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We,
members of the College of Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists of The Church of
Pentecost, after deep reflections in the above-stated meeting, on trends in the
contemporary Church globally, and in The Church of Pentecost, in particular,
have collectively agreed on the following decisions to retain the Church’s
growing youth and adult membership as well as open the Church’s doors to people
of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to have unhindered access
to the total gospel in its churches worldwide:
a.
that,
the issue of head covering, which has been the source of embarrassment to female
visitors to the Church over the years, has no categorical biblical foundation
as a requirement for salvation and should, as such, not be imposed on church
members or visitors to the Church’s worship services;
b.
that,
having fully examined the women head covering passage of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16,
it has become obvious that what Paul wanted to put across is not clear;
c.
that,
a critical examination of the historical records, such as circulars of
successive Chairmen of the Church from 1953 to 2007 revealed that the
forefathers of the Church, particularly the Founder, Rev. James McKeown, did not
discourage or encourage the covering of the head by women; but that he had
rather admonished the Church through a circular letter of August 7, 1967, that
the leaders should not meddle in the private affairs of church members by
prescribing dress codes for them. He had taught that church members dress
decently and modestly;
d.
that,
the practice of head covering might have crept into the Church’s practices from
the fact that it was traditionally required of women in Ghana to cover their
head before speaking to their kings and this might have led foundational women
of the Church to insist on appearing before the Lord, the King of kings, with
their head covered;
e.
that,
it had been observed from a study of the socio-cultural situation in the
country, that even though women in the country were traditionally expected to
cover their head when they came of age, that practice is no longer tenable in
the country.
The
College of Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists, realising that many denominations
in Ghana are also confronted with the same theological dilemma posed by the
issue of head covering by women, therefore, directs:
a.
that,
the entire membership of the Church consider the issue of the covering of head
by women in the spirit of Christian maturity so as not to offend anybody with
regard to this controversial matter, which appears to have defied theological
and hermeneutical agreement;
b.
that,
female visitors who attend church services without a head covering should be
accepted as they are, without being either turned back or offered a head
covering, since head covering does not subtract from a person’s salvation;
c.
that,
females in the Church who may or may not want to cover their head during church
services should not be seen as sinners or being less spiritual;
d.
that,
women should fashion their hairstyles in a decent, modest and appropriate manner
to the glory of God;
e.
that,
church members appreciate the progressive changes in the socio-cultural
environment in which the gospel is preached in order to make the gospel relevant
to its hearers;
f.
that,
the wearing of seductive or sexually-provocative dress should be discouraged in
the church;
g.
that,
women must avoid the practice of cleavage (the partial exposure of breasts) as
that does not glorify the Lord.
The
College of Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists further directs that female
visitors in decent trousers and Rastafarians or persons in dread locks be
accepted in fellowship in the spirit of Christian love, while couples or
families desiring to sit together at church be allowed to sit under the feet of
Jesus to learn.
While
the purpose of these directives is not to stop teaching of the genuine word of
God or to correct people in righteousness, the College recognises the present
culturally divergent nature of the Church and its mandate to disciple people of
all nations and cultures.
The
College believes that the early church, when confronted with
culturally-motivated traditions, resolved the matter by appealing to Scripture
and the Holy Spirit. It appreciates, also, that the Founder of the Church,
Pastor James McKeown, like the apostle Paul, provided a biblical pattern for
global church growth whereby teachings that are cardinal to salvation are to be
kept (2 Thess. 2: 13-15), and others that were only religiously or
culturally-based could be changed (Gal. 1:14).
The
College hereby urges all church members to accommodate one another in love,
unity and for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:23-33), and joins Apostle Paul in
stating: “Give no offence, either to the Jews, or to the Greeks or to the church
of God (1 Cor. 10:32).
OPOKU ONYINAH (APOSTLE DR.)
CHAIRMAN
By V.C.T. Ofinam-Antwi |
