Caring for Akan marriages: a critique of the approach to the pastoral care of marriages by selected Christian organisations in Ghana

Quashie, John Abedu (2002). Caring for Akan marriages: a critique of the approach to the pastoral care of marriages by selected Christian organisations in Ghana. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This study investigates the problem of inadequate pastoral care of marriages among the Akan and the inappropriate theology of marriage underlying such pastoral care. It evaluates the theology and the pastoral care of marriages by three organisations in Ghana: the FLGID, FEM and CCFR, in an attempt to investigate whether they take into account the contemporary Akan context that is characterised by tension between tradition and change.

It is concluded that even though these organisations take into account certain aspects of the context, they fail to take into account certain other aspects that are very important. Even when aspects of the context are appreciated, there is often the failure to appropriate such appreciation into pastoral practice due to lack of adequate models of care and counselling. Furthermore, as a result of the use of a translational model of contextualisation, the organisations operate with a theology of marriage that has been transferred from the West without critically examining it to see whether it is applicable to the Akan context.

As a result of the evaluation, re-villaging and family therapy are proposed as appropriate models for care and counselling and the implications of such proposals with respect to the care of marriages among the Akan and the training of carers are discussed.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):