Ghana Travel Seminar: Learning at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute

  1. Ghana Travel Seminar: Seeing the magnificence of God’s love
  2. Ghana Travel Seminar: Time for church!
  3. Ghana Travel Seminar: Elimina Slave Castle
  4. Ghana Travel Seminar: Learning at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute
  5. Ghana Travel Seminar: May Day
  6. Ghana Travel Seminar: The ties that bind
  7. Ghana Travel Seminar: Reuniting with alumni
  8. Ghana Travel Seminar: Singing without words
  9. Ghana Travel Seminar: Handcrafts with personality and stories
  10. Ghana Travel Seminar: Touching the lives of children and teenagers
  11. Ghana Travel Seminar: Hospitality and kindness
  12. Ghana Travel Seminar: Love and anger are the key

BY DON MOSES

Today we find ourselves at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute (ACI) of Theology, Mission and Culture in Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana. ACI is a Presbyterian postgraduate research and training Institute serving several Christian denominations from across the continent and internationally. The entire travel seminar has been both a truly wonderful experience thus far.  Our first full day here in Akropong-Akuapem has been different yet revelatory.

Our first event was a lecture on the dynamics of the intersection of the Ghanaian church with African Traditional Religion (ATR) by Dr. Rudolf Kuiuku Gaisie and Dr. Philip Tetteh Laryea. Dr. Gaisie’s area of specialization is multi-disciplinary: modern African Christianity, Christology, and language.  Dr. Laryea specialized in language. Even while developing student capabilities in Hebrew and Greek, ACI also concentrates on the translations of the various native tongues in Ghana as well as continental Africa. The objective is to develop a greater understanding of the meanings in the various translations and their impact on the Christian faith.

At the Akrofi-Christaller Institute with Dr. Philip Laryea and Dr. Ridolf K. Gaisie.

Next, we took a walking tour of the local community. We visited the point from which Christianity was introduced to Akropong-Akuapem in the 18thcentury. There is a tree that predated the arrival of those first missionaries. This tree has special sacred significance and is relevant to ACI and ATR. We also visited the Akropong-Akuapem Presbyterian Church built in the 19thcentury.

A tree in Akropong-Akuapem that predated the arrival of those first missionaries.

The Akropong-Akuapem Presbyterian Church built in the 19th century.

We were privileged to view a short film that introduced us to the founder of ACI Dr. Kwame Bediago who passed away in 2008. His impact as a Presbyterian theologian is still felt here today. After the film, we had a lively discussion with Dr. Joshua Settles, an African-American from Tennessee and faculty member since 2012. Reverend Ernest Nyarko, a Methodist Ph.D. candidate, is doing research in the Pauline interpretation of homosexuality. Dr. Settles’ is doing research on Black American Christianity. As one might imagine, there was a fervent discussion which continued past our scheduled time with them.

I was struck by the depth of ACI presenters with respect to their historical understanding of Ghanaian Christianity. While some may be surprised that Christianity is growing in Africa as well as South America, it comes as no surprise to faculty and students at ACI. I was also impressed with the fluid integration of African Traditional Religion with Christianity which in part explains that growth. Once translations were made into local languages, the concept of God was easily understood, as they already had native words for God and as much as 90% of Christian terminology already existed in their various tongues. To them, God was already here before western missionaries arrived.

Don Moses is a Master of Divinity student at the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary.