Religion

Assemblies of God Church Bans Pastors from Using Honorary Titles.

ACCRA, GHANA — The Assemblies of God (AG), Ghana, has officially prohibited its ministers from using honorary academic titles such as "Dr." The directive, issued in a circular dated July 11, aligns the church with regulations from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), which does not recognize such titles as legitimate academic qualifications.

The circular, signed by the General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Ernest Birikorang, emphasized the need for ministers to uphold the integrity of the church and avoid conflict with the national regulator. Pastors who have received honorary doctorates, regardless of the institution's accreditation, have been instructed to stop using the title.

For those with earned academic degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D.), the church requires them to be prepared to submit their credentials to the GTEC for verification if they wish for their qualifications to be officially recognized. The circular warned that any pastor who fails to comply or is found in conflict with GTEC regulations will face suspension.

GTEC's Stance on Academic Titles

The Assemblies of God's directive follows a series of warnings from the GTEC concerning the misuse of academic titles. In April, the commission expressed concern over the growing trend of individuals using titles like "Dr" or "Prof" based on honorary awards, which it considers purely symbolic. The GTEC stated that such a practice misleads the public and undermines the integrity of Ghana's higher education system.

The commission cited the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), which empowers it to regulate the use of academic nomenclature. Under the law, offenders can face sanctions including fines of up to 250 penalty units, up to one year in prison, or both. The GTEC has launched public education campaigns and warned that it may publish the names of offenders and take legal action against persistent violators.

A Call for Leadership

In the circular, Rev. Birikorang praised the example of the church's General Superintendent, Rev. Stephen Wengam. Wengam, who was awarded an honorary doctorate, voluntarily stopped using the title and encouraged his fellow ministers to do the same.

The General Secretary expressed confidence that the church's ministers would adhere to the new directive, stating that their compliance would protect the ministry's credibility and show respect for Ghana's regulatory framework. The move makes the Assemblies of God one of the first major Christian denominations in Ghana to formally ban its ministers from using these honorary titles.

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