Conflict and Peacemaking Among African Independent Churches in Ghana (Theological Implications, Dynamics, and Results)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ instructed His disciples to be Peacemakers. He said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). The Church cannot make peace in the world if she cannot resolve her conflicts peacefully.

The book explores the causes and effects of conflict among the African Independent Churches (AICs) in Ghana. The AICs are churches established by Africans to worship God in the African context.

Among other things, the book asserts that conflicts in AICs are caused by personality clash, lack of effective administrative structures and unfulfilled expectations, leadership styles, financial malpractice, change and reformation, and communication breakdown. The book provides practical means through which AICs can resolve their conflicts peacefully.

Also, the book will enable Christians to determine the positive and negative impact of conflict in their Churches and to discover Biblical methods of handling conflict that will enhance personal well-being, justice, and positive social relationships in their Churches and Communities.

Rev. Dr. Humphrey Akogyeram received a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, IN U.S.A.), Master of Sacred Theology from United Lutheran Seminary (Philadelphia, PA. U.S.A.) and earned a Ph.D. in Old Testament from United Lutheran Seminary. He has done a remarkable research on African Independent Churches.

Presently, he is the Academic Dean of Good News Theological Seminary in Accra, Ghana a seminary established to train African Independent Church leaders and workers. He has been teaching at the Seminary for the past 30 years. He is also a Pastor of Trinity Bible Church, La-Accra, Ghana and the National Deputy Education Director of Council for African Instituted Churches, Ghana.

This book examines the causes and effects of conflict among the African Independent Churches (AICS) in Ghana and how independent churches can manage their conflict constructively for the common good of the church and the Ghanaian society.

Although, God is Peace and wishes that all persons, He has created live in peace with each other, but conflict, the reason for division and disunity has never spared men their harmonious living. Disregard for proper recognition for fellow as God's image; and social injustice that denies fellows egalitarian treatment have always resulted in conflict no matter the nature of the human setting in which it occurs.

The church, though a community of believers in Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace and has given His peace to the church has not been spared the conflict that characterizes the various secular institutions. Conflict has become a common attribute of men, so that it manifests itself in almost all human institutions and communities. The African Independent Churches is one of such institutions inflicted with conflict.

The AICs are churches "born" on African soil with an outlook that is free from western religious influence. They are self-founded, that is established through the initiative of African Christians: self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating. AICs have spread into several European cities along with their tremendous growth and vibrancy of African Christianity.

**Contents and Sample Pages**