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The Superintendent Bishop of the Jesus Generation Ministries, Rt Reverend Dr Nana Anyani Boadum, has called on the government to establish a self-regulatory body for churches in the country.

That, he said, would moderate the activities of churches, pastors and their teachings.

According to Rt Rev. Dr Boadum, such an umbrella body, which could be christened ‘Ghana Christian Council of Churches’, would comprise all the various church groups such as the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council and the National Association of Christian Churches.

It will be responsible for handling all complaints from the public and also protect the integrity of the church in Ghana.

Rt Rev. Dr Boadum said in an interview with the Daily Graphic that “our television screens are awash with strange biblical doctrines and practices which are alien to biblical hermeneutics. To protect the image and integrity of the church, I am calling for the establishment of a regulatory body”.

Although he did not make specific reference to any strange doctrines or teachings, it is likely that Rt Rev. Dr Boadum was  referring to pastors who, in recent times, give out lotto numbers for a fee, while others encourage women to attend prayer and deliverance sessions without wearing any underwear.

Recently, Rev. Daniel Obinim was reported to have said that he could turn into a snake or any other animal to execute an agenda against his adversaries.

Motive of the Council

Rt Rev. Dr Boadum, who is also an executive member of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, said his call for the establishment of the new council was not to place restrictions on what pastors could preach; rather, it was to call people to order and help those who had problems.

He said the council, when established, would operate with the guidelines of the National Media Commission (NMC) and put in place mechanisms that would regulate the activities of churches in line with the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of worship.

Rt Rev Dr Boadum said the religious issues confronting the country were dire and, therefore, called on the government to enact a law for the setting up of the council.

He argued that the most “ethical way to address our scriptural differences is to humbly submit to sound biblical doctrines and divine authority”.

Additionally, he indicated that no single church should be independent and not belong to any Christian organisation.

“At least, all must belong to one of the umbrella groups,” he stated.

Strange teachings

Rt Rev. Dr Boadum deplored the activities, teachings and utterances of some pastors and religious leaders which, he said were at variance with the scriptures.

“The concept of the scriptures as the supreme authority in Christian belief and practice should nuance our conception of spiritual authority by affirming that the final locus of interpretative authority rests in the Bible.

“A lot of inappropriate things such as human abuse are going on in Christian communities across the country and these things must be checked,” he indicated.

Rt Rev. Dr Boadum called for massive support from the Christian community with regard to the establishment of the council he had proposed.