Youth Drift and Its Implications on the Youth Ministries Directorate of the Methodist Church Ghana, Accra Diocese
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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES YOUTH DRIFT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE YOUTH MINISTRIES DIRECTORATE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH GHANA, ACCRA DIOCESE SETH NANA KWABENA KODUAH DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JULY 2018 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES YOUTH DRIFT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE YOUTH MINISTRIES DIRECTORATE OF THE METHODIST CHURCH GHANA, ACCRA DIOCESE BY SETH NANA KWABENA KODUAH (ID. No.10599245) A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPY IN THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS JULY 2018 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, SETH NANA KWABENA KODUAH, hereby declare that the work presented in this thesis is the result of my own investigation and that except for other peoples’ works, which have been duly acknowledged at the reference section, this dissertation has never been presented to this university or elsewhere for any degree. SETH NANA K. KODUAH …………………… ……..………….. (STUDENT) Signature Date DR. BEN-WILLIE GOLO …………….…… ……...………… (SUPERVISOR) Signature Date DR. ERNESTINA NOVIETO ……………… ………………… (SUPERVISOR) Signature Date i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This dissertation is first and foremost dedicated to Almighty GOD for his protection and guidance throughout the work. Also, I dedicate this work to my wife, Rosemond Koduah for her immense effort, motivation and encouragement which saw me through this piece of work and to my daughter, Piesie Nana Yaa Frimpomaa Koduah. I also dedicate this work to my brothers and co-workers in Christ; Bro Isaac Yeboah and Bro Kwame Owusu Gyimah who supported me throughout the course of this project and my studies. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My greatest and sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty for the strength, wisdom and ability bestowed on me to go through this exercise peacefully and successfully. I wish to acknowledge the help of my supervisors, Dr. Ben-Willie Golo and Dr. Ernestina Novieto for their patience, candid suggestions and corrections through the whole process of this work. May God richly bless them all. Much gratitude also goes to my wife Rosemond Koduah for her support, Bro Edward Kwei Williams, Very Rev. Henry Apau Asiedu, the Superintendent Minister Taifa Circuit, Very Rev. Dr. Kwesi Arthur Mensah, the Superintendent Minister New- Achimota, Very Rev Eric Asante Danquah,the Superintendent Minister Abeka Circuit and Very Rev. Andrew Mbea-Baiden, Superintendent Minister, Kaneshie North Circuit for their support and contributions into this research. I am grateful to all Circuit Youth Organizers in the Methodist Church Accra Diocese, especially, Bro Adomako Bempah Dweteh of New Achimota Circuit, Bro Bampoh Aye of Taifa Circuit, Bro Jonathan Acquah of Kaneshie North Circuit, Bro Francis Bonney of Abeka Circuit, Sis Deborah Cobblah, Accra Diocesan Girls Fellowship Secretary and Bro Enoch Mintah for their contributions and support. I am also grateful to the Head of Department and all the Lecturers of Study of Religions, and the entire staff of the department and colleagues (MPhil, Year group 2018) for their encouragement. Finally, to the authors and publishers whose journals, articles and books I have used as references in this work, I cherish your ideas and wisdom. God bless you all. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT The phenomenon of young people drift from churches is a complex problem since it involves multiple dimensions that are sometimes difficult to unravel. This study explored the experiences of the laity and clergy of the Methodist Church on youth drift within the Church. The target population were ministers, young people and youth who have drifted from the Methodist Church, Accra Diocese to either Pentecostal or Charismatic Churches. A mixed research design was adopted and a purposive sampling technique used to select the desired sample. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 10 participants. Survey was used to collect data from 80 young people affiliated with the Methodist Youth Fellowship. The study found that young people are leaving the Methodist Church, Accra Diocese due to poor leadership, liturgical challenges, peer influence, unmet spiritual and social needs and liberal form of parenting. The implications of the youth drift on the Methodist Church include financial constraint, leadership challenges and decline in membership of the Church. The study established that most of the participants were not aware of the structures and policies of the church to curb the youth drift. Nevertheless, the response of the church towards the drift include spiritual renewal programmes, scholarships, Youth Support Fund and Campus Ministry of the Methodist Church. There are considerable number of young people who drift from the Methodist Church to either Pentecostal or Charismatic Churches. Most of the young people who drift to other churches feel that their needs are unmet. For the Methodist Church to remain relevant in contemporary society there is the need for the church to be adaptable to change. Programmes and policies that will whip up the interest of the young people in the church should be introduced to sustain their interest in the church. iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Table of Contents DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... iii ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. iv CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 6 1.5 The Scope of the study ..................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Conceptual Framework .................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 11 1.7.1 Sample and Sampling Procedure ............................................................................ 11 1.7.2 Sources of the Study ............................................................................................... 13 1.8 Literature Review........................................................................................................... 15 1.8.1 Christianity in Ghana .............................................................................................. 16 1.8.2 Methodism in Ghana ............................................................................................... 18 1.8.3 Youth Ministry in the Methodist Church ................................................................ 20 1.8.4 Pentecostalism and its Influence on the Youth ....................................................... 22 1.8.5 Switching within Churches in Ghana ..................................................................... 24 1.9 Justification of Study ..................................................................................................... 26 1.10 Organization of Chapters ............................................................................................. 27 1.11 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................. 28 1.12 Definition of terms ....................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................................................................... 29 Religious socialization and Youth Drift .................................................................................. 29 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 29 2.1 Socialization ................................................................................................................... 29 2.2 Religious Socialization .................................................................................................. 33 2.2.1 Primary Religious Socialization ............................................................................. 36 2.2.2 Secondary Religious Socialization ......................................................................... 38 2.3 Youth Socialization in Ghanaian Christianity ............................................................... 44 2.4 Conclusion