Good Pastors, Bad Pastors: Pentecostal Ministerial Ethics in GhanaThe emergence of Pentecostalism in Ghana has attracted a massive following and generated institutions that have significantly impacted Christian discourse and national life. The movement has produced prominent leaders who have developed exemplary Christian education programs and generated volumes of Christian literature unprecedented in Ghanaian Christianity. Nevertheless, public opinion often upbraids church leaders for unethical conduct. Despite the concern for high moral standards set by Pentecostal church polity and ministerial ethical codes, reports of Pentecostal ministerial misconduct appear regularly in the media. Although congregation members and perceptive public observers appreciate the constructive moral impact of Pentecostal ministers, instances of promiscuity, power abuse, financial misappropriation, and superstition reveal a gap between ethical ideals and practice. As this research reveals, factors behind unethical ministerial conduct include inadequate training, poor accountability, and a general low level of ethical reflection. Good Pastors, Bad Pastors suggests that a multidimensional approach of responsible reportage, emphatic moral education, appropriate but sympathetic response to moral failure, and peer-review accountability could help uphold a higher standard of ministerial ethics. |
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Good Pastors, Bad Pastors: Pentecostal Ministerial Ethics in Ghana Dela Quampah Limited preview - 2014 |
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According Accra African African Traditional Religion Agyin-Asare Akan Apostle approach argues Asamoah-Gyadu Assemblies Assemblies of God behavior Bible biblical character charismatic churches Christ Christ Apostolic Church Christian ethics Christian leaders church leaders Church of Pentecost classical Pentecostal clergy concept conduct congregation constitution context Council Dela Quampah demonic denomination deontological Divine Command theory doctrine Donatist emphasize examination faith Fletcher Ghanaian Pentecostal Ghanaian society Gifford God’s Gyekye Holiness movement Holy Spirit human Ibid identified impact individual instance institutional interview by Dela issues Jesus Kalu Kant’s ministerial ethics moral philosophy moral standards Nsawam O’Meara observation one’s Onyinah ordained pastors Pentecostal churches Pentecostal leaders Pentecostal ministers percent perspective position priests principles prophets prosperity gospel reflects relevant religion religious response reveals role sanctification Scripture Situation Ethics Situationism social suggests Tetteh theological traditional Ghanaian Trull and Carter Utilitarianism virtue ethics Willimon witchcraft WMCI women Yes Not sure