Chieftaincy and the Church: A theological reflection on misconceptions, distance and engagement

Résumé

This article investigates the historically tense relationship between the Akan Chieftaincy and the Church in Ghana, specifically focusing on the Theology of Distance propagated by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). Rooted in missionary perspectives and codified in the 1926 Regulations, Practice and Procedure (RPP), this distance was built upon the derogatory classification of indigenous knowledge systems as heathen. Utilizing a qualitative research design within the framework of Public Theology and hermeneutical analysis, the study deconstructs core misconceptions surrounding the Black Stool, the office of the Chief, and the nature of ancestral veneration. The research argues that early Western missionary interpretations suffered from a monotheistic bias that failed to distinguish between religious worship (latria) and cultural veneration (dulia). By re-evaluating the Black Stool as a political symbol and historical “book” rather than a deity, and the Chief’s Oath as a living constitution for governance rather than a religious conversion, the study exposes the artificial dualism that has long forced Christian royals into a state of Nicodemus Christianity. Drawing on the concept of the Kingship of Christ and the Missio Dei, the article proposes a Theology of Engagement. This framework moves beyond reactionary withdrawal toward a transformation of culture, where the palace is viewed as a legitimate space for Christian witness and community development. The study concludes that a healthy synthesis of the Palanquin and the Pulpit is essential for national social cohesion, allowing the Church to maintain its theological integrity while honoring the indigenous heritage that provides the bedrock of Ghanaian cultural identity.

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