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Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana

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Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
File:E.P. Church Ghana logo.jpg
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana logo
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationCalvinist
TheologyLiberal Reformed
PolityPresbyterian
Associations
RegionGhana
Origin1922
Congregations748
Members600,000
Official websitewww.epchurchghana.org

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (Ewe: Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana) is a Protestant Christian denomination in Ghana. It is popularly referred to as the "EP Church". It has strong roots in the Evangelical and Reformed traditions.

History

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana was founded by German missionaries on November 14, 1847 in Peki.[1] These missionaries from the North German Mission Society (Norddeutsche Mission, Bremen), together with the Basel Mission in 1847, started work among the Ewe people in what is now the Volta Region of Ghana. By the beginning of World War I, they had established two mission stations in the British colony of the Gold Coast and seven in the German territory of Togoland. The first of the mission stations was (Mission-Tove) in present-day Togo.[2]

After the war, Togoland was divided into two territories, the western one under British rule and the eastern one under French rule. The first synod of the mission stations in May 1922, despite the division of Togoland, declared itself to be the supreme governing body of the “Ewe Church.” The church adopted the congregational order of the Bremen Mission. In 1923, Scottish missionaries began working in British Togo (Transvolta Togoland), which is the present-day Volta Region of Ghana. The church in French Togoland (now Togo) was run by the Paris Mission.

As a result, development proceeded separately in the two territories, although both churches share the same constitution. They hold a common synod meeting every 4 years.[3]

Belief

The EP Church is a Trinitarian church.

Church information

The EP church has its headquarters at Ho, the capital of the Volta Region of Ghana. It has more than 600,000 members in nearly 750 congregations. The overall leader of the church is known as the Moderator of the General Assembly.[4] The current Moderator of the General Assembly of the church is Very Rev. Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi.[5][6] He succeeded Rt. Rev. Francis Amenu in 2015, who had been elected as the first Moderator of the General Assembly, which was constituted in 2009.[7]

The previous gathering of the churches was known as the General Synod. The last Moderator of the General Synod was Rt. Rev. Dr. L.K Buama, whose term ended in 2009.[8]

Past Moderators

The first Moderator was elected in 1922, when the Togo and Gold Coast branches of the church held their first Joint Synod.[9]

  • Very Rev. Andreas Aku - (1922)
  • Very Rev. David Bensah (1923 – 1926)
  • Very Rev. E. Awuma (1927 – 1939)
  • Very Rev. B.S. Amegashie (1940 – 1951)
  • Very Rev. M.W. Akama (1952 – 1956)
  • Very Rev. E.K. Galevo (1957 – 1968)
  • Very Rev. A.K. Abutiate (1969 – 1972)
  • Very Rev. C.K. Dovlo (1969 – 1972)
  • Very Rev. Noah Komla Dzobo (1981 – 1993)
  • Very Rev. Japhet Ledo (1993 – 2001)
  • Very Rev. Livingstone Komla Buama (2001 – 2009)

Since 23 August 2008, the church changed from Synod status to General Assembly status. Since then, the Moderator is now officially known as 'The Moderator of the General Assembly'. The first Moderator since this change is Rev. Francis Amenu.

Past Synod Clerks

Education

Presbyterian school in Kwahu Tafo.

The church is active in education and has established numerous primary and secondary schools, and a university college.[10] Some are:

Health

The EP Church has also been active in providing health care. Its facilities include:

  • Adidome Hospital[11]

Associations

Partner churches

See also

References

  1. ^ "Peki Citizens to celebrate the exploits of Bremen Missionary work in Ghana". Ghanaweb. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo". Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions. Reformed Online. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  3. ^ "Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana". Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions. Reformed Online. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  4. ^ "Our hosts". Accra 2004. World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  5. ^ "Evangelical Presbyterian Church inducts new moderator". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "EP Church gets new Moderator". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  7. ^ "E.P. Church Elects New Moderator". Ghana government. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  8. ^ "FOREWORD". Official website. Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  9. ^ "Brief History". Official website. Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Evangelical Presbyterian University College ready for opening". Ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "General Ministries". Global Ministries. October 7, 2005. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  12. ^ "News from the Ecumenical Committee". United Reformed Church. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
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