The Place of Public Theology in the Relationship between the Church and Traditional Leaders Toward the Social Development of Ghana (original) (raw)
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The central argument of this article is that Christianity which is relevant to Ghanaians must be responsive to the realities of the people and committed to promoting social justice and national transformation. Contemporary socioeconomic challenges demand the constant participation of the church in the process of social change. The church's participation in the transformation process however must be guided by its Christian beliefs and values. Public Theology that is concerned with how Christian beliefs and values intersect with issues of public life and social transformation must therefore be the catalyst for the church's public witness toward national transformation. The study conducted interviews with significant academics and practitioners in its effort to appreciate the place of the church in the contemporary socioeconomic challenges facing the nation as well as reviewing available relevant library materials. It concluded with the identification and recommendation of the church's prospects and capacity for national transformation in challenges like ethnocentrism, religious conflicts, moral decadence and political instability through the church's moral authority, structures for mobilization, legacy and ecumenical relationships.
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The article is an examination of theological insights that Public Theology provides for the development of young people in Ghana. The article argued that the church is strategically positioned to make significant responses to contemporary challenges confronting youth development through its Public Theology. The study affirmed that the churches provide spiritual guidance, Christian education, entrepreneurship programmes, support systems and youth-focused ministries which help the youth to develop a sense of purpose and a strong moral compass such as integrity, compassion and social responsibility. The young people however face the challenge of unemployment, moral decadence, social neglect, relationships and the effects of corruption. The study recommends that through its theological resources, the church must play a vital role in youth development by paying attention to the socialization processes of the youth at home, church and school. Moreover, attention must be paid to mentoring ...
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Faith in public life can be associated with Christianity in Ghana from the days of the early Western missionaries. Christian faith perspectives on matters of public concerns however, assumed a wider scope with the practice of regular issuance of communiques to governments and the people of Ghana by the churches. Christian ministry is expected to be holistic. A holistic approach in Christian ministry is considered to lead to the holistic development of the nation for the common good and the glory of God. Church leaders subsequently, bring their faith perspectives to matters of public concerns as a ministerial mandate to be in pilgrimage with the people. The study is a reflection on how the churches' communiques are done and the factors that make the communiques theological in the public space. It further seeks to identify the contribution of the construction of communiques to public theology in Christianity in Ghana. The study as qualitative, examines both available primary and secondary sources. Copies of communiques of some selected churches, ecumenical bodies and joint communiques by ecumenical bodies are examined to appreciate insights of communiques by the churches. The study seeks to make a contribution to the theological construction of public theologies in Ghana and African Christianity.
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E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies (ERATS) - ISSN 2458-7338, 2023
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