Doing Public Theology in African Christianity: A Reflection on Communiques by Churches in Ghana

Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong

doi:10.38159/erats.20217111

Abstract

Faith in public life can be associated with Christianity in Ghana from the days of the early Western missionaries. Christian faith perspectives on matters of public concerns however, assumed a wider scope with the practice of regular issuance of communiques to governments and the people of Ghana by the churches. Christian ministry is expected to be holistic. A holistic approach in Christian ministry is considered to lead to the holistic development of the nation for the common good and the glory of God. Church leaders subsequently, bring their faith perspectives to matters of public concerns as a ministerial mandate to be in pilgrimage with the people. The study is a reflection on how the churches’ communiques are done and the factors that make the communiques theological in the public space. It further seeks to identify the contribution of the construction of communiques to public theology in Christianity in Ghana. The study as qualitative, examines both available primary and secondary sources. Copies of communiques of some selected churches, ecumenical bodies and joint communiques by ecumenical bodies are examined to appreciate insights of communiques by the churches. The study seeks to make a contribution to the theological construction of public theologies in Ghana and African Christianity. KEYWORDS: Public Theology, African Christianity, Communique, Common Good

Highlights

Bringing faith perspectives on public issues has remained a common practice by the churches in Ghana.1 The churches over the years have demonstrated participation in public matters through the issuance of pastoral Letters, writing of official letters to Heads of States, various churches newspapers e.g., Christian Messenger by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Methodist Times by the Methodist Church Ghana and the Standard by the Catholic Church
Faith in public life can be associated with Christianity in Ghana from the days of the early Western missionaries
A holistic approach in Christian ministry is considered to lead to the holistic development of the nation for the common good and the glory of God

Summary

Introduction

Bringing faith perspectives on public issues has remained a common practice by the churches in Ghana. The churches over the years have demonstrated participation in public matters through the issuance of pastoral Letters, writing of official letters to Heads of States, various churches newspapers e.g., Christian Messenger by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Methodist Times by the Methodist Church Ghana and the Standard by the Catholic Church. Bringing faith perspectives on public issues has remained a common practice by the churches in Ghana.. The churches over the years have demonstrated participation in public matters through the issuance of pastoral Letters, writing of official letters to Heads of States, various churches newspapers e.g., Christian Messenger by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Methodist Times by the Methodist Church Ghana and the Standard by the Catholic Church. A major pattern of bringing faith perspectives into the public sphere has remained the issuance of communiques by the churches. Synod, which is termed General Assembly by the PCG, decided that a ‘Communique be sent to the Head of State anytime Synod met. This is to replace the traditional message of greetings to the Head of State.’

Methods

Conclusion