Schisms in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (E. P Church) 1939- 1991.
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Date
2000-06
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University of Ghana
Abstract
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (E. P. C.). Ghana. was established in 1847 by the
North German Mission Society. Due to the events of the two World Wars, the Germans were deported and during their absence the United Church of Scotland and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches of America (the United Church of Christ. U. S. A.) took turns to superintend the mission. After each of the wars, the Germans came back and nurtured their mission. From 1922, due to the First World War, the Bremen Mission Church became 'independent' prematurely of the Home Mission and from that time evolved into a Christian institution. within a Universal Reformed type of Christianity.
Between 1939 and 1991, a period of fifty-two years, the E. P. Church, the first
established Church in the Volta Region. hitherto one family of Christians. experienced five
major schisms. In 1941,Prophet Wovenu, an evangelist of the E.P Church al New Tadzewu established the Apostolic Revelation Society.
In 1954, the congregations of the E. P. Church in the Buem Krachi area from Nkonya up to Kete Krachi excluding Worawora seceded and formed the Presbyterian Evangelical Church of Buem Krachi.. In 1960, the late Mr. Frank Doh, also a
member of the E. P. Church, established his White Cross Society at Etordome near Hlefi in the Kpedze district. In 1961, the late Sam John Amedzro a member of the Blengo E. P. Church established the Lords Pentecostal Church. In 1964, Mr. Emmanuel Ntumi Atiegar one of the founders of the Accra New Town E. P. Church, established the Evangelical Presbyterian Reformed Church {Christ evangelical Mission. Lastly. in 1991, a section of the E. P. Church became the core of the E.P. Church of Ghana.
The study attempts to establish the causative factors of these conflicts and their consequent 'splits'. It seeks to establish that the conflicts were the result of not a single factor but a combination of factors. Finally, the study attempts to give suggestions that would possibly reduce the occurrence of future divisions of the Church.
Description
MPhil. Study of Religions
Keywords
Evangelical Presbyterian Church (E. P. C.), Ghana, North German Mission Society, Volta Region, Christian, White Cross Society