Selection of Hymns for Sunday Church Service in the Methodist Church Ghana: An Evaluation (Published)
Methodism was born in song is an opening statement in the preface of the Methodist Hymn Book. Indeed the Methodists have not ceased to sing hymns in their worship since its establishment. Hymns that are sung for Sunday divine services have carefully been selected for several reasons. The paper evaluates the factors that motivate the selection of hymns in the Methodist Church, particularly for Sunday divine services. Through interviews of dedicated choirmasters and choristers as well as Reverend Ministers and local preachers, the authors present an assessment of the justifications behind selection of suitable hymns for church services. The authors argue that the paper will provide local preachers, pastors and reverend ministers an insight to selecting appropriate hymns for church services.
Keywords: Hymns, Methodist Church, Selection, Sunday divine services
THE CHALLENGE OF CHURCH-HOPPING IN KENYA: FACTORS LEADING TO THE MIGRATION OF CHURCH MEMBERS FROM THE METHODIST CHURCH IN KENYA (Published)
Although church-hopping is a new phenomenon in Kenya, it is becoming a challenge to Christianity, where church members keep on migrating from one denomination to another with little cognizance of the effect of this migration to the church mission. This study which used the Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK) as the case sought to investigate the factors leading to the migration church members from one denomination to another in Kenya. The findings of the study revealed that such factors as conservatism, poor leadership, over-emphasis on monetary giving, exaggerated development projects, the new phenomenon of prosperity gospels, spiritual thirst, poor evangelism, lack of proper worship styles e.t.c. contribute to the rapid migration of church members from one denomination to another in Kenya. The study concludes that rather that the churches in Kenya blaming the members who are migrating, they should rethink their mission strategy. The factors that are making the members to keep on hopping should be addressed. Church leaders should not expect their members to stick to their churches if they are ‘spiritually’ unfed
Keywords: Church-hopping, Kenya, Methodist Church, Migration of Church members
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIGENOUS MUSICAL STYLE IN THE METHODIST CHURCH-GHANA (1835-PRESENT) (Published)
The paper defines the primary influences on the body of music used in the Methodist Church-Ghana currently. This definition traces the historical and musical developments of a number of musical styles that have become indigenous to the church. These styles include the vernacular translations of the Western hymns used by missionaries as early as 1835, the Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred lyrics), the body of music that allowed hand clapping and the use of traditional music instruments, as well as the highlife-influenced praise and worship songs. Other styles are the choir and singing band music, which have emerged from many sources. The writer draws his conclusions based on visits to various cathedrals and his own experience as a born and bred Methodist chorister. Inferences are drawn from the major influences on the music of the church and the developments that have culminated in the different musical styles that currently constitute the musical picture of the Ghanaian Methodist Church.
Keywords: Development, Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred Lyrics), Ghana, Indigenous, Methodist Church, Musical Style
The Development of an Indigenous Musical Style in the Methodist Church-Ghana (1835-Present) (Review Completed - Accepted)
The paper defines the primary influences on the body of music used in the Methodist Church-Ghana currently. This definition traces the historical and musical developments of a number of musical styles that have become indigenous to the church. These styles include the vernacular translations of the Western hymns used by missionaries as early as 1835, the Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred lyrics), the body of music that allowed hand clapping and the use of traditional music instruments, as well as the highlife-influenced praise and worship songs. Other styles are the choir and singing band music, which have emerged from many sources. The writer draws his conclusions based on visits to various cathedrals and his own experience as a born and bred Methodist chorister. Inferences are drawn from the major influences on the music of the church and the developments that have culminated in the different musical styles that currently constitute the musical picture of the Ghanaian Methodist Church.
Keywords: Development, Ebibindwom (Akan Sacred Lyrics), Ghana, Indigenous, Methodist Church, Musical Style