Charisma and community in a Ghanaian Independent Church
In 1919, J.W. Appiah, a Methodist catechist in the Gold Coast, sought the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and began to prophesy and pray for the sick. He and his followers were expelled from the Church, and formed both a new community and a denomination known as the Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC). It has often been argued that African Independent Churches result as a reaction to Western domination of land or people, but it is shown that this was not the primary issue with the MDCC. The initial quest was for spiritual empowerment, which resulted in prophetic revelation and the formation of a church with distinctively African characteristics. Following Appiah's death, his son (Akaboha II) became the head of the growing church, which was affected by two contemporary developments. The first was the nationalist movement led by Nkrumah, which stimulated the MDCC to a mission of the spiritual liberation of Christianity from remaining Western elements. This was achieved through the innovation of rituals and practices based upon traditional African forms. The second was revivalist teaching brought to Ghana by Pentecostal evangelists, which the MDCC adopted as ~instantaneous healing~. Although the church continued
Burnett, David George
Musama Disco Christo Church; MDCC; Charismatic
Charisma and community in a Ghanaian Independent Church. In 1919, J.W. Appiah, a Methodist catechist in the Gold Coast, sought the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and began to prophesy and pray for the sick. He and his followers were expelled from the Church, and formed both a new community and a denomination known as the Musama Disco Christo Church (MDCC). It has often been argued that African Independent Churches result as a reaction to Western domination of land or people, but it is shown that this was not the primary issue with the MDCC. The initial quest was for spiritual empowerment, which resulted in prophetic revelation and the formation of a church with distinctively African characteristics. Following Appiah's death, his son (Akaboha II) became the head of the growing church, which was affected by two contemporary developments. The first was the nationalist movement led by Nkrumah, which stimulated the MDCC to a mission of the spiritual liberation of Christianity from remaining Western elements. This was achieved through the innovation of rituals and practices based upon traditional African forms. The second was revivalist teaching brought to Ghana by Pentecostal evangelists, which the MDCC adopted as ~instantaneous healing~. Although the church continued
community independent church methodist gold_coast seek anoint holy_spirit begin pray sick follower expel church form new community denomination know church often argue african independent churches reaction western domination land people show primary issue initial quest spiritual empowerment result prophetic revelation formation church distinctively african characteristic following death son become head grow church affect contemporary development first nationalist_movement lead stimulate mission spiritual liberation christianity remain western element achieve innovation ritual_practice base_upon traditional african form second revivalist teach bring ghana pentecostal evangelist adopt healing although church continue