Methodist Church Ghana

The Methodist Church Ghana is one of the largest and oldest mainline Protestant denominations in Ghana. It traces its roots back to the landing of the Rev. Joseph Dunwell on 1 January 1835 in Cape Coast, in the Gold Coast.

“Methodist Is One Who Has ‘The Love Of God Shed Abroad In His Heart By The Holy Ghost Given Unto Him’; One Who ‘Loves The Lord His God With All His Heart, And With All His Soul, And With All His Mind, And With All His Strength.’ God Is The Joy Of His Heart, And The Desire Of His Soul; Which Is Constantly Crying Out, ‘Whom Have I In Heaven But Thee?. These Are The Principles And Practices Of Our Sect; These Are The Marks Of A True Methodist.

By these alone do those who are in derision so called, desire to be distinguished from other men. If any man say: ‘Why, these are only the common, fundamental principles of Christianity!’ thou hast said; so I mean; this is the very truth; I know they are no other; and I would to God both thou and all men knew, that I, and all who follow my judgment, do vehemently refuse to be distinguished from other men, by any but the common principles of Christianity – the plain, old Christianity that I teach, renouncing and detesting all other marks of distinction.

The Methodist rejoices evermore, prays without ceasing, and in everything gives thanks. His heart is full of love to all mankind and is purified from envy, wrath, malice, and every unkind affection. His one desire and the design of his life are not to do his own will but the will of him that send him. He keeps all God’s commandments from the least to the greatest. He follows not the customs of the world, for vice does not lose its nature through becoming fashionable.

He fares not sumptuously every day. He cannot lay up treasures upon earth, nor can he adorn himself with gold and costly apparel. He cannot join in any diversion that has the least tendency to vice. He cannot speak evil of his neighbor any more than he can lie. He cannot utter unkind or evil words. He does good unto all men, unto neighbors, strangers, friends and enemies.

Methodism and the Bible

The Methodist doctrinal standards identify as a canonical thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. It also affirms the Bible as the source of all that is “necessary” and “sufficient” unto salvation and “is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice”.

Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. Through Scripture the Living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace.The people called Methodists are convinced that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God in our midst whom we trust in life and death.The biblical authors,illumined by the Holy Spirit,bear witness that in Christ the world is reconciled to God.We also believe that the Bible bears authentic testimony to God’s self-disclosure in the life,death,and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as in God’s work of creation,in the pilgrimage of Israel,and in the Holy Spirit’s ongoing activity in Human beings inspired by the Holy Spirit,faith is born and nourished, our understanding is deepened,and the possibilities for transforming the world became apparent to us.

The Methodist Church Ghana came into existence as a result of the missionary activities of the Wesleyan Methodist Church which was inaugurated with the arrival of the Rev’d Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in January, 1835, in the Gold Coast (Ghana). Like the mother Church, the Methodist Church in Ghana was established from a core of persons with Anglican background. Missionaries, notably Roman Catholics and Anglicans had come to the Gold Coast from the 15th Century. Their activities did not see much success. What was left was a school established in Cape Coast by the Anglicans during the time of Rev’d Philip Quaque, a Ghanaian priest.

Those who came out of this school had scriptural knowledge. They also had scriptural materials which were supplied by the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge. It was not surprising that one of the local Bible study groups was known by this name in addition to other names.

It was a member of one of such Bible study groups, William De-Graft, who requested for Bibles through one Captain Potter of the ship called ‘Congo’.

Through Captain Potter’s instrumentality, not only were Bibles sent, but also a Methodist missionary. In the first eight years of the Church’s life, 11 out of 21 Missionaries who worked in the Gold Coast died. Thomas Birch Freeman, who arrived at the Gold Coast in 1838 was a great pioneer of Missionary expansion. Between 1838 and 1857 he carried Methodism from the Coastal areas to Kumasi in the Asante hinterland of the Gold Coast. He also established Methodist Societies in Badagry and AbeoKuta in Nigeria with the assistance of William De-Graft.

By 1854, the Church had been organized into circuits constituting a District with Rev’d T.B. Freeman as Chairman. However, Rev’d Freeman was replaced in 1856 by Rev’d William West. On 6th February, 1878, Synod took steps that were confirmed at the British Conference in July, 1878, that the District should be divided into two for effective ministries. The District had then extended to include areas in the then Gold Coast and Nigeria. The two districts were:

• Gold Coast (Ghana) District, with Rev’d T.R. Picot as Chairman.
• Yoruba and Popo, District with Rev’d John Milum as Chairman.

Methodist evangelization of Northern Ghana began in 1910. After a long period of conflict with the Colonial Government, Missionary work was finally established in 1955, with Rev. Paul Adu as the first indigenous missionary of Northern Ghana.

In July 1961, the Methodist Church in Ghana became autonomous, and was called the Methodist Church Ghana, based on a Deed of Foundation. This deed of Foundation is enshrined in the Constitution and Standing Orders of our Church.

Currently, the Methodist Church Ghana, is one of the leading Churches in our country, with a total membership of over 600,000. The Church has 17 dioceses, 3,814 societies, 1,066 pastors, 15,920 local preachers, 24,100 Lay Leaders, many schools, an orphanage, hospitals and clinics.

OUR VISION 

“To build a vibrant, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led Church for the holistic transformation of society.”

OUR MISSION 

“To equip the Church for ministry to the world through the demonstration of Christian Faith and Love.”

THEME

DISCIPLESHIP: Teaching everyone to live like Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:28-29

Beloved in THE LORD,

We are looking forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to get in touch via the form below, we will get back to you as soon as possible.

CONFERENCE OFFICE- WESLEY HOUSE,

E252/2 Liberia Road,

P.O.BOX 403, ACCRA GHANA, W/A

Telephone Office: (233-0302) 670355

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Website: www.methodistchurch.org.gh