The National Executive of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has released a press statement in which they observe with great concern the call by the speaker of Parliament for possible regulation of churches.
To the GPCC the call is a dangerous development and rather recommend for ecumenical bodies to be allowed to deal with “bad nuts” who are members of these bodies. The GPCC queried the definition of “one man church” and said it rather approves for a call for all churches to register with one ecumenical body.
PRESS STATEMENT BY GHANA PENTECOSTAL COUNCIL AND CHARISMATIC COUNCIL ON CALL BY SPEAKER TO REGULATE CHURCHES
The National Executive Council of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) observes with great concern the call by the Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, on the joint committee of Parliament on Legal and Constitutional issues to come up with recommendations within one month on the possible regulation of Churches in the country.
The GPCC views this as a dangerous development and rather recommends that ecumenical bodies in the country are allowed to deal with the issues as outlined by some Members of Parliament on Wednesday through a legal mandate to represent government to sanction offenders. We wish to inform parliament that we have begun meetings with the Christian Council already towards this end
The call for a law to be enacted to regulate activities of Churches solely owned and run by individuals and self-professed Pastors termed as “one-man church” is rather unfortunate because who has the prerogative to decide a church is ‘’a one-man church”? The Council feels that the call must not be effected otherwise it could lead to the creation of a chaotic situation.
The GPCC, however, approves a call for all churches to register with one ecumenical body or other, in which case the activities of the bad nuts could be curtailed through self-regulation and similar procedures.
We believe that issues to do with Christians should not be left in the hands of parliamentarians while there are competent ecumenical bodies to deal with such. The Councils are well positioned to help government investigate the activities of those churches and pastors to protect Ghanaians from exploitation if given the mandate.
We believe that issues of crime committed by Churches and Pastors should be investigated by the security agencies and culprits brought to book.
Issued by Issued by:
National Executive Council (NEC))
For further details contact: Rev Emmanuel T Barrigah, General Secretary on 0242703772
