by the editorial team following a fair assessment of the available evidence and in accordance with recognized publication ethics standards, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article and the error can be corrected without invalidating the article's overall findings, interpretations, or principal arguments. Corrections may concern author information, affiliations, references, citations, figures, tables, factual statements, or other material errors.

Authors, readers, or other concerned parties may notify the editorial team of a suspected error by providing a clear explanation and supporting evidence. The editor will assess the nature and significance of the error and determine whether a formal correction is necessary.

Approved corrections will be published transparently and linked to the original article whenever technically possible. The correction notice will identify the affected article and explain the nature of the correction.

2. Retractions

An article may be retracted when reliable evidence indicates that its findings, arguments, or conclusions are seriously unreliable or that the publication involves a significant breach of research or publication ethics. Grounds for retraction may include, but are not limited to, fabrication or falsification of data, substantial plagiarism, unauthorized duplicate publication, unethical research practices, serious errors that invalidate the principal conclusions, or manipulation of the peer-review or publication process.

The editorial team will assess the available evidence, seek clarification from the relevant authors where appropriate, and consult the author's affiliated institution or other competent authorities when necessary. A decision to retract an article will be based on the evidence and the need to protect the integrity of the scholarly record, rather than serving as a punishment.

A retraction notice will clearly identify the article, explain the reasons for retraction, and be linked to the original publication. The notice will be made publicly accessible. The original article will normally remain available in the journal's archive but will be clearly marked as retracted to preserve the publication record and prevent readers from relying on its findings without awareness of the retraction.

3. Expression of Concern

When credible concerns arise regarding the reliability or ethical integrity of a published article but the available evidence remains inconclusive, the editor may issue an Expression of Concern. This notice informs readers that the article is under examination while further information or the outcome of an investigation is awaited.

An Expression of Concern may subsequently be followed by a correction, retraction, or another appropriate editorial decision, depending on the findings of the assessment.

4. Responsibilities of Authors and Editorial Team

Authors are encouraged to inform the editorial team promptly when they discover significant errors in their published work and to cooperate with the journal in assessing and correcting such errors.

The editorial team is responsible for evaluating reports, maintaining appropriate confidentiality during investigations, providing relevant parties with a reasonable opportunity to respond, and documenting editorial decisions. Decisions will be made impartially, regardless of the authors' institutional affiliations or academic positions.

KERUGMA follows the principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability in correcting or retracting published content. The purpose of these procedures is to maintain the reliability of theological scholarship and the integrity of the scholarly record.