Investigating the Impact of Pentecostalism and Charismatism on the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana

ABSTRACT A cursory look at the activities in the Methodist Church suggests identifiable traits of Pentecostalism and Charismatism in the Church, and more specifically Methodist Church Ghana (MCG). From the research finding, it has been discovered that some members of the MCG are not comfortable with certain religious tendencies in the Church. While attempting to discover the form and content of the Church’s current spirituality, there is, therefore, the need to identify the influence of Pentecostalism and Charismatism on Methodism. The problem this study sought to investigate was the perception that Pentecostalism and Charismatism are greatly influencing the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana. Thus, some activities of the traditional Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana has been questioned. The study investigated the impact of Pentecostalism and Charismatism on the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana. The study employed simple random and purposeful sampling to select forty (40) respondents from the Circuit. Hence, semi-structured interview was employed to gather data for the study. The study is useful in the sense that the findings of the study would contribute to the literature on the impact of Pentecostalism and Charismatics on the Methodist Church Ghana. The field findings showed that several reasons have accounted for the Pentecostal and Charismatic influences in the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana, namely dullness and lack of spiritual fulfillment in the church, speaking in tongues, spiritual warfare, divine healing, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and interest in and enjoyment of the traditional Pentecostal and 5 6 Charismatic worship. The field findings indicated that some aspects of the teachings and practices of the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana are closely linked to key characteristics of Pentecostalism and Charismatism. It was, furthermore, found out that Pentecostalism and Charismatism have both positive and negative impact on the Circuit. Based on the findings of the study it is recommended that: A key to understanding the growth of the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana is the use of ‘lay’ individuals by ministers; awareness should be made among members concerning the dangers of seeing all spiritual manifestations as coming from the Spirit of God; attention gradually should not be shifted from the main focus of the vision and mission of the Methodist Church Ghana to things of secondary importance; spontaneity should give way to structure; and the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana should not lose its lay orientation. On the basis of the findings of the field survey the thesis concludes that in spite of the influence of Pentecostalism and Charismatism on the Enchi Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana, the church should not deviate from the traditional Methodist beliefs and practices, and members of the Circuit should not lose their identity as Methodists. Members should conform to the traditional teachings and practices of the Methodist Church Ghana. They should be “responsible Methodists”.

Source: KNUST