The Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) works closely with two partner churches in Ghana—the
Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and the Evangelical Presbyterian
Church, Ghana (EPCG). The EPCG, centered in the capital city
of Accra, has over 500,000 members in 1,800 congregations. The
work of the EPCG is primarily centered in the eastern part of
the country, and it has 151,170 members and 842 congregations.
Both were started by German and Swiss missionaries associated
with the Bremen and the Basel missions, and later by Moravian
and Scottish missionaries. Both have grown far beyond those
early mission days and are vibrant, independent churches.
The Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Centre for Mission Research
and Applied Theology was named after two great scholars and
pioneer figures in the cultural witness of the church in Ghana,
Dr. C. A. Akrofi (a Ghanaian), and the Rev. Johannes Christaller
(a German of the Basel Mission). The Centre works to be at the
leading edge of the church’s mission to equip pastors
and other church workers for effective mission in the African
context.
As a Presbyterian initiative and pastoral institution, the
Centre seeks to remain faithful to and teach the Reformed and
evangelical roots of the Presbyterian church in Ghana and of
other Reformed churches. In addition to traditional studies,
students at the Centre are trained in using mission research
methods, recording local history, and understanding theology
in context. This training helps provide tools for research into
African Christianity.
Among the centers of PC(USA) relations with Ghana are the many
PC(USA) presbyteries and congregations that have mission partnerships
in the country. Ghana is also one of the international sites
for the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program. |
