From Synod To General Assembly-The Constitutional Journey of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana by A.A Beeko, Former Moderator of Synod PCG 1995-1999
In December 1917 the, the noble army of Bessel Missionaries was deported because of World War 1. Britain, the colonial power, was at war with Germany. Some of the missionaries were Germans, so it was felt unwise to have citizens of an enemy country in her territory. With the exit of the last Basel missionaries, a vacuum was created. Missionaries of the united free church of Scotland were formally invited by the colonial government to take the place of the Basel missionaries. The new set of missionaries led by the Rev. and Mrs. Willkie arrived in January, 1918.They were followed by Rev. J. Rankin, Mrs. Moffat, Miss G. M. Wallace and Miss I. P. Ross.
The Rev Dr. Arthur Willkie gave himself the task of organizing the church as a self-governing Presbyterian church. On 14th August, 1918, the synod of the whole church met at Akropong Akuapem. This comprised the new missionaries, twenty eight African ministers, and twenty four presbyters. The synod was constituted as the supreme court of the church. The Rev. Dr. Willkie made it clear that the Scottish mission was to continue the work of the Basel Mission without a change of method except as synod desired.
Decision
The first synod appointed an executive committee composed of eight African ministers and three missionaries.
The Rev. Peter Hall was appointed moderator, and the Rev. Nicolas T. Clerk, synod clerk.
There were eleven districts which were to be retained but some felt that changes were to be made in the near future. Synod took the decision to adhere to the existing form of church worship, as well as the establishment rules concerning church membership and discipline.
Funds were established for church. These were
- The central fund (church levy, anniversary collection and thank offering). This was to be used in the payment of all salaries and for the used in payment of all salaries and for the support of the senior schools and the seminaries.
- The congregation funds (Sunday and harvest offerings) to be used for local purposes.
- The synod fund (levied on each congregation according to its size) to be for local purposes. This, as its name implies, was to cove synod expenses.
Africans thus has full part of play in the administration of the church. Between 1918 and 1950, synods met every two years, thereafter, annually.
Presbyteries
At the time when the church attained independence in 1918, there were eleven pastoral districts in the whole country. Working with delight enthusiasm coupled with the strength and spirit of our living Lord, the noble band of missionaries and their Ghanaian fellow workers were able to plant more churches. As members multiplied, it was found expedient to organize the church into presbyteries. The decision was taken on 21st July 1922,at synod at Kyebi. The first presbyteries were:
- Ga and Adangme
- Akuapim and Anum
- Agona and Kotoku
- Akyem and Okwawu
- Asante and Asante Akyem
The constitution drafted by Dr. Willkie worked adequately for thirty years. With the passage of time and the development of the church, the constitution proved inadequate.
Departmental Committees
The administrative burden on the synod committee become excessive .Committee whose competence was carefully defined Synod minutes of 1950 shows that standing committees existed but had no executive power and could only remit suggestions to synod committees. With the establishment of Departmental Committees, the committees listed become Departments and could report directly to synod. These were:
- Finance
- Education
- Youth
- Literature
- Church Extension
- Women’s Word
Matters concerning land, property and worship were dealt with by the synod committee. An important fact was that the synod committee retained its position as the supreme executive of the church between synods.