Migration from Historic Mission churches to Pentecostal churches in Ghana

Abstract

This thesis focuses on investigating and identifying the factors leading to the migration of members from Historic Mission churches to Pentecostal/Charismatic churches (PCCs) with emphasis on the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) using Ga and Dangme-Tongus Presbyteries as case studies. The advent of the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches in Ghana since the early twentieth Century has led to a slow growth in membership of Historic Mission churches. Thus, this study involves quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Structured questionnaires were administered, and interviews conducted at selected districts in the two presbyteries with personal observation in order to unravel the phenomenon of migration in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The findings of the research acknowledged that migration of members from PCG to PCCs is a reality. This has over the years led to slow growth in membership, human resource mobilization and finances of PCG. There are “push” and “pull” factors in PCG and PCCs respectively which accounts for this phenomenon. The outcome of these findings requires that in order to develop individual gifts and ministries in the PCG, congregations should recognize, encourage and train members as disciples for the missional work of the Church. Thus, the lay will become the active components of the Church. PCG should give baptismal candidates the option to choose the type of baptism they prefer. This will resolve the issue of members migrating to Pentecostal/Charismatic churches to seek baptism by immersion. Furthermore, there is the need for youth services and youth pastors in all PCG congregations in order to bridge the existing generational gap. Ultimately, these will help curve a new image for the PCG as missional community in which members care and love one another, reaching out to the marginalised, the poor and the broken-hearted in the power of the Holy Spirit.