Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
Encyclopedia
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.
missionaries in the mid nineteenth century. 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
, there were 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
. 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 the supreme governing body of the one “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 now present day Volta Region of Ghana. The church in French Togoland (now Togo
) was run by the Paris Mission. This led to separate development of the two halves though both churches share the same constitution. They also hold a common synod meeting every 4 years.
, the capital of the Volta Region
of Ghana. It has over 600,000 members in nearly 750 congregations. The overall leader of the church is the moderator
. The current moderator of the church is Rt. Rev. Francis Amenu
who succeeded Rt. Rev. Dr. L.K Buama
.
Ewe language
Ewe is a Niger–Congo language spoken in Ghana, Togo and Benin by approximately six million people. Ewe is part of a cluster of related languages commonly called Gbe, spoken in southeastern Ghana, Togo, and parts of Benin. Other Gbe languages include Fon, Gen, Phla Phera, and Aja...
:Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana) is a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. It is popularly referred to as the "EP Church". It has strong roots in the Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
and Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
traditions.
History
It was founded by GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
missionaries in the mid nineteenth century. These missionaries from the North German Mission Society (Norddeutsche Mission, Bremen), together with the Basel Mission
Basel Mission
The Basel Mission is a Christian missionary society active from 1815 to 2001, when it was merged into Mission 21, the successor organization of Kooperation Evangelischer Kirchen und Missione founded in 2001....
in 1847 started work among the Ewe people
Ewe people
The Ewe are a people located in the southeast corner of Ghana, east of the Volta River, in an area now described as the Volta Region, in southern Togo and western Benin...
in what is now the Volta Region
Volta Region
Volta Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is to the east of Lake Volta. Its capital is Ho.-List of districts:The region has 18 districts consisting of 3 municipal and 15 ordinary districts:-Background:...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. By the beginning of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, there were two mission stations in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colony of the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
and seven in the German territory of Togoland
Togoland
Togoland was a German protectorate in West Africa from 1884 to 1914, encompassing what is now the nation of Togo and most of what is now the Volta Region of Ghana. The colony was established during the period generally known as the "Scramble for Africa"...
. The first of the mission stations was (Mission-Tove) in present day Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. 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 the supreme governing body of the one “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 now present day Volta Region of Ghana. The church in French Togoland (now Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
) was run by the Paris Mission. This led to separate development of the two halves though both churches share the same constitution. They also hold a common synod meeting every 4 years.
Church information
The church has its headquarters at HoHo, Ghana
Ho is a town in southeast Ghana and is the capital of the Volta Region. It lies between Mount Adaklu and Mount Galenukui , and is home to a museum, a cathedral and a large prison...
, the capital of the Volta Region
Volta Region
Volta Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is to the east of Lake Volta. Its capital is Ho.-List of districts:The region has 18 districts consisting of 3 municipal and 15 ordinary districts:-Background:...
of Ghana. It has over 600,000 members in nearly 750 congregations. The overall leader of the church is the moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
. The current moderator of the church is Rt. Rev. Francis Amenu
Francis Amenu
The Right Reverend Francis Amenu is the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana . He is also the Vice Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana.-Education:...
who succeeded Rt. Rev. Dr. L.K Buama
Livingstone Komla Buama
The Right Reverend Livingstone Asong Komla Buama is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana .Buama hails from Klefe in the Volta Region of Ghana....
.
Past moderators
- Noah Komla DzoboNoah Komla DzoboThe Very Reverend Noah Komla Dzobo was an academic and religious leader. He was also a former moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. He was the chairman of the Dzobo committee that preceded the reform of the basic education system in Ghana. He served as the head of the E P Church...
(? – 1993) - Japhet LedoJaphet LedoThe Very Reverend Japhet Yao Ledo is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana . He served as moderator of the church from January 1993 to January 2001, when he was replaced by Rt. Rev. Livingstone Komla Buama.Ledo hails from Klefe in the Volta Region...
(1993 – 2001) - Livingstone Komla BuamaLivingstone Komla BuamaThe Right Reverend Livingstone Asong Komla Buama is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana .Buama hails from Klefe in the Volta Region of Ghana....
(2001 – 2009) - Francis AmenuFrancis AmenuThe Right Reverend Francis Amenu is the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana . He is also the Vice Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana.-Education:...
(2009 – present)
Education
The church is active in education and has established numerous primary and secondary schools. Some are:- Mawuli Secondary School, Ho, set up by Mr. and Mrs. Trosts, missionaries sent by the United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristThe United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
.
Health
The EP Church has also been active in providing health care. Its facilities include:- Adidome Hospital
Associations
- Christian Council of GhanaChristian Council of GhanaThe Christian Council of Ghana is an umbrella group that unites 15 churches in Ghana. The council has its members from Charismatic, Pentecostal, Orthodox and other churches.-History of the council:The CCG was formed on 30 October 1929...
- member - World Alliance of Reformed ChurchesWorld Alliance of Reformed ChurchesThe World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
- member - World Communion of Reformed Churches World Communion of Reformed ChurchesThe World Communion of Reformed Churches is an ecumenical Christian body formed in June 2010 by the union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council...
- member
Partner churches
- Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo
- Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
- Evangelical Church of Bremen
- United Reformed ChurchUnited Reformed ChurchThe United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
- A Ghanaian minister for London (formerly Ghanaian chaplain) works with the URC over four year term and the church of origin alternates between the Evangelical Presyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
External links and sources
- Official Website
- Presbyteria Nyanyui Hame le Ghana
- Eglise évangélique presbytérienne du Togo
- Information about Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
- Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ
- News from the Ecumenical Committee (United Reformed Church)