COP Ministers Handbook Corrected-1

THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
MINISTERIAL HANDBOOK
Ministerial Handbook
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2008 by The Church of Pentecost
Reprinted December 2018
ISBN: 9988-578-53-9
Printed in Ghana by
Pentecost Press Limited
P. O. Box DC 803,
Dansoman-Accra
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface 5
1.0 The Covenant 9
2.0 Tenets 12
3.0 Core Practices 15
4.0 Full Time Ministry 20
5.0 Code of Conduct 30
6.0 Ministerial Ethics 35
7.0 Other Ministerial Dos and Don’ts 37
8.0 Reviewed Ministerial Welfare Practices 39
9.0 Operational Guidelines for Ministers’ Transfers and

Retirements 49
10.0 Resignation/Termination of Appointment 60
11.0 Hand-over Notes 61
12.0 Pension Scheme 62
13.0 Other Regulations concerning Ministers 72
14.0 Discipline 79
15.0 Channels of Communication 85
16.0 Management of Prophecy 89
17.0 Medical Treatment 91
18.0 Assisted Reproductive Services (ARS) 96
19.0 Funeral Arrangements for Ministers and their Spouses 99
MINISTERIAL HANDBOOK 3
20.0 Calling of Officers 102
21.0 Procedure for Appointing and Reviewing of Officers 109
22.0 Some Operational Guidelines for Areas, Districts,
Local Assemblies and Ministries 111
23.0 Church Service 119
24.0 Chairing a Meeting 124
25.0 How to Settle Cases 126
26.0 Church Practices 129
27.0 Marriage 132
28.0 Church Finance 135
29.0 Financial Guidelines for Ministers 142
30.0 Crowded Programmemes 150
31.0 Guidelines for Regional Coordinating Committees 152
32.0 Prayer Centres 155
33.0 Church Projects 162
34.0 Some Important Church Events 176
Appendices 180
4 MINISTERIAL HANDBOOK
PREFACE
The Church of Pentecost traces its origin to the ministry began by Rev.
James McKeown in 1937 and which culminated in the establishment
of the Gold Coast Apostolic Church in 1953.
When the Gold Coast attained independence and the name Ghana
replaced the Gold Coast, the Church became known as Ghana Ap-
ostolic Church. On the first day of August 1962, the Ghana Apostolic
Church adopted the name The Church of Pentecost as its new name;
and thereafter registered its Board of Trustees under the new name
on June 14, 1971 under Certificate No. XO 158 as a religious, non-
profit-making organisation.
The primary aims and objectives of The Church of Pentecost, hereafter
referred to as “The Church” are to practise and propagate what our
Lord Jesus Christ commanded in Mark 16:15-16, “He said to them,
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoev-
er believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned”, in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age” and inMatthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you
the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of
mine, you did for me”. What is contained in this handbook are guide-
lines which shall guide Ministers of the Church towards carrying out
the Lord’s commission.
Vision Statement
To become a global Pentecostal church that is culturally relevant in
vibrant evangelism, church planting, discipleship and holistic ministry.
Mission Statement
We exist to establish responsible and self-sustaining churches filled
with committed, Spirit-filled Christians of character, who will impact
their communities.
DEFINITIONS
“Church” means The Church of Pentecost.
“The General Council” means the highest policy-making body of the
Church.
“The Executive Council” means the highest governing body elected
by the General Council.
“Chairman” means the Chief Executive of the Church, appointed by
the General Council of the Church and, in his absence, the Minister
appointed to act for him.
“General Secretary” means the Minister appointed by the General
Council of the Church to be responsible to the Chairman for Head
Office administration and, in his absence, the Minister appointed to
act for him.
“International Missions Director” (IMD) means the Minister
appointed by the General Council to be responsible to the Chairman
for the administration of the Church in the international missions and,
in his absence, the Minister appointed to act for him.
“Director” means a Minister and any lay person appointed as the
Head of administration of a Ministry or satellite organisation of the
Church.
“Region” means the political seat of a Region and a geographically
determined Area as defined by the Church.
“Regional/Area Head” means a Minister appointed by the Chairman
in consultation with the Executive Council to head a Region/Area.
“Area” means a number of Districts located within geographically
determined boundaries as defined by the Church.
“District” means a cluster of local Churches located in a geographically
determined Area defined by the Church.
A Full-Time Minister of the Church refers to the Minister who does not
have any other occupation apart from the work of the ministry.
A Tent Minister of the Church refers to the Minister of the Church who
is a professional and works full-time in his profession with his skills
and education. In other words, he is bi-vocational as the apostle Paul
was by making tents while living and preaching in Corinth (Acts 18:3).
1.0 THE COVENANT
The Church of Pentecost has a divine destiny. It is marked
out distinctively by her unique covenant and relationship with
God.
1.1 God’s Part
God’s first Covenant with The Church of Pentecost dates back
as far as 1931. This was confirmed in 1940 at the Easter
Convention in Winneba and was reconfirmed at the 1948
General Convention at Koforidua.
“It is not because of how few or many you are in membership
but according to my divine and eternal purpose and goodwill
for my Church.”
1.1.1 That God would raise a nation out of Africa that would be a
spearhead and light to the world, heralding the Second Com-
ing of Jesus our Lord.
1.1.2 That the Gold Coast has been chosen to fulfill this eternal will
and purpose of God.
1.1.3 That God would accomplish this through a white missionary in
future, and the group would, through many trials, tribulations,
temptations and persecutions be nurtured, protected and
grow up spiritually and numerically, and become a great
international Pentecostal Church, which would send out
missionaries from the country, the Gold Coast, to all parts of
Africa and the world as a whole.
1.1.4 He God would call out men according to His own choice from
time to time.
1.1.5 That God would ensure that “No weapon that is formed
against the Church will prosper, and every tongue that rises
against it in judgment shall be condemned. For this is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness
is of Him,” saith the Lord.
1.1.6 That God would meet the Church’s financial needs in season
and out of season for all other Churches to acknowledge that
His divine presence, blessings and glory are with the Church.
1.1.7 That He would pour abundant spiritual gifts on both men and
women.
1.1.8 That God would from time to time prune and purge His Church
of all parasites, pests, personality cults, false doctrines, social
and religious evil in order to make her holy and radiant. This
will portray His divine presence, radiance and glory in her
spiritual and physical performances, so as to avoid spiritual
decline and apostasy.
1.2 The Church’s Part

1.2.1 That the Church would know and understand His ways and
obey His voice and commandments, so that the Church would
keep herself holy, blameless and pure.
1.2.2 That the Church would make disciples for the soon-coming
Christ.
1.2.3 That the Church is not to love and learn the things of the world
nor its ways, for His ways are different from the ways of the
world. Therefore, she should not imitate worldliness or any
form of religious sects, organisations or “Churches” for He
has chosen the Church to be holy, righteous, faithful, humble
and obedient. She should be a different model and a peculiar
people, to show forth His divine virtues to angels.
1.2.4 That the Church should not be covetous, money-minded,
selfish, proud, arrogant and stubborn in her ways.
1.2.5 That in order to have a pure, disciplined, holy Church (which
can stand the test of time), holiness should become her
watchword throughout her entire life.
1.2.6 That the Church should not owe any man, borrow or seek
financial aid, loans or grants from anywhere as God is her
eternal riches, treasury and that He is able to sustain the
Church in all her needs.
1.2.7 That the gifts that would be given by God must be controlled
so that Satan would not use them to his advantage.
1.2.8 That the Church should remember not to harbour sins, evil
deeds and evil people among her membership, but rebuke,
discipline and restore backsliders in the spirit of love,
compassion and patience. For if the Church would hearken to
His voice and obey His precepts she would be blessed among
her peers.
2.0 TENETS
2.1 The Bible:
We believe in the divine inspiration and authority of the Holy
Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is infallible in its decla-
ration, final in its authority, all-sufficient in its provisions and
comprehensive in its sufficiency (2 Ti. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).
2.2 The One True God:
We believe in the existence of the One True God, Elohim, Mak-
er of the whole universe; indefinable, but revealed as Triune
Godhead— Father, Son and Holy Spirit-One in nature, essence
and attributes; Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent
(Ge. 1:1; Mt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Co. 13:14).
2.3 The Depraved Nature of Humanity:
We believe that “all have sinned and come short of the glo-
ry of God” (Ge. 3:1-19; Is. 53:6; Ro. 3:23), and are subject
to eternal punishment (Mt. 13:41, 42; Ro. 6:23), and need
repentance (Ac. 2:38; Mt. 4:17; Ac. 20:21) and regeneration
(Jn. 3:3, 5; Tit. 3:5).
2.4 The Saviour:
We believe humanity’s need of a Saviour has been met in the
person of Jesus Christ (Mt. 1:21; Jn 4:42; Ac. 2:36; Eph. 5:23;
Php. 2:6-11), because of His Deity (Is. 9:6; Jn. 1:1; 20:28; Ro.
9:5; Tit. 2:13,14), Virgin Birth (Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:18; Lk. 1:25-27),
Sinless Life (Jn 8:46; Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21), Atoning death
(Ro. 3:25; Heb. 9:22: 1 Jn. 2:2), Resurrection (Mt. 28:5-7; Ac
2:24; Ac. 2:36; 10:39,40; 1 Co. 15:3,4) and Ascension (Ac.
1:9-11; 2:33-36), His Abiding Intercession (Ro. 8:34; Heb.
7:25) and His second coming to judge the living and the dead
(Ac.1:11; 10:42; 1 Th.4:16-18; 2 Ti. 4:1; Rev. 22:12, 20).
2.5 Repentance, Regeneration, Justification and Sanctification
We believe all humanity have to repent and confess their sins
before God (Lk. 15:7; Ac. 2:38; 3:19; 17:30), and believe in
the vicarious death of Jesus Christ before they can be justified
before God (Ro. 4:25; 5:1). We believe in the sanctification of
the believer through the working of the Holy Spirit (1 Co. 1:30;
6:11) and God’s gift of eternal life to the believer (Jn. 17:2, 3;
10:27, 28; Ro. 6:23b; 1 Jn. 5:11-13).
2.6 The Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or
Communion
We believe in the ordinance of Baptism by immersion as a
testimony of a convert who has attained a responsible age of
13 years. (Mt. 3:16; Mt. 28:19; Mk. 1:9, 10; 16:16; Ac. 2:38).
Infants and children are not baptized, but are dedicated to
the Lord (Mk. 10:13-16; Lk. 2:22-24, 34). We believe in the
ordinance of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, which
should be partaken by all members who are in full fellowship
(Lk. 22:19, 20; Ac. 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-33).
2.7 Baptism, Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit:
We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit for all believers
with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues (Joel 2:28,29;
Ac. 2:3,4,38,39; 10:44-46; 19:1-6); and in the operation of
the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor. 12;11-18; 28:30;
Rom.12:6-8; Gal. 5:22,23).
2.8 Divine Healing:
We believe that the healing of sickness and disease is provid-
ed for God’s people in the atonement. The Church is, however,
not opposed to soliciting the help of qualified medical practi-
tioners (2 Ki. 20:7; Mt. 9:12; Lk. 10:34; Col. 4:14).
2.9 Tithes and Offerings:
We believe in tithing and in the giving of free-will offerings
towards the cause of carrying forward the Kingdom of God.
We believe that God blesses a cheerful giver (Ge. 14:18-20;
28:20-22; Ml. 3:6-10; Mt. 23:23; Ac. 20:35; 1 Co. 16:1-3;
2 Co. 9:1-9).
2.10 The Second Coming and The Next Life:
We believe in the Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection
of the dead, both the saved and the unsaved – they that are
saved, to the resurrection of life; and the unsaved, to the
resurrection of damnation (Mk. 13: 26; Da. 12:2; Jn. 5: 28-
29; Ac. 1:11; 10:42; Ro. 2:7-11; 6:23).
2.11 Marriage and Family Life:
We believe in the institution of marriage as a union
established and ordained by God for the lifelong, intimate
relationship between a man as husband and a woman as
wife, as biologically defined. We believe that God instituted
marriage primarily for companionship, and for procreation
and the Godly nurture of children, to enable them find the
security of love and growth in the heritage of faith. (Ge.2:18;
21-25; Mt.19:4-6; 1 Cor.7:1,2)
3.0 CORE PRACTICES
3.1 Evangelism
It is the presentation of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy
Spirit with the view that people will trust Jesus as Saviour and
Lord and serve him in the fellowship of the Church. Evangelism
is the responsibility of every Church member and Minister. It
is the prime duty of every believer to share his/her faith after
conversion.
Through cross-cultural, mission-oriented evangelism, Church
members who travel to other countries preach Christ, plant
Churches and call for Ministers to pastor same. Besides, as
was the practice of the founder, Pastor James McKeown, we
respond to calls to missions as led by the Holy Spirit.
3.2 Discipleship
Discipleship is teaching and training believers to be like Christ
in character and to make responsible choices. The emphasis
is on holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, honesty, sincerity,
humility, prayerfulness and the leading of disciplined and
responsible lives.
This is done at the level of individuals, where mature members
take up the responsibility to disciple new converts. The
Church plays a leading role by providing systematic teaching
and practical training.
Such teaching emphasises the four-square gospel, which is
Christ-centred: i.e. Jesus the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser and
Soon-Coming King; the Tenets of the Church; Bible reading/
study and scripture memorisation and application of the word
to life situations.
3.3 Ministry Excellence
We seek to honour God who gave His best (Christ Jesus as the
Saviour) by maintaining a high standard of excellence in all
our ministries and activities (Col. 3:23-24).
3.4 Prayer
Some of the normal practices are regular prayer for the Holy
Spirit baptism with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
Emphasis is placed on the fruit and gifts of the Spirit in the life
of the believer.
Prayers are said for healing and deliverance of the afflicted as
part of the initial exercises for salvation.
Services are marked as truly Pentecostal with praise and
worship, teaching, exercise of gifts, prayer, testimonies, etc.
3.5 Ministry of The Holy Spirit

We believe in the presence of the person of the Holy Spirit and
that the Christian life can be led only by His enablement. The
new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit, and then the baptism
of the Holy Spirit for power to serve and the gifts of the Spirit
for building the body of Christ.
The Holy Spirit helps the individual to develop a Christ-like
character, manifested through bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
The leading of the Holy Spirit in all spheres of activity in the
Church is paramount. Administrative structures and all other
Church distinctiveness have been largely influenced by the
leading of the Holy Spirit.
3.6 Leadership
Leadership development is based on the apostolic foundation.
Appointments and callings into leadership positions are
based on character, charisma, and the leading of the Holy
Spirit. Leadership development is from the grassroots level
with members maturing to lead sub-groups, Ministries,
Assemblies, Districts and Areas. Team spirit with talent
development shapes team work. Ministry is by both clergy
and laity.
3.7 Church Culture
The following distinctive attributes help identify The Church of
Pentecost:
1. Self-supporting attitude
2. Faithfulness and integrity
3. Distinctiveness in prayer
4. Church discipline without fear or favour irrespective of
position, race or colour of members.
5. Congregational worship is based on spirit and truth
and not necessarily on location or structure.
6. Fellowship and generosity.
7. Respect for authority.
8. Mutual respect and sense of belonging for all members
without discrimination based on colour, gender, tribe,
race or nationality.
9. Sacrificial service to the Church without expecting
pecuniary reward.
10. Neighbourhood Churches: small/medium-sized
community-based Church policy promotes Church
planting.
11. Home cell system of fellowship fosters the creation of
avenues for effective discipleship and promotes both
numerical and spiritual growth.
12. Total abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and other hard
drugs.
13. Monogamous marriage is upheld as well as chastity
before marriage.
14. Homosexuality, lesbianism and other perverse sexual
practices are not permitted in the Church.
15. The Church upholds paternal inheritance.
16. Female visitors who attend Church services without a
head-covering should be accepted as they are, without
being either turned back or offered a “head covering”.
17. Women should fashion their hairstyles in a decent,
modest and appropriate manner to the glory of God.
18. The wearing of seductive or sexually-provocative dresses
should be discouraged in the Church.
19. Women must avoid the practice of cleavage (the partial
exposure of breasts and other sensitive parts of the body)
as that does not glorify the Lord.
20. Church Anniversaries can be celebrated only at the 10th,
25th, 50th, 75th etc, milestones.
3.8 Tithes and Offering
Faithfulness in giving offerings and paying tithes to enhance
the ministry of the Church is emphasised. Periodic teaching
on this subject is regarded as very important.
The Church and members depend solely on God as the source
of financial supply. Borrowing by the Church is not encouraged.
Lending with interest among members is also discouraged.
3.9 Social Activities
The Church believes in communal living with members
supporting one another, and participating in communal work.
The Church may also help the wider community by providing
social needs such as health services, education, as well as
donating to the needy in society.
3.10 Holiness of Members and Officers
The Church upholds holiness of members unto the Lord in all
their endeavours (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 12:14).
3.11 Consistent Bible Teaching (Acts 2:42a).
The Church upholds the teaching of sound biblical doctrine
and does not tolerate the propagation of erroneous doctrine.
3.12 All types of prayer such as thanksgiving; worship (adoration);
supplication; intercession (Eph. 6:18-19; 1 Tim. 2:1-2).
3.13 Church Discipline(2Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 12:7-11)
3.14 Respect for and obedience to authority.
3.15 Submission to corrective measures and policies of the Church.
3.16 Regular fellowship of the saints (Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:25).
3.17 Refer to Guidelines on Discipline and Restoration (see
Appendix C).
4.0 FULL-TIME MINISTRY
According to the teachings of the New Testament, (Eph. 4:
11-13), the Minister is the one through whom the ascended
Lord governs The Church (His body). He is a called worker
by the Executive Council with the ratification of the General
Council.
4.1 Call into the Full-Time Ministry
4.1.1 Procedures for Call into the full-time Ministry
a. Local, District, Area and National Ministerial Committees
are set up for the screening and vetting of prospective
Workers into the ministry.
b. No person is called into the ministry without the prior
recommendation of the Ministerial Committee or the
Executive Council and the ratification of the General
Council, unless in some exceptional cases which may be
determined on a case by case basis.
c. Normally, the person passes through the Local, District,
Area and National level of interviews before being
accepted by the Executive Council and subsequently
approved by the General Council. Names of successful
candidates shall be published in a Chairman’s circular
to all assemblies to ensure that there are no adverse
findings against the candidates who might be accepted
by the Executive Council and subsequently approved by
the General Council.
d. All Ministerial candidates are screened together with their
wives for the purpose of Ministerial suitability. However,
wives of candidates are interviewed at Local, District/
Regional/Area Levels. In some instances, it may be
necessary for some wives of candidates to be interviewed
at the National Level.
e. Persons accepted for ministry are usually not above
forty-two (42) years of age. In special cases, persons
above forty-two (42) years, who have special abilities, are
recommended by the Executive Council and ratified by
f. For a person to be eligible for acceptance into the ministry
of the Church, he must be in a Christ-honouring marital
relationship. In some exceptional cases the Executive
Council may call an unmarried person into the full-time
ministry.
g. In the case of the external branches of the Church, the
Executive Council shall call proven men of God into the
ministry upon the recommendation of or in consultation
with the relevant National Executive Council.
The length of service and end-of-service benefits of
Ghanaian nationals called into the ministry from Mission
stations who may seek for transfer to Ghana would be
reckoned from the date they joined the ministry in Ghana.
This does not include Ministers who would be transferred
to Ghana at the instance of the Executive Council.
4.2 Medical Examination
As a requirement, a prospective Minister and his wife are
expected to pass a medical examination conducted by a
Medical Officer appointed or approved by the Church. Medical
examination expenses shall be borne by the Church.
4.3 Declaration of Personal Details
a. Every Minister shall on first appointment disclose his age
and the date of birth substantiated by a birth certificate,
baptismal certificate or an affidavit sworn to by the
Minister. Once the affidavit is sworn, no change of the
Minister’s age shall be allowed. In case of doubt the
Executive Council shall request the appropriate tests to
be conducted to ascertain the correct age.
b. Every Minister, on first appointment, shall declare his
hometown, wife and the number of children, their names,
and dates of birth, supported with birth certificates,
baptismal certificates or other vital documents related to
the child.
4.4 Nomination of Beneficiary
a. Every Minister shall immediately after his calling into
the ministry be required to complete a nomination form
indicating the beneficiaries to whom the Church should
pay his terminal benefits and other financial entitlements
in the event of his death.
b. If a Minister fails to make a nomination, payment of his
entitlements shall be made to his wife and children, and
in their absence, to his successor evidenced by Letters of
Administration.
4.5 Confidentiality
It is expected of every Minister to confine decisions and counsel
of the General Council to themselves. Breach of confidentiality
is strictly prohibited and shall attract disciplinary action.
4.6 Core Duties
4.6.1 Probationary Overseers and Overseers
a. Care for the flock
b. Teach and preach the gospel
c. Administer the Lord’s Supper
d. Visit members
e. Baptise new converts and disciple them
f. Dedicate children
g. Bury the dead
h. Do all other things incidental to the calling as assigned by
a supervisor.
4.6.2 Pastors and Teachers
a. Perform all the duties of an Overseer
b. Bless marriages
c. Do all other things incidental to the calling as assigned by
a superior authority
4.6.3 Evangelists
a. Perform all the duties of a pastor/Teacher
b. Focus on preaching the gospel to the unsaved
c. Break new grounds for the planting of Churches
d. An Evangelist may serve as a District Minister.
4.6.4 Apostles and Prophets
a. Perform all duties of a Pastor/Teacher and Evangelist
b. Dedicate Church buildings
c. Ordain Ministers and Officers
d. Establish Churches
e. Maintain discipline in the Church
f. Impart spiritual gifts to others
g. An Apostle or Prophet may serve as a District Minister
4.6.5 Tent Ministers
Core duties of tent Ministers of the Church include the
following:
a. Perform all the duties of a Pastor
b. Discharge other duties incidental to the calling as assigned
by a supervisor such as Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist or
Area Head.
4.7
4.7
4.7.1 Probation
Every newly-called Overseer shall undergo a probationary pe-
riod of up to twenty-four (24) months, including the period of
4.7.2 the New Entrants’ Course.
The probation period may be extended for not more than
twelve months after which if the Overseer fails to establish
his competence for the calling, the call shall be revoked, with
stated reasons.
4.8 Ministers’ Appraisal
a. Ministers at the District level shall be appraised by their
immediate National/Regional/Area Heads annually. This
will be based on performance assessment in the ministry
and conduct.
b. The General Secretary shall appraise Head Office
Ministers annually on their duties at the Head Office
while their Area Heads appraise them on their Ministerial
duties.
c. Regional/Area Heads and Directors shall be appraised by
the Chairman annually.
d. National Heads shall be appraised by the International
Missions Director biennially.
e. The Chairman, General Secretary and the International
Missions Director shall be appraised by Area Heads/
Directors who are Apostles or Prophets.
f. The appraised Minister shall be given the opportunity to
discuss and sign his appraisal. Where in disagreement he
shall be given the opportunity to state reasons in writing.
g. The annual appraisal will be made on appraisal forms to
be processed by the Chairman’s Office.
h. If an Area Head who has been transferred to a new Area
is not sure of the conduct and output of his subordinate,
due to the period he has known him, he may confer with
the former Area Head on his appraisal reports.
i. Similarly if a Pastor is transferred to a new station and his
Area Head is not sure of his conduct and output the Area
Head may confer with his former Area Head concerning
his appraisal.
4.9 Duties of Area Heads
a. Shall be responsible to the Chairman of the Church for
the administration of the Church in the Area;
b. Shall chair the meetings of the Area presbytery, the Area
Executive Committee and every Area meeting, convention
or rally he attends in the Area;
c. Shall implement the policies and decisions of the General
Council and the Executive Council in the Area;
d. Shall be responsible for the day-to-day running of the
Church in the Area and the implementation of the
decisions of the Area Presbytery;
e. Shall perform such functions as shall be assigned him by
the Chairman and Executive Council;
f. Shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees in the
Area;
g. Shall report on the Area to the General Council through
the Chairman of the Church;
h. Shall organize retreats, seminars and prayer sessions for
the Area;
i. Shall have the oversight of the Area in terms of planting
and nurturing of churches;
j. Shall be responsible for the spiritual and general well-
being of Ministers in the Area, and
k. Shall lay foundation stone and dedicate church buildings
l. Shall take on any other duties that shall from time to
time be assigned him by the Chairman or his accredited
representative.
4.10 Duties of District Ministers
As the key representative of the General Council in the District,
the Minister is expected to perform the following duties:
a. Preach the gospel
b. Bless marriages (Pastors only)
c. Administer the Lord’s Supper
d. Baptise new converts by immersion
e. Dedicate children
f. Officiate burials
g. Provide administrative leadership in the District.
h. Ensure that no false teachings and practices take place
in the District.
i. Coordinate the spiritual and physical activities in the
District.
j. Plant and nurture new Churches.
k. Organize seminars, rallies, campaigns, conventions,
retreats, crusades and other types of evangelistic
activities in the District.
l. Ensure that all the local assemblies in the District have
suitable places of worship.
m. Serve as the link between the District, the Area and the
Headquarters in all Areas of the ministry such as payment
of tithes and other funds, reports and other forms of
correspondence.
n. Ensure that all the Ministries are functioning optimally in
the District.
o. Ensure that the assemblies are growing in peace and
harmony.
p. Ensure that all directives from the Area and Headquarters
are fully implemented in the District.
q. And any other duties that may, from time to time, be
assigned him by his superior Ministers.
4.11 Pastoral Care
Scripture instructs Leaders (Pastors and officers) to take good
care of the members. The New Testament church is built on
good relationship among members. Our church, today, is
faced with the challenge of poor follow up on new converts
and backsliders. Lukewarm members who are supposed to
be encouraged by leaders are seldom visited. The church has
lost a lot of members and even continues to lose more. It is
therefore, incumbent on all leaders to come to terms with the
issue and help solve this problem once and for all. Against
this background, and in order to improve on our pastoral care,
the following steps are to be followed:
4.11.1 The Mark Of A Good Shepherd - Proverbs 27:23
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful
attention to your herd” (NIV).
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring
for your herd” (NLT).
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to
your herd” (NKJV).
“Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks”
(MSG).
The good shepherd is enjoined to know the state of his/her
flock to be able to meet their needs. Leaders must therefore,
make conscious effort to be close to the members in order to
know their condition and help them.
4.11.2 Steps To Effective Pastoral Care
a) Gathering of personal information: This shall include
Name, Sex, Age, residence, place of work and employment,
phone numbers and email addresses.
i) Annual compilation of church membership list shall be
done from 1st Nov. – 31st Dec.
ii) Final list shall be compiled on 31st December, since there
is normally maximum attendance during watch nights.
b) The list shall be grouped into zones using the place of
residence as the basis.
i) Two or more Home-Cells (up to eight Home-Cells) form the
Zone or small Assembly.
ii) Medium, Large and Mega Churches have many Zones in
big Towns and Cities.
c) Members shall be shared among officers (Elders, Deacons
and Deaconesses)/Mature Spirit-filled members
i) Particulars of the members assigned to an officer shall
be readily available for use and follow up by the Presiding
Elders/District Pastor.
ii) In addition to ordained officers, members may be assigned
to mature Spirit-filled disciples as their mentors.
d) Each officer/mentor shall be responsible for taking care
of the members given to him/her for a year.
i) The officer/mentor shall visit the members put under his/
her care at least once a Month.
ii) Effort shall be made to send text messages, emails, etc to
make contacts.
e) The Presiding elder shall visit/contact the members in his
local at least once in six months.
f) The District pastor shall plan and make sure he visit/
contact every member within a year.
i) Effort shall be made to send text messages, emails, etc to
make contacts.
g) Special follow-up teams.
i) Committed officers and mature spirit-filled members shall
be sent out on Sundays during church service to follow up
lukewarm and backslidden members.
ii) This may be done on monthly basis.
h) Recognition of Birthdays and important celebrations by
the leadership:
i) Text messages, emails, phone calls shall be used to wish
members well on such occasions.
ii) They may be prayed for at church.
5.0 CODE OF CONDUCT
The code of conduct sets out the core values of The Church
of Pentecost, relating to lawful and ethical conduct in the
ministry.
5.1 Misconduct and Unsatisfactory Service
Any act done without reasonable excuse by a Minister which
amounts to failure to perform in a proper manner any duty
assigned to him or which contravenes any regulations or
policy relating to the Church or which is otherwise prejudicial
to the efficient conduct of the Church or tends to bring the
Church into disrepute shall constitute misconduct.
It is misconduct for a Minister to:
a. be absent from his duty station without leave or permission
from a superior authority;
b. show insubordination or disrespect to superior authority;
c. use, without the consent of the prescribed authority,
any property or facilities provided for the purposes of
the Church for a purpose not connected with his official
duties;
d. engage in any activity outside his official duties which
is likely to lead to his taking improper advantage of his
position in the Church;
e. fail to submit reports/information as required by
regulation or as a routine duty.
5.2 Loyalty
All Ministers shall be required to show loyalty to the Church.
They shall discharge diligently all duties and tasks assigned to
them with the aim of achieving the objectives of the Church.
Ministers must refrain from making pronouncements and
statements which affect the Church in a negative manner and
portray the image of the Church in a bad light.
5.3 Conduct
It is expected that all Ministers would conduct themselves at
all times with decorum and exhibit Christian character and
conduct. All Ministers must be conscious of the fact that they
are first and foremost Christians and must therefore conduct
themselves as such.
5.4 Integrity
It is essential that total honesty prevail in handling Church
funds and properties and in respect of dealing with members
and the general public. Dishonesty and unchristian conduct
shall not be tolerated.
5.5 Work Attitude
a. Ministers are required to maintain a positive attitude
towards their work. Commitment, co-operation, sacrifice
and diligence in furthering the Church’s interests are
qualities for which Ministers should strive.
b. Ministers should demonstrate resourcefulness and
initiative to achieve set targets and improve existing work
procedures to facilitate smooth operations.
5.6 Press/Police Statements
Ministers are prohibited from making statements to the press
or Police on behalf of the Church without prior approval from
the Chairman or his delegated authority.
5.7 Political Outlook
While Ministers are free, in terms of Ghana’s Constitution,
to take part in the election of people to political offices, they
should recognise the necessity of refraining from public
discussions on politics where personal opinions expressed
might be construed to be those of the Church.
5.8 Pastors and Politicians/Politics
When a Minister is invited to a political rally to pray, he may
do so, but he must ensure that he remains completely non-
partisan. The prayers that are offered, should be well thought
through and written down, so that it will not seem as though
he is praying for a particular party to win. Usually, such prayer
may include:
a. Acknowledgement of God’s grace and goodness to the
nation.
b. Thank God for appointing men and women who are
prepared to serve God and their Nation.
c. Prayer for peace and justice in the country.
d. That there would be free, fair and peaceful election.
e. Prayer for the will of God to be done in the nation.
f. When he is called to preach, the message should be
written down and copies sent to the Chairman’s office for
his input or editing before the message is preached. The
reason for this is that any message preached on a political
platform has a consequence on the entire Church and
may be construed as the position of the Church. As such,
there is the need for the Chairman or his representative’s
to give their input. The rationale is to have another person
look through what the preacher intend to preach and
make suggestions where possible.
g. All Pastors must endeavour not to say anything negative
against any political party.
h. At special Church programmes, such as rallies,
conventions, retreats and joint services acknowledge
the presence of members of The Church of Pentecost
who may be standing for presidential or parliamentary
elections. Members who are politicians and may be vying
for various political positions should not be permitted to
do partisan politics during Church service. However, as
members they are at liberty to sing, give testimony, thank
God and preach from the Church’s platform. Prayer must
also be said for them.
5.9 Conflict of Interest
Conflict of interest is a situation where a Minister’s outside
activities could negatively affect the Church’s or the
Minister’s performance. Ministers should themselves avoid
and encourage their families to also avoid engaging in any
activity of financial interest that would create a conflict with
the performance of their (Ministers’) duties. They should not
knowingly use the Church’s property, funds, position or power
for personal or political gain. They are not therefore to engage
in any business activity that competes or conflicts with the
Church’s interest.
5.10 Misuse of Position
A Minister must not use the Church’s name or facilities
for personal advantages in political, investment or retail
purchasing transactions or in similar type of activities. The
use of their position to obtain preferential treatment is strictly
prohibited.
5.11 Dishonesty in performance of Duties
a. Falsifying reports or records, whether written or oral, with
the intent of covering up true and accurate facts.
b. Willful failure to report and account, in accordance
with instructions, for all monies, materials and physical
equipment.
c. Fraudulently obtaining money, material or property from
the office, storehouse or other assigned place.
5.12 Public Relations
a. Courtesy, civility and attention at all times are expected
from all Ministers in dealing with Church members and
the general public.
b. As far as possible, Ministers should use plain language
and avoid ambiguity, obscurity and unnecessary use of
technical jargons.
c. Utmost courtesy must be observed at all times when
speaking on the telephone and the same attention should
be given at an interview.
5.13 Intellectual Property
All Ministers must be aware that the Church retains legal
ownership of the product of their work. No work product
created while in the service of the Church can be claimed,
construed or presented as property of the individual, even
after termination of service. This includes written and
electronic documents, audio and video recordings, system
code, and also any concept, ideas, or other intellectual
property developed for the Church, regardless of whether the
intellectual property is actually used by the Church. Although
it is acceptable for a Minister to display and/or discuss a
portion or the whole of certain work products as an example
in certain situations (e.g. on a resume), one must bear in mind
that information classified as confidential must remain so
even after the end of employment, and that supplying certain
other entities with certain types of information may constitute
a breach of confidentiality.
6.0 MINISTERIAL ETHICS
1. Dress well as a Minister.
2. Let your speech be seasoned at all times.
3. Avoid too much talking and complaints.
4. Desist from making derogatory statements about your
fellow Ministers, superiors or the Church in general.
5. You may lay hands on either the head or shoulders of the
opposite sex when praying for them.
6. Avoid laying hands on sensitive parts of the body.
7. Avoid visiting the opposite sex alone.
8. Do not allow the opposite sex (other than your wife or
close relative) to sit in the front seat of your car when you
are driving alone.
9. Do not counsel the opposite sex alone in an enclosure or
at odd times.
10. Be time-conscious.
11. Establish good relationships with fellow Ministers.
12. Avoid making unguarded and unsubstantiated statements
during Church services, especially during ceremonial
functions.
13. Do not keep Church money. Appoint competent
treasurers/financial secretaries/accounts clerks and as
much as possible run cash-less office operations.
14. All Church funds or offerings must be sent to the bank
promptly.
15. Do not take loans for foreign trips.
16. Never manipulate the Church system to your personal
advantage.
17. Avoid ‘mechanical anointing.’
18. Be faithful in all financial matters (i.e. imprest for transport
and travel, payment of bills, tithes and offerings).
19. Avoid witch-hunting. Do not be overtaken by claims of
self-confessed witches and the demon-possessed
20. Baptise converts in the company of Church leaders,
including deaconesses.
21. Avoid prescribing medication for the sick.
22. Do not allow herbalists to advertise their concoctions and
preparations in your Church.
23. Avoid buying on credit as much as possible, especially
from Church members.
24. Be conscious of authority levels when embarking on
major projects.
25. Ensure the confidentiality of official stamps.
26. Ensure that all your Assemblies are properly housed.
27. Ensure discipline/holiness in the Church.
28. Aim at upgrading yourself academically and spiritually.
29. Take Church administration seriously.
30. Build a close relationship with the presbytery, Church
members and the wider community.
31. Visit your assemblies frequently.
32. Take special interest in new converts.
33. Spend quality time with your family.
34. Accept transfers as part of God’s plans for your life.
7.0 OTHER MINISTERIAL DOS AND DON’TS
1. Use seat belts when driving a car, and crash helmets
when riding a motor cycle.
2. Control expenditure in the Church and the Mission house.
3. Avoid closing your eyes as much as possible when praying
for the sick. A lunatic or demon-possessed person may
harm you or any of the members present.
4. Take good care of Church property (Keep a proper and
up-to-date inventory).
5. Avoid shoddy jobs. Seek technical advice on all Church
projects.
6. Do not allow unknown persons to mount your platform or
preach in your Church (2 Jn. 7-11).
7. Avoid starting school or medical projects without a
feasibility plan for their viability and sustenance.
8. Collaboration with NGOs or assistance from any such
group should be agreed upon with PENTSOS Directorate
first for direction and guidance.
9. Respect laid down labour laws when engaging workers for
the Church. Where in doubt consult the Human Resource
Director.
10. No new prayer centre may be opened and operated
without the permission of the Executive Council.
11. Tributes at funeral services should not be written and
read as if directed at the dead. Tributes should, therefore,
be written and read in the third person, such as he/she,
mother/father was.., etc. for example, “Mother was a very
loving and caring mother”
12. Do not sign indentures covering landed properties of
the Church. Such documents should only be signed by
Church Trustees. Do not dispose of landed properties of
the Church without permission from the Trustees.
8.0 REVIEWED MINISTERIAL WELFARE PRACTICES
8.1 Background
Scripture directs that those who proclaim the gospel should
get their living by the gospel (for e.g. 1 Cor. 9:3-18, Lk. 10:1-7,
Gal. 6:6). Against this background, The Church of Pentecost
has decided to pool its resources into one central fund and
pay salaries and allowances out of this central fund. Salaries,
accommodation, transportation and utility bills are all paid by
the church. Besides, the church motivates church members
to take care of their Ministers. Sometime ago, visitors support
was singled out and paid to Ministers. However, when the
salary and allowances were consolidated into one inclusive
salary, it appears some Ministers have lost sight of the fact
that visitors support is part of their consolidated salary. Thus,
church officers have to give additional support to Ministers for
visitors and mission house upkeep through this means. This
appears to have become a ‘second salary’ for some Ministers.
Of late, it has been observed that in many Areas, leaders of
the church have approved the giving of some special monthly
support towards the upkeep of the Area mission houses which
is taken from the Area Development Fund and other internally
generated Area funds. In addition, Districts are made to give
monthly financial contributions to support the Area mission
house. This is paid when the Districts are submitting their
tithes returns. In some cases, the money is collected at the
Area office and added to the Area Head’s salary and fuel
allowance and paid directly into the Area Head’s accounts. In
many cases, the total amount of allowances appears far more
than the salaries of the Ministers concerned.
Probably for the sake of courtesy, and since these allowances
pass through the staff at the Area offices, the gesture has
been extended to cover Headquarters staff working in the
Area offices and also Area Deacons and Area Secretaries.
Similar arrangements are being practiced at the District level.
Obviously, the spirit behind such giving is based upon the
biblical principle that, “...those who preach the gospel should
receive their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). Thus, the
spirit behind the giving of these gifts may not be wrong.
Nevertheless, sometimes, the mode, quantum and source of
funding of these gifts and allowances appear questionable
and, therefore, if not reviewed, the integrity and sanctity of
the church may be seriously dented in this generation and
the generations to come. As people who have been given
positions of trust, we should be found to be faithful and not
seeking our own interest (1 Cor. 4:1-2). It is expected that the
basic responsibility of the church to Ministers will be salaries
and other contractual allowances. Any other gift is as a result
of the members’ sacrificial scriptural giving, and must be
taken as such.
Accordingly, considering that the church has already put
into place solid systems that take care of the Ministers’
remuneration, other emerging forms of support and welfare
need to be monitored to avoid a situation whereby they lead
to a breach of ministerial ethics. The case of unscriptural
practices of the children of Eli, who adopted their own practices
of apportioning to themselves portions of sacrifices offered,
and attracted the wrath of God and serious consequence for
the entire nation, could be avoided in our time, if we take only
what belongs to us as Ministers who live by the gospel (1 Sam
2: 12-26; 32-36).
Our concern is shown in what Paul states: “do not mean that
others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a
matter of fairness, your abundance at the present time should
supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your
need, that there may be fairness”. We take this course so that
no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being
administered by us” (2 Cor 8:13-14, 20, ESV). We trust that
once we avail ourselves to do the will of God, he will always
supply our needs (Mt 6:19-34).As Paul says in 2 Corinthians
8:21, “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in
the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (NIV).
Being concerned about the current situation, the Executive
Council set up a committee to examine the issues and
also review previous operational guidelines. The report of
the committee was discussed with the Finance Board and
members of the Board of Trustees. Thereafter, the Executive
Council had several meetings, and finally, at the November
2014 Heads’ prayer meeting, the paper was discussed with
all National and Area Heads, wives of Area Heads, together
with Area Deacons and Women Ministry Leaders, Ministry
Directors, Head Office Ministers, Chairmen of Boards of
Committee, Ministers on secondment, Area Heads on
retirement and sub-sector heads
Accordingly, the Executive Council, in consultation with all
participants at the meeting, having prayerfully considered all
the issues raised, hereby directs as follows:
8.2 Programmes and Activities which Attract Travel and
Transport and Donations
1. It has been observed that some ministerial functions and
activities which are not supposed to attract extra travel
and transport or donations currently do. In view of this,
the following are being directed:
a. Ministers are discouraged from taking travel and transport
allowance and/or cash donations when they undertake
their ministerial functions as enshrined in the church’s
constitution and ministerial handbook such as the
preaching of the gospel, blessing of marriages, providing
administrative leadership, planting and nurturing new
churches and ensuring that all the Local assemblies
have suitable places of worship. In addition, foundation
stone laying ceremonies, dedication of church buildings
and mission houses, funeral, retirement, farewell and
welcome services, weddings, child naming, fund raisings
also should not attract travel and transport and donations.
b. Monies given at such programmes must stop because the
monthly fuel allowance given to Ministers are meant for
rounds within the minister’s official station. If a minister
spends more, he should submit receipts and claim the
difference. However, the practice of giving gifts to officers
and Ministers who are invited or sent to minister outside
their duty stations may continue.
2. It has been observed that during Apostolisation (Officers’
Retreats) in some Areas participants are made to pay
registration fees.
a. It is being directed that no registration fees should be
charged.
b. Areas/Districts/Locals should make budgetary allocation
for such activities.
c. Normal offerings could be taken during the meetings to
support the programme.
d. Such activities should not be considered as a means of
generating income. However participants could be asked
to pay for the materials used during the Lay Leaders’
School only.
8.3 Direct and Indirect ‘Thank You’ Envelopes
The church has instituted grants such as Accelerated Infra-
structure Development Fund, Area Development Fund, Com-
munity Based Church Building Project Fund, and other Head-
quarters’ grants which are being administered through the
Areas. In addition, Areas and Districts give grants to support
projects. It has been observed that when such grants are giv-
en to Locals or Districts, sometimes the recipients in turn give
out gifts to the respective officers, which appear like ‘thank
you envelopes’.
It has also been noted that after fund raising, some ‘envelopes’
are given to some Ministers. In view of this, the following are
being directed:
a. There must be no ‘thank you envelope’ to anyone from
any grants given to an Area, District or Local. Such ‘thank
you envelops’ may be considered as kick backs.
b. After fund raising, no amount must be given from the
money raised to Ministers and officers. This will defeat
the objective of the fundraising.
c. An offering given by a minister during fundraising must not
be ‘refunded’ to him indirectly by giving him an envelope.
d. It is expected that high levels of ministerial integrity will be
maintained in all situations.
8.4 Support and Gifts given from Church Funds to Ministers

during Weddings, Engagements and Bereavement
It has been observed that in some cases, the funding of en-
gagements, wedding of Ministers’ children or relatives and
funeral celebrations of Ministers’ relatives are done by the
church. Also, in some cases some Districts pay donations
on behalf of their Ministers during funeral or wedding. It is
thought that these put an undue burden on the church. In
view of this, the following are being directed:
a. Ministers and their children should be encouraged to plan
and fund their own engagement and weddings without
recourse to the church’s funds. In the case of weddings
of Ministers’ children, the gifts and support, if any, must
go to the children directly as is done for other church
members.
b. Funding funerals for relatives shall be the sole
responsibility of Ministers without burdening the church
at all levels. However, donations from central church
funds may be given to Ministers/ wives during the funeral
of their parents, spouses and children.
c. No monies must be taken from church funds and given
as donations on behalf of a minister by a Local, District,
Area, or National Church, on occasions such as funerals
and weddings.
8.5 Various Gifts and Allowances Given to Ministers and
Officers from Church Funds
It has been observed that some Locals, Districts and Areas
give allowances such as monthly support to the Pastor, Local
officers, Area Head, buying of mobile phone credit to Minis-
ters and some officers, weekend allowance, paying of school
fees of some Ministers’ children, monthly Area Mission House
support to the Area Head, and District Institutionalised Area
Mission House support. In view of this, the following are being
directed.
a. While appreciating the commitment and sacrificial
service of our unpaid officers, it is expected that official
expenses of presiding elders and other officers will be
paid. However, flat monthly supports are not to be paid to
presiding elders and other officers.
b. Weekend allowances must not be paid to any minister.
c. Ministers’ children’s school fees must not be the
responsibility of the Area/District/Local.
8.6 Monthly Allowance to Area Heads, other Area Staff, Some
Area Office Holders and District Ministers
It has been observed that monthly allowances from various
levels are given to Ministers and Area staff and some Area
office holders. In addition, it has been a convention that visi-
tation schedules are done on rotational basis to assist Minis-
ters. It has been realised that these supports have become a
burden on some of the Local assemblies, Districts and Areas,
and also become a concern to some people. In view of this,
the following are being directed:
1. The giving of the special monthly allowances from the
ADF and Area funds to Area Heads, Area Deacons, Area
Secretaries and Headquarters staff in the Areas should
be stopped.
2. The actual travel and transport allowance for Headquarters
staff in the Areas must be paid by the Area. This covers
their actual travelling expenses from their home to the
office and back. The reason is that this is part of the
condition of service of the Headquarters staff in the Area.
Headquarters staff in the Areas who receive fuel allowance
from the Headquarters are not part of this arrangement.
3. The church has got a tradition of giving gifts to its
Ministers during Christmas. This is encouraged. However
it must be done judiciously and within the means of the
Local, District or Area concerned.
4. The following directives are being made in addition to
gifts given during Christmas:
a. The Districts (including the Ministries at the District level)
may periodically support their Area Heads. This means
that a District Ministry, such as Women’s Ministry, will
not be singled out to visit the Area Head. The reason is
that the members of the ministries are also members
in the Districts. ‘Periodically’ here means not more than
two times a year. The Districts must not levy the Local
assemblies for this. Such support may come from the
District accounts.
b. The Local assemblies (including all the Ministries at
the Local level) may periodically support their District
Ministers. This means that a Local Ministry such as
Evangelism Ministry will not be singled out to visit the
District Minister. The reason is that members of the
ministries are also members in the Local assemblies.
‘Periodically’ here means not more than two times a year.
Members must not be levied for this. Such support may
come from the Local accounts.
c. Periodic reasonable support can be made to the Minister.
Here ‘Periodic’ means not more than three times in a
year. This applies to all Ministers. At the Area level, the
Area Executive Committee shall be responsible for this. At
the District level, the District Executive Committee shall
be responsible for this. At the Head Office, for Principal
Officers and Ministry Directors, the Finance Board in
the consultation with the Executive Council shall be
responsible for this. Such support may come from Area
funds, District Funds and Head Office coffers respectively.
Being ‘responsible’ here means monitoring and reporting.
d. The Areas (including all the Ministries at the Area level)
may periodically support the Principal Officers, that is;
the Chairman, General Secretary and IMD. Preferably
those in Greater-Accra Region (GAR). This means that
an Area Ministry such as the Women’s Ministry will not
be singled out to visit the Principal Officers. The reason
is that members of the ministries at the Area level are
also members in the Areas. ‘Periodically’ here means not
more than twice a year.
e. Other Areas besides GAR may visit at their own discretion
but not more than once a year. The Areas must not levy
the Districts for this. Such support may come from the
Area Accounts.
f. The Ministries at the Area level may support the Area Head
once a year. Areas must not levy Districts for this. Such
support may reasonably come from the Area Ministries’
Accounts. Ministry leaders at the Area level should not go
beyond their Areas to give gifts to the Principal Officers;
that is Chairman, General Secretary and the International
Missions Director, or other personalities outside their
Area. Individuals can do this on their own.
g. The Ministries at the District level may support the
District Minister once a year. Districts must not levy Local
Assemblies for this. Such support may reasonably come
from the District Ministries’ Account. Ministry leaders at
the District level should not go beyond their Districts to
give gifts to Area Heads or other personalities outside
their District. Individuals can do this on their own.
h. The Ministries at the Area level may periodically support
their Directors. They are not to extend it to the principal
officers at the Headquarters. ‘Periodically’ here means
once a year. The Ministries must not levy Districts for this.
i. The Ministry Directorates may periodically support the
Principal Officers at the Headquarters. ‘Periodically’ here
means once a year. The directorate must not levy Areas
for this.
j. For Area Deacon and Area Secretary occasional support
can be given to them. ‘Occasional’ here means as and
when the need arises and must not be more than twice a
year. Official expenses of Area Deacon and Area Secretary
should be paid for.
k. As a convention, each Minister must be taken care of by
his constituent. For example, PENSA travelling secretaries
may be supported periodically by the Areas they cover.
‘Periodically’ here means not more than two times in a
year.
l. The Head Office shall provide fuel and an all-inclusive
allowance to the PENSA travelling secretaries.
m. Individual giving is encouraged at all levels.
8.7 Other Relevant Issues
a. The practice where all the Areas are given quotas as
arranged by the Executive Council to support retiring
Ministers has been reviewed. Henceforth, voluntary
donations from the Areas can be sent to retiring Ministers.
b. During retirement and farewell services, the Saturday
gathering for the purpose of making presentations is
stopped. Instead gifts must be paid into the minister’s
bank account before the retirement or farewell day.
The Executive Committee and the Women Leader and
assistants shall represent the Area or District concerned
to do the presentation at an appropriate time in
consultation with the officiating minister. This is to avoid
the undue attractions the gathering on Saturdays brings
and its attendant security challenges. The officiating
minister shall report verbally to the appointing authority.
c. As far as welfare issues are concerned there shall be no
levies, targets or quotas.
9.0 OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR TRANSFERS AND
RETIREMENT OF MINISTERS
9.1 Overview
Scripture instructs God’s people to take good care of those
who minister among them (e.g. 1 Tim 5:17-18; Num 18:21;
Deut 25:4). It also directs that such ministers must retire
from regular service when they are old (e.g. Num 8:23-26).
As the Scripture commands that proper care must be taken
of the ministers, so it is also assumed that proper care must
be taken of those who go on retirement. While Scripture
expects that such ministers must be taken care of properly,
so does it also warn that godliness must not be used as a
means to financial gain. Against this background. in order to
make farewell and retirement of ministers more dignified, the
following policies will apply:
9.2 Transfer of Ministers
The Church reserves the right to transfer a Minister to any
Region/Area, District or outside the country in accordance
with the exigencies of the work either permanently or
temporarily. However, a reasonable period of notice shall be
given to the Minister to enable him make necessary domestic
arrangements.
a. The Church shall bear the total cost of transporting the
Minister, his family and personal belongings to the new
station within the country.
b. Where a Minister is transferred outside the country, the
Church shall bear the cost of transporting the Minister,
his spouse and two children below the age of twenty-one
(21), who may go with them.
c. A flat rate for rent and utilities shall be given to the
minister on transfer outside the country throughout the
period he shall serve outside the country.
d. New entrants shall be farewelled at their local assemblies.
One offering shall be raised for the outgoing new entrant
at the local level. Individuals are also encouraged to give
personal donations.
e. If a minister is transferred, adequate preparations shall be
made from the time he is transferred to the time he is to
be sent off. Often this is between the months of May and
August. The district or area concerned shall endeavour
to raise not more than two offerings toward the farewell
service. One Week of the three weeks allocated to the
area/district shall be used to raise funds in addition to
the Appreciation Week.
f. The Appreciation Week shall be organised before the
week of the farewell service and the proceeds paid to the
transferred minister. Besides this, no district, ministry or
local assembly, in the area/ district that is seeing off the
minister is to raise any additional offering by any means
and donate same in their name. Rather, individuals
should be encouraged to make personal donations or
presentations.
Areas, Districts and Local Assemblies outside the
jurisdiction of the transferred minister may make
donations.
g. Ministers who served on various Ministry’s Executive
Committees in the Area, may be given a token from the
Ministry’s Area account.
9.3 Farewell Service for Ministers
By the Church’s tradition, all presbyteries organise and
conduct farewell services in a very modest and simple manner
as follows:
1. Duration of farewell services should not exceed four (4)
hours.
2. Send-off testimonies by two or three representatives, as
the case may be.
3. Citations are not read but presented at a Farewell Service.
This is because the citations usually contain the same
information as those in their written testimonies.
4. Farewell service for new entrants to the full-time ministry
is held at the local level.
5. For District Ministers, it is held at District Level.
6. For Area Heads, it is held at Area Level.
7. Four (4) days would be set aside each year for all
transfers and retirements across the country, which will
be scheduled as follows:
a. One (1) day for the farewell services of all transferred
District Ministers in the year
b. One (1) day for the farewell services of all transferred
Area Heads in the year
c. One (1) day for the retirement services of all retiring
District Ministers in the year
d. One (1) day for the retirement services of all retiring Area
Heads in the year
9.4 Farewell Service for District Ministers
Farewell services for District Ministers shall be held in the
biggest Church building in the District to be attended by all
members in the District on a Sunday morning. Canopies may
be erected around such Church buildings.
9.5 Farewell Services for Area Heads
Farewell services for Area Heads will be held as a District joint
service on a Sunday morning in the Central Assembly where
the Area Head worships or in any other big Church building in
the Area. Where the service takes place in another Assembly
other than where the Area Head normally worships, his local
Assembly would join the Service in the big Church building
where the District joint service will be held. In case of a spill-
over, canopies can be erected around the Church building.
The other Districts in the Area will be represented by District
Ministers and their wives as well as 5 delegates from each
District including representatives of the Ministries.
On such days, all other local assemblies within the Area will
have to attend their normal services. Representatives from
each of the assemblies in the city/town may also attend.
9.6 Farewell Services for Ministry Directors
For Ministry Directors, the farewell service will be held in
any big Church building in the city. If the service is held in
another Assembly other than where the Director worships,
the congregation will be made up of the host District and the
Official’s local Assembly. The Service will be attended by Area
Ministry Executive Committee Members concerned. Ministers
and their wives as well as representative officers within the
city of Accra shall also attend.
The Area Ministry Executive Committees concerned shall, in
consultation with their Area Heads, present a donation to the
officer concerned through the head office.
9.7 Farewell/Retirement of Chairman, General Secretary and
the IMD
In the case of the Chairman, General Secretary and the
International Missions Director, the farewell service will be
held in any big Church building in the city. Where the service
is held in another Assembly other than where the official
worships, the congregation will be made up of the host
District and the Official’s local Assembly. The service will
be attended by Area Heads, their wives, Ministry Directors,
Area Executive Committee members and the Area Women’s
Leader, Ministers and their wives as well as representative
officers within the city of Accra. The Nations may also send
delegates. Representatives from the Ministry will also attend.
An appreciation week shall be organised and an offering
taken on the Sunday of that week. The total proceeds shall be
paid to the affected officer.
9.8. Usage of Funds
9.8.1 Designated Funds
No designated funds, such as tithes, missions offering,
project funds, LDF, DDF, ADF, AIDF, grants, and proceeds of
National Week programmes are to be used for the transfers
and retirements of ministers.
No special funds are to be raised and kept in special accounts
in anticipation of using it to farewell a minister.
In addition, assemblies and districts are not to be levied or
given targets for the purpose of transfers and retirements of
ministers.
9.9 Other Related Issues
a. No invitation cards are printed and distributed.
b. No public announcements in the media.
c. The organisation of such services is the responsibility of
the Presbyteries concerned under the supervision of the
immediate higher authority.
d. Usually, those in the municipalities/urban Areas attend in
full. Those in the rural Areas are appreciably represented.
Others attend Church services at their locals as usual.
e. No personal profile is included in the brochure/
programmeme.
f. Stations served and appointments are not included in the
brochure/ programmeme.
g. The cost of the brochure is borne by the Area/District/
Ministry concerned.
h. Farewell services for Head Office Ministers are conducted
in the Areas in which they worship.
9.10 Welcome Service
Traditionally, presbyteries organise and conduct welcome
services for the incoming Ministers in a very modest and
simple manner as follows:
1. Welcome services must not exceed four (4) hours
2. No testimony is given but a short personal profile of the
Minister may be presented.
3. Four officials represent the former Area (in the case of an
Area Head).
4. Three officials represent the former District (in the case of
a District Minister).
5. The brochure should be four pages (maximum).
6. Guests remaining after the welcome service are catered
for by the Minister.
7. Introduction of the Minister’s children and dependents is
recommended. This may cause them to be known and
supported or defended when the need arises.
8. The practice of holding welcome services in the Church
premise is upheld and maintained.
9. Preparation of food and general catering for the new
minister and family are done for them for the first two or
three days, after which these services are handed over
to them.
10. Feeding of guests is limited to the official representatives
from the Area/District.
9.11 Inauguration of Newly-Created Districts/Areas
Where a new Area/District is created, one service should be
held for both the inauguration and the welcome service. Such
a service may be labelled as “Inauguration and Welcome
Service”. This will save time and reduce the multiplicity of
programmes.
9.12. Retirement of Ministers
The farewell package for retiring ministers shall be funded by
offerings structured as follows:
1. One Week of the three weeks allocated to the area/
district shall be used to raise funds in each of the three
years preceding the day of retirement in addition to the
Appreciation Week.
2. The Appreciation Week shall be organised before the
week of the retirement service and the proceeds paid to
the retiring minister. Besides this, no district, ministry or
local assembly, in the area/ district that is retiring their
minister is to raise any additional offering by any means
and donate same in their name. Rather, individuals
should be encouraged to make personal donations or
presentations.
Areas, Districts and Local Assemblies outside the
jurisdiction of the retiring minister may make donations.
3. The area may support districts in their efforts to provide a
package for the retiring District Minister.
4. Control Procedures
a. A Savings Account shall be opened in the name of the
church into which the proceeds of all offerings relating
to the transfer and retirement of ministers shall be
deposited. The church’s financial policy regarding
signatories to account should apply. There should be no
unofficial or secret account.
b. No withdrawals shall be made from the Savings Account
except in a situation, where the minister has no building
and is faced with challenges on his ongoing building
project.
In that case, permission could be sought from the area
head – in case of a district minister, and the chairman in
case of an area head.
If it becomes necessary to purchase a vehicle for the
retiring minister, the Executive Committee should consult
the Chairman or his representative – in case of an area,
and the Area Head in charge in case of a District Minister.
The matter should be discussed with the retiree and then
part of the money accrued from the first two offerings
could be used. This must be done within the limits of the
funds realised. Accounts should be closed afterwards;
the monies could be invested till the day he the minister
leaves.
c. The Audit, Monitoring and Evaluation Department shall
report on the Savings Account in every area and district
during regular and clearance audits.
d. The total amount of the offerings in the Savings Account
and the proceeds of the Appreciation Week shall be paid
by the district or assembly individually into the minister’s
personal bank account latest by the Friday preceding
the farewell service and the pay-in-slip presented to the
minister.
e. There shall be no quota given to any local assembly or
districts during retirement or transfers of ministers.
9.13 Managing the Transition Period
The following guidelines shall apply between the departure of
the outgoing minister and the arrival of the incoming minister:
1. A minister shall be appointed to act during the transition
period.
2. There shall be a formal handing over by the outgoing
minister to the acting minister in the presence of the area
or district executive committee members and a formal
handing over by the acting minister to the incoming
minister in the same manner.
3. The acting minister shall ensure that all assets declared in
the handover notes are present in the mission house , the
office or any other specified location as in the handover
and shall confirm the bank balance in the books with cash
at bank, and any outstanding or unpresented cheques
before signing the handover notes.
4. The acting district minister and the area head shall be
responsible for the financial administration of the district
during the transition period. The acting area head and
the area executive committee shall be responsible for the
financial administration of the area during the transition
period. No capital expenditure shall be made during the
transition period except in special circumstances with
permission granted by the area head in case of a district
and the chairman in case of an area.
9.14 Regulation of Expenditure after the Audit Clearance
1. Any major expenditure by the district should be discussed
at a meeting of the district executive committee, recorded
in the minutes and approved by the area head.
2. In the case of an area, there should be no major
expenditure. However, should the need arise; the decision
shall be taken by the acting area head in consultation
with the area executive committee with approval by the
Chairman.
3. Any expenditure by the area when the outgoing area head
is still present shall be done as before.
4. No expenditure shall be made on credit.
5. No blank cheques shall be written.
1. Retiring Age
Ministers shall retire at the age of sixty-five (65) years.
2. Premature Retirement
A Minister may be prematurely retired from the full-time
ministry:
a. On medical grounds;
b. In circumstances which will not permit him to continue in
full- time ministry.
3. Completion of Term of Office
A Chairman, a General Secretary or an International
Missions Director who, when voted into office, will not
have served his full term of office before the attainment
of the age of sixty-five (65) years, and notwithstanding
the attainment of the age of sixty-five (65) years shall
complete his term of office.
4. Voluntary Retirement or Resignation
The Church shall not encourage voluntary retirement of
Ministers called into full-time ministry before the retiring
age of sixty-five (65) years. However, where such becomes
inevitable, the Minister concerned shall be given reduced
pension benefits as is applicable under the Pension
Scheme.
a. Retirement services should not exceed a period of four
(4) hours.
b. When a District Minister is going on retirement, the Area
Head in-charge of the Area helps to plan it well. This
demands that the planning committee report to him
regularly.
c. Ministers are not allowed to take/receive part of their
End-of- Service Benefits or Retirement donation/gifts/
package prior to their retirement period. The reason is
that, in the ministry, it is unethical to compel people to
part with monies/gifts before the agreed time, especially
when it is not their desire to do so.
d. Ministers within an Area should not fix programmes to
coincide with the date of a retirement service in the Area.
e. It is proper that during a retirement service, the Districts
in the municipality/urban Areas attend in full. Those in
the rural Areas are to be appreciably represented and
others attend Church service at their local assemblies as
usual.
10.0 RESIGNATION/TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT
1. Any Minister who wishes to resign from the service of
the Church shall give three (3) months’ notice of his
resignation with stated reasons or forfeit three months’
salary in lieu of notice.
2. Acceptance of resignation may not be unreasonably
withheld, except when disciplinary action or criminal
prosecution of the Minister is pending or contemplated.
3. The appointment of a Minister may be terminated for
unsatisfactory service during his probationary period.
4. No notice or payment in lieu of notice shall be given to any
Minister who is summarily dismissed.
5. A Minister who resigns or is dismissed shall vacate the
mission house within such period as may be determined
by the Executive Council. His personal belongings shall
be transported by the Church to any part of the country
of his choice.
6. A Minister who resigns or is dismissed shall hand over
all Church property in his custody such as the Minister’s
License, ID Card, Complimentary cards and other items
to his immediate superior before his benefits, if any, shall
be paid to him.
11.0 HAND-OVER NOTES
Any Minister leaving his station on transfer, retirement,
resignation, or dismissal shall hand over comprehensively any
property of the Church in his possession to his successor or
immediate superior.
1. On the eve of the send-off service, in the case of
transferred or retired minister, the outgoing minister shall
sign the hand-over notes in the presence of the Officiating
minister and the Area/District Executive Committee
members. In the case of a minister who has resigned
or been dismissed, this should be done on the eve of
departure.
2. The hand-over notes should be handed over to the in-
coming Minister immediately on his arrival. (This will give
him ample time to read through the document). The in-
coming Minster should sign the document on the day he is
welcomed in the presence of the Area/ District Executive
Committee.
3. Hand-over notes should be filled in four (4) copies. At the
Area level; one copy should be kept by the incoming
Minister, one by the outgoing Minister, one in the District/
Area file and other kept with the General Secretary. At the
District level, one copy would be kept by the out-going
Minister, one by the in-coming Minister, one on the District
file and other kept with Area Head.
12.0 PENSION SCHEME
1. Name/Establishment
The name of the Scheme is PENTECOST PENSION
FUND SCHEME (hereinafter referred to as “The Fund”)
established in 1976.
2. Object
To establish a 3rd-tier scheme in accordance with the
National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) for the benefit of the
Ministers of the Church, who retire at the age of 65years
or are prematurely retired according to the Constitution of
the Church.
This is distinct and separate from the End-of-Service
Benefits (ESB) operated by the Headquarters of the
Church.
3. Constitutional Provisions (COP Constitution Article 29)
4. Establishment
There shall be a nine-member (9) Pension Board which
shall be appointed by the Executive Council, with the
approval of the General Council, to administer the Pension
Scheme of the Church.
5. Membership
a. Two (2) Apostles/Prophets. One (1) of whom shall be the
Chairman
b. Two (2) other Ministers
c. One (1) Area Deacon
d. One (1) Elder
e. One (1) Trustee
f. One (1) Lawyer
g. One (1) Accountant/Investment Banker
h. Two (2) Ministers on retirement may be co-opted from
time to time.
6. Functions
a. It shall be responsible for the overall administration of the
Pension Scheme
b. It shall, in consultation with the Executive Council, reserve
the right to invest the capital or income in any bank,
discount house or any permanent and safe investment
not in any way contrary to the principles of the church.
c. It shall cause proper account records to be kept for the
fund and final report prepared once a year.
d. It shall organize activities to raise funds to support the
Scheme.
e. It shall run programmes to fully prepare ministers for
pension.
f. It shall run programmes to sustain Pensioners.
g. It shall perform such other functions as the General
Council or the Executive Council may assign them.
7. Term Of Office
The term of office shall be four (4) years and may be
reviewed for further terms
12.1 Area Pension Committee
There shall be an Area Pension Committee made up of seven
(7) members appointed by the Area Presbytery on the recom-
mendation of the Area Executive Committee.
1. Membership
Three (3) Ministers, one of whom shall be the Chairman,
three (3) Elders and one (1) Deaconess. The Area Head
and the Area Deacon shall be ex-officio members.
2. Functions
a. They shall implement the programmes and policies of the
Pension Board.
b. They shall organize fund-raising activities to support the
Pension Scheme.
c. They shall organize programmes to educate officers and
members on the church’s Pension Scheme and their own
Pension.
d. They shall run programmes to sustain the retired Ministers
of the church in the Area.
e. They shall be responsible to the Pension Board through
the Area Executive Committee.
3. Term of Office
The term of office shall be three (3) years and may be
reviewed for further terms.
12.2 Meetings of the Board
The Board shall meet at least once a year. Five members shall
form a quorum. The secretary shall record minutes for each
meeting.
12.3 Membership of the Scheme
1. Every Minister, except tent ministers, of the General
Council called into the ministry in Ghana automatically
becomes a member of the FUND.
2. Ministers called into the ministry outside Ghana and who
are subsequently transferred to Ghana may be admitted
to membership of the Fund with the approval of the
Executive Council of the Church.
12.4 Sources of Funding
1. Full time Ministers contribute what is known as “A”
contribution and the church contributes what is known as
“B” contribution.
2. The church contributes one percent (1%) of their basic
salary for Ministers who contribute to the SSNIT Scheme
and the Ministers contribute twenty percent (20%) of their
basic salary to The Fund.
3. The church contributes fourteen percent (14%) of their
basic salary for Ministers who are not contributors to
the SSNIT Scheme and the Ministers contribute seven
percent (7%) of their basic salary to The Fund.
4. Fund-raising (offering from church programmes,
donations from individuals and well-wishers etc.)
5. Investment income (Treasury Bill, Shares, Stocks, Fixed
deposit, etc.)
6. Income-generating ventures, as the Board may deem
appropriate, with the approval of the Executive Council.
12.5 Expenses
1. The Board shall ensure that all expenses are properly
authorized and incurred in line with the General and
Executive Council policies.
2. Expenses properly incurred by the Board or by a member
of the Board, on the authority of the Board in the
performance of its functions, shall be charged to the
account of The Fund.
12.6 Qualifying Conditions For Benefits
1. A Minister who retires at the age of sixty-five (65) or
prematurely retires in accordance with the Church’s
constitution shall be entitled to Pension allowance and
other benefits under the Scheme.
2. Any Minister declared permanently invalid on health
grounds by a medical board constituted by the Church
shall qualify for Pension benefits under this scheme
3. Resignation
A Minister who resigns from the service of the General
Council shall be entitled to “A” & “B” contributions only
after deducting any indebtedness to the church from the
contributions so accrued.
4. Termination
A Minister whose services are terminated by the General
Council shall only be entitled to the payment of the “A”
and “B” contributions after deducting any indebtedness
to the church from the contributions so accrued.
5. A Probationary Overseer whose performance does not
measure up to the standard required by the Church, during
his probation, shall be paid only his “A” contribution when
he is asked to leave the services of the Church.
6. Summary Dismissal
A Minister who is summarily dismissed, on grounds of
gross misconduct, shall be entitled to the “A” and “B”
contributions only after deducting any indebtedness to
the church from the contributions so accrued.
7. Revocation of Calling
Any Minister on retirement whose calling is revoked by
the church shall forfeit all his benefits under the scheme
except for his approved monthly allowance.
8. Renunciation of Faith
Any Minister on retirement who renounces the faith
(doctrines and practices of the Church) or joins another
Church or denomination shall forfeit all his benefits under
the Scheme except for his approved monthly allowance.
9 Where a Minister on retirement marries and he dies, the
widow shall not be entitled to the widows’ allowance.
12.7 Benefits
1. Benefits for active Ministers, allowances and other
benefits for Ministers on retirement and widows shall be
determined by the Board, subject to the approval of the
Executive Council and the availability of funds.
2. Benefits To Active Ministers
Active Ministers who contribute to the fund MAY be
granted loans under the Pension Personal Loan Scheme
and may receive such other benefits as the Board may,
with the approval of the Executive Council, determine.
3. Retirement Benefits
The Board fixes allowances and other benefits of Ministers
on retirement and widows subject to the approval of the
Executive Council and the availability of funds.
4 A Minister who is retired from service by the General
Council in accordance with the church’s constitution shall
be entitled to:
a. The approved monthly allowance and
b. Subject to the provisions of clause 12.6.7, 12.6.8 and
12.6.9 other benefits such as;
i. Minister’s widow’s allowance which is paid to the widow
where a Minister either dies in service or whilst on
retirement. The allowance is determined by the Board
with the approval of the Executive Council.
ii. Where a widow receiving allowance remarries or
renounces the faith or leaves the Church, she shall forfeit
the allowance but where there are biological children of
the deceased Minister, under the age of eighteen (18), the
children shall be paid fifty percent (50%) of the Widows’
Allowance till they are 18 years.
iii. Where the children also renounce the faith or leave the
Church, all payments to them shall cease.
iv. All Ministers on retirement, their wives and children under
18 years and all widows are to register with the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The cost of registration
and premiums shall be reimbursed to them by the Board.
v. The Board shall, subject to an annual ceiling approved
by the Executive Council, reimburse the cost of medical
services received by a Minister on retirement, his wife and
children under the age of 18 years as well as by widows at
any medical facility approved by the Church.
vi. Utility subsidy at an annual rate determined by the Board,
with the approval of the Executive Council, shall be paid
quarterly to Ministers on retirement or their widows as the
case may be.
vii. Any other benefits as the Board may, with the approval of
the Executive Council, institute.
12.8 Conditions For The Payment Of Benefits To Survivors
a. The Board shall, before making any payments from The
Fund to a widow or a deceased minister’s children, require
the production of Letters of Administration, Probate, death
certificate or a confirmation from the Executive Council.
b. A surviving beneficiary, ie, a widow or a Minister’s child’s
name must be on the nomination form completed by the
Minister at the Headquarters of the church.
12.9 Ministers’ Children Educational Support

1. As part of its portfolio, the Board also administers an
educational support.
2. The source of funding for the support includes:
a. Ten (10) percent of Pensions Week offering
b. Ministers’ monthly contribution determined by the Board
with the approval of the Executive Council
c. and investment income.
3 Beneficiaries
a A Minister who dies in active service will have two (2) of
the children sponsored up to the university level or its
equivalent.
b Ministers who retire on health grounds will have two (2)
of their children sponsored up to the university level or its
equivalent.
12.10 Disputes
Any dispute that may arise in the implementation of any of the
provisions of this scheme shall be referred to the Executive
Council for determination.
12.10.1 Dissolution of Pension Fund Scheme
a. The Pension Fund Scheme shall only be dissolved by the
General Council by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the
total members of the General Council present and voting.
b. The General Council shall set forth the conditions for
dissolution of the scheme.
12.11 Interpretation
In this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. The expression “The Board” shall mean members of
the Pension Board appointed by the General Council to
administer the Fund. The duration of such office shall be
four (4) years and may be reviewed for further terms by
2. The expression “beneficiaries” shall mean a deceased
member’s wife or children. In a situation where the
deceased has no wife or child, beneficiary shall refer to
any person who has been nominated by the deceased on
the form.
3. The expression “gross misconduct” shall mean and
include misappropriation of Church funds, fornication,
adultery, drunkenness, teaching of erroneous doctrine,
behaviour which affects unity and progress within the
Church. These may contribute to a Minister’s dismissal
from the service of the Church.
4. The expression “Retirement Benefit” shall mean the right
to be paid for the rest of a member’s life and thereafter
or any further payments, a monthly pay from the Fund the
rate of which shall be determined by the Pension Board,
subject to the prior approval of the General Council
through the Executive Council.
5. The expression “Minister” shall mean a full-time Apostle,
Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Overseer, or Probationer who
is employed by the General Council.
6. The expression “Evidence of Death” means any document
that testifies to the death of a member comprising:
a. Letters of Administration
b. Death Certificate
c. Burial Permit
d. Letter from Officiating Minister
e. Burial Programme
f. Any other document which in the opinion of the
Pension Board testifies to the death of a member.
13.0 OTHER REGULATIONS CONCERNING MINISTERS
13.1 Gifts/Presentations to Ministers
Local Assemblies and individual members, at their own
discretion and convenience, may visit the Mission House with
anything they wish to give. Visits to the Mission House could
also be made without any gift.
13.2 Ministers’ Travelling Expenses
A Minister travelling outside his duty station for an official
assignment may be given an accountable imprest to cover
travelling expenses. This imprest should be accounted for
with receipts or certificates of honour as applicable within
seven (7) days after the completion of the trip.
13.3 Special Offering for Ministers
Since offerings taken in the presence of the beneficiary create
an embarrassing situation, the practice is discontinued,
except during retirement services.
13.4 Ministerial Outfit
Ministers are encouraged to put on clerical collars at all
official functions.
13.5 Inheritance Policy for Ministers
Ministers of the Church do not inherit maternally, since the
Church upholds paternal inheritance, in line with scripture.
Property of a Minister who dies intestate is shared in
accordance with the provisions of the Intestate Succession
Law – PNDC Law111.
Ministers are encouraged to prepare their will and deposit a
copy at the General Secretary’s office.
13.6 Ministers’ Day of Rest
All Ministers of the Church observe Mondays as Ministers’ day
of rest.
13.7 Annual Leave
1. All Ministers enjoy 30 calendar days’ annual leave while
all Area Heads/Ministry Directors/the Chairman/General
Secretary/IMD enjoy 40 calendar days.
2. Areas prepare leave rosters for Ministers and copies sent
to the Chairman and the General Secretary. There is no
accumulation of annual leave. Leave allowances are paid
to every Minister at the rate of 12.5% of the Minister’s
annual salary.
3. No Minister shall be required to work continuously for
more than two calendar years without a recognised
period of rest.
4. Ministers must endeavour to rest during their leave
periods. This includes those who travel abroad during
their leave periods. They must not insist on programmes
to be organised for them during such travels. Ministers
are, however, admonished to attend Church services
during their leave periods.
13.8 Sick Leave
Procedure
Sick leave with pay shall be granted only for days of absence
due to ill-health or injury upon receipt of a signed certificate
by the Church’s recognised medical officer.
If a sick Minister does not recover well enough to resume
work after twenty-four (24) months with pay, a Medical Board
comprising two Church- recognised doctors, and one external
doctor, shall be convened to assess the condition of the
Minister and recommend to the Executive Council whether
the Minister should be retained or retired on medical grounds.
13.9 Holidays
All statutory holidays as declared by the Government shall be
observed. Where statutory holidays occur during a Minister’s
leave, the number of days involved shall be added to the leave.
13.10 Formation of NGOs by Ministers
The formation of NGOs by Ministers of the Church is
discouraged, since the Church would be the first point of call
for meeting their needs. If these are allowed to continue, there
may be unhealthy competition among Ministers which may
put stress on the administration of the Churches’ finances.
The Church already has the Pentecost Social Service
(PENTSOS) into which such efforts could be channelled to
assist it to perform its functions in our social interventions.
This directive affects both active and retired Ministers
13.11 Payment of SSNIT Contributions by Ministers of the Church
The Pension Law mandates that every worker in Ghana is to
contribute to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust
Fund.
As a result, all Ministers have been migrated unto the scheme.
Ministers who have been migrated unto this scheme would
receive benefits under this scheme as determined by the
Social Security and National Insurance Trust Fund.
13.12 End-of-Service Benefits (ESB)
End-of-Service Benefit (ESB) would be paid only when a
Minister or a member of staff ends his/her service with the
Church. Ministers and members of staff will not be permitted
to make partial withdrawals from their ESB before end of
service. This is to ensure that employees accrue enough
funds for their retirement. Just as the name implies, end-of-
service- benefit would be paid only when a minister’s service
comes to an end with the church and not during the course
of his service.
13.13 Procedures for Pursuing Courses
Ministers seeking further education need to receive
authorisation from their Area Heads and the Head Office
before commencing such courses. The aim of such study
should be to further equip oneself for ministry.
In order for academic goals to be achieved, Ministers are
to ensure that they enroll in only academic institutions with
the right accreditation. One of the purposes of accreditation
is to ensure that proper structures are put in place to allow
for quality control. Therefore, in order for Ministers to have
sound theological education, the following duly accredited
institutions have been shortlisted for Ministers’ perusal.
The Church may not recognize the degrees of Ministers who
fail to study at one of these institutions or other accredited
ones. Where Ministers are in doubt, they should seek written
clearance from the credentials committee with copies to the
Chairman, General Secretary and the International Missions
Director.
1. University of Ghana
2. University of Cape Coast
3. University of Education, Winneba
4. University of Development Studies
5. Akrofi Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and
Culture-Akropong
6. Trinity Theological Seminary – Legon
7. Regents Theological College, UK
8. International Christian College –Glasgow
9. All Nations Christian College
10. University of Durham – Scotland
11. University of Birmingham
12. University of Manchester
13. Dallas Theological Seminary
14. Fuller Theological Seminary
15. Northwestern Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
16. Oral Roberts University
17. Wheaton College – Wheaton, Illinois
18. Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary
19. McMaster School of Divinity (McMaster
UniversityMatteresey Hall (AG College) – Dorchester
20. South African Theological Seminary
21. Any other institution that is well accredited by their home
country.
22. Ministers who want to pursue higher education with
institutions other than those approved by the Church
should first seek permission from the Head office before
undertaking the course.
13.14 Use of Academic Titles
Awarding institution of honorary degrees need to seek
clearance from the Church before conferring the titles on the
candidates. The Church will not recognize any certificate or
degree awarded by unaccredited institutions. Therefore, all
Ministers are to be wary of honorary awards that come from
non-accredited institutions.
13.15 When someone acquires an academic degree, especially a
doctoral degree, from an accredited institution, he must first
write to inform the Head Office. If accepted, the Chairman
would publish the award in circular, before the one can use
the title.
13.16 Award of Honorary Degree
Awarding institution of honorary degrees need to seek
clearance from the Church before conferring the titles on
the candidates. We wish to remind all ministers that, the
Church will not accept any certificate or degrees awarded by
unaccredited institutions. Therefore, all ministers to be wary of
honorary awards that come from non-accredited institutions.
13.16.1 Credentials Committee
All academic titles and degrees should be submitted to the
Credentials Committee, the official clearing house of the
Church on matters relating to higher education, for verification.
(See Appendix B)
13.17 Formal Courses by Ministers
Even though Ministers are expected to upgrade themselves
academically, this must not unduly interfere with their normal
ministerial duties. Where the course being pursued by a
Minister will take him out of his duty station for a total of one
month in a year, he shall forfeit his annual leave for that year
even though he may be paid his leave allowance for that year.
13.18 Allowances and Salaries
Ministers shall enjoy the following allowances as shall be
determined from time to time by the Executive Council:
1. Responsibility Allowance (Area Heads and Head Office
Ministers),
2. Secondment Allowance (Head Office Ministers),
3. Deprived Areas Ministers’ Support (Internal Mission
Ministers),
4. Fuel Allowance,
5. Educational Subsidy,
6. Vehicle Maintenance Allowance (Ministers with personal
vehicles),
7. Building Loans (when due),
8. Annual leave allowance
9. Ministers in training shall enjoy the following allowances;
a. Monthly feeding allowance
b. Book allowance (One off payment)
14.0 DISCIPLINE
14.1 Discipline of Ministers/Officers and Members
An officer or member of the Church who commits any of the
following offences shall be disciplined in accordance with the
principles of the Church:
a. Habitually visiting questionable places, such as drinking
bars, brothels, etc;
b. Falling into open sin, e.g., drunkenness, adultery,
fornication, stealing, etc;
c. Embracing or spreading false doctrine;
d. Divorcing wife or husband;
e. Marrying more than one wife/husband;
f. A sister getting married to a married man;
g. Disobeying and showing disrespect to Church authority at
any level;
h. Practicing any form of immorality.
k. Practicing or promoting homosexuality or any perverse
sexual behaviour.
14.2 Sanctions
Depending on the gravity of the offence committed, an
offending officer or member
a. May be publicly rebuked;
b. May be suspended from playing a leading role in all
Church programmes and activities;
c. Shall not partake of the Lord’s Supper;
d. Shall not Minister or witness on the platform of the
Church, etc
e. May be removed from office;
f. May be stripped of his or her ordination into office through
revocation by the appointing authority;
g. In extreme case, an offending member/officer may
be excommunicated from the Church by the Executive
Council on the recommendation of the Area Head and the
Area Executive Committee.
14.3 Conduct That Will Lead to Dismissal of a Minister
A Minister may be dismissed on any of the following grounds:
1. Theft,
2. Fraud,
3. Dishonesty,
4. Immorality,
5. Adultery,
6. Insubordination,
7. Drunkenness,
8. Serious dereliction of duty,
9. Unfaithfulness to the Church,
10. Disobedience to his calling,
11. Refusal to fellowship with fellow Ministers after attempts
have been made to settle the misunderstanding;
12. Preaching erroneous doctrine;
13. Living a questionable life;
14. Engaging in a conduct which, in the opinion of the General
Council, may directly or indirectly bring the Church into
disrepute.
14.4 Disciplinary Procedures
The Executive Council will, depending on the seriousness of
the offence, determine the procedures for the disciplinary
action.
14.5 Other Sanctions
1. No Minister shall give to any outsider information of any
kind concerning the internal arrangements or external
relations of the Church, or take part in any public
discussion either in the Press or otherwise on the affairs
or policy of the Church without permission from the
Chairman or his appointed agent. Failure to observe this
rule shall be considered as a breach of discipline and
shall attract the appropriate punitive sanction.
2. Where a Minister commits an offence which does not
amount to serious misconduct, such Minister shall
be warned in writing. If after two (2) such warnings a
third offence is committed, the Minister may either be
downgraded or have his appointment terminated by the
Executive Council. Where the Minister is downgraded, he
shall be given a final warning in writing, clearly stating
that it is a final warning.
3. Without prejudice to sub-clause (2) the Executive
Council may downgrade or dismiss a Minister or give
any appropriate sanction without prior warning letters,
depending on the seriousness of the offence.
4. A dismissed Minister may be suspended and later
reinstated to full membership by the lifting of the
suspension administered by the Executive Council, but
he shall not be restored to the ministry. The Executive
Council will determine the wife’s position.
5. In the event of allegations being levelled against a
Minister, copies of findings and minutes on investigations
into the allegations made against the Minister, whether of
merit or not, would be placed on the Minister’s file. This
would help keep track of such allegations and thereby
assist in the true determination of Ministers’ conduct for
appropriate counselling.
6. If any officer who falls into an open sin and is suspended
from membership and office, he or she may be reinstated
to full membership, but not to his or her former position
or office. Where reinstatement to officership becomes
necessary, the Area/National Head may consult the
Chairman of the Church/IMD, as the case may be, before
doing so.
7. A suspended member could be made an officer after
restoration to full membership, if found fit later, and in
extreme cases if he is to be called into full-time ministry,
the Area or National Head shall consult the chairman.
8. Polygamists/Suspended Members
Ministers may conduct the funeral service of a polygamist
who was converted to the Church in that state or of a
member suspended for any other reason. But no tribute
or testimonies are given on behalf of the Church at such
funeral services.
9. Members suspended in the Church for open sin
There is no formal memorial and burial service for those
suspended from the Church due to open sin; for example,
abortion, suicide, burglary, etc. However, Pastors usually
visit the bereaved family and encourage members to do
likewise.
10. Burial of a Second Wife
A Pastor may officiate the burial of a second wife, who is
a member of the Church provided she is not a suspended
member.
14.6 Limitations of the District Minister in Disciplinary Matters
1. He cannot suspend an ordained officer. This needs the
attention of the Area Head.
2. He cannot ex-communicate a member. This needs the
attention of the Executive Council.
3. He cannot restore a suspended officer to full membership.
This requires the attention of the Area Head.
14.7 Right of Appeal/Review
14.7.1 Appeal
Any member who is disciplined shall have the right to appeal
in the Church. It shall first be made through the District
Executive Committee, then to the Area Executive Committee
and finally to the Executive Council.
14.7.2 Review
The review of a disciplinary action that has been appealed
shall be done by the next higher authority. For instance, if a
sanction is meted out by the Area Executive Committee, it
shall be reviewed by the Executive Council upon a petition by
the affected party.
14.8 Grievances Procedure
1. If a Minister is aggrieved or has a problem of any kind
pertaining to his Service Condition, he shall petition the
General Secretary through his Regional/Area Head.
2. If the grievance involves the Regional/Area Head, the
petition shall be submitted to the Executive Council
through the General Secretary.
3. If the matter remains unresolved, the General Secretary
shall convey it to the Executive Council and then to the
General Council whose decision shall be final.
15.0 CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATON
15.1 Administrative Procedures and Line of Authority
The accepted communicative procedures are as follows:
15.1.1 Issues to the Chairman
The following issues are to be referred to the Chairman’s
Office:
a. Annual/Half-Year Reports from the Areas.
b. Ministers’ Appraisals.
c. Annual Confidential reports from the Areas.
d. Request for grants or financial support (budgetary
commitments) which have not been previously approved
in the running budget of the year.
3. Application to embark upon big projects that exceed the
authority limits of Area Executive Committees.
4. Areas that purchase their own vehicles
15.1.2 Issues to the General Secretary
The following issues may be referred to the General Secretary
for administrative action:
1. Area Heads’ request to proceed on annual leave.
2. Ministers’ requests to travel abroad. (Such requests
should reach the office of the General Secretary at least
one month before the proposed date of departure)
3. Requests for financial payments already approved in the
running budget.
4. Requests for permission to pursue further studies.
5. Requests to seek special medical treatment outside
those covered by the Church’s health policy.
6. Requests for provision of vehicles or other administrative
logistics by the Areas.
7. Requests by Ministers for introductory letters from the
Church.
8. Notification/information on bereavements.
9. Requests for creation of new Districts/Areas.
15.1.3 Issues to the Finance and Administration Director
The following issues may be referred to the Finance and
Administration Director:
1. All staff issues from Areas.
2. Loans and End-of-Service Benefits.
3. Requests for vehicle fuel/maintenance allowance.
4. Ministers’ loans and advances.
5. Requests for logistics from the Areas.
6. Training needs of staff.
7. Returns on use of Grants/AIDF.
15.1.4 Issues To The Human Resource Manager
The following issues may be referred to the Human Resource
Manager:
1. Staff Leave.
2. Requests for engagement of staff.Staff disciplinary
issues.
15.2 Ministers are to route all letters from Districts through Area
Heads for endorsement before submission to Head Office.
15.3 All correspondence from local assemblies to Headquarters
should be channelled through District via Area to Head Office.
15.4 District Ministers travelling outside their duty station should
seek permission from their Area Heads.
15.5 Writing Letters/Requests on behalf of Ministers
Area Heads are not to write letters and requests on behalf
of Ministers in their Areas on issues pertaining to Ministers’
personal lives, such as notification of success at academic
programmes, bereavement and change of names. The
concerned Ministers should write the letters while their
respective Area Heads endorse them.
15.6 Overseas Travels
Ministers desiring to travel overseas shall be expected to
write to the General Secretary through their Area Heads for
permission, with copies to the Chairman and the IMD. The
General Secretary shall respond to the minister with copies to
the Chairman, IMD and the National Head.
15.7 Use of The Church of Pentecost Letter Head
The use of the Church letter head is restricted to the Chairman,
the General Secretary, and the International Missions
Director, Area Heads or any person assigned by them. Under
no circumstance should the Church letter head be used for
unofficial transactions
15.8 Use of the Church of Pentecost logo for commercial
purposes
The church’s logo has now been registered under the copyright
act. It has therefore been decided that members who wish to
use the church’s logo in producing items such as key holders,
jewelry, T-shirts, bags and cloths among other items for
commercial purposes may continue to do so. However, they
must first apply to the church for permission before using the
logo.
The procedure for application shall be to first seek clearance
from the local church (assembly). After clearance is given,
the application will then go to the district minister. From the
district minister, it will go to the area head who would finally
submit the application to the General Secretary. The final
authorization would then be given with guidelines from the
head office.
16.0 MANAGEMENT OF PROPHECY
One of the ways through which the Lord speaks to His Church
is prophecy. The Bible directly instructs believers not to
despise prophecy. Rather, they are to test it (1 Thess. 5:19; 1
Jn. 4:1). The challenge however is: How do we test prophecy
so as not to cause confusion in a Church?
The following are some means by which we can test prophecy
in the Church:
16.1 Presiding officers of every service must weigh every prophetic
utterance. They may either give comments or not, depending
upon the leading of the Holy Spirit based on the word of God
(1 Thess. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 14:29).
16.2 Since the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet,
another means of control is for those wanting to prophesy to
move to the front to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:29-33). This avoids
the situation where two or three people speak at once.
16.3 Some Factors to Consider in Judging Prophecy
1. Does the prophetic utterance(s) conform to the word of
God (1 Jn. 4:1-4; 2 Cor. 1:17-20)?
2. Does the lifestyle of the person prophesying conform to
the Scripture (Matt. 7:15-18)?
3. Does the prophecy edify or create confusion (1 Cor. 14:3)?
4. Do the individual members have inner witness regarding
the authenticity of the prophetic utterance (1 Jn. 2:20,
27)?
5. Does the body (the Church) have corporate peace
regarding the content of the prophecy (1 Cor. 14:37-40)?
6. All ‘directive prophecies’ concerning candidates for
consideration for the position of Chairman, General
Secretary and the International Missions Director shall
be communicated verbally or in writing to the Executive
Council through the Chairman of the Church.
17.0 MEDICAL TREATMENT
As part of its conditions of service for staff and Ministers,
the Church of Pentecost undertakes to provide free medical
treatment to Ministers, staff, their spouses and registered
child dependents under the following conditions:
1. Spouses of staff, who may be working in organizations
that are responsible for medical expenses of their staff,
shall not be entitled to the benefits of this policy. In such
cases, it is the responsibility of the Minister/staff to
inform the office in writing.
2. The Church shall be responsible for the payment of the
NHIS registration and premium of staff, their spouses and
up to four (4) registered biological or adopted children
below the age of twenty- three (23).
3. For Ministers, however, this policy covers all their
registered children below the age of twenty-three (23).
4. A qualified child in this context is a biological or a legally
adopted child of the Minister or staff not above the age of
twenty-three (23).
A legally adopted child is a child that has been adopted
through proper legal processes, and supported by a
certificate of adoption issued by a competent adoption
authority.
For the avoidance of doubt, adoption shall not be
interpreted to mean a child who is staying with a Minister/
staff through mere mutual understanding between the
family of the child and the Minister/staff.
5. Ministers and staff shall be required to pay the NHIS
registration fees themselves, and submit the relevant
receipts for a refund.
6. The Church shall not pick the medical bills of Ministers,
staff, their spouses and eligible children who are not
registered under the NHIS. It is therefore mandatory for
all Ministers/staff, their spouses and eligible children to
register under the NHIS.
7. By virtue of their NHIS registration, Ministers, staff, their
spouses and eligible children shall be free to receive
medical treatment at the nearest NHIS-accredited
medical facility.
It is therefore not necessary for those residing outside
Accra to travel to Accra with every illness. However,
when Ministers, staff, their spouses and eligible children
attend Pentecost Hospital or any of the Church’s clinics,
in addition to their NHIS cards, they would be required to
carry an ID card to be issued by the Head Office, which is
to be produced on demand.
8. Those who fail to carry their ID cards could be asked to
pay cash, obtain a receipt and claim a refund later. Those
who visit government hospitals shall however be required
to pay all bills outright and later claim a refund upon the
presentation of their receipts.
9. Ministers, staff, their spouses and eligible children who
have received clearance from Head Office in writing to
attend specific health facilities may continue to do so.
10. Prescribed drugs or medical treatments for Ministers,
staff, their spouses and eligible children that fall outside
the scope of the NHIS shall be provided by the Church.
11. All Ministers, staff and their spouses shall be required
to undergo routine medical check-up conducted by the
Pentecost Hospital once every year. The nature and
scope of the medical examination shall be determined
and communicated to all Ministers by the Headquarters.
The cost of such medical check-ups shall be borne by the
Church.
12. Those who opt to have the examination done in any other
medical facility other than the Pentecost Hospital shall
bear the cost involved themselves.
13. After the exercise, ministers and staff as well as their
spouses are strongly advised to take any follow-up action
that may be recommended.
14. When a qualified medical officer refers a patient to
another medical facility the first point of call should be
where the patient has been referred.
15. In cases where a patient does not respond to treatment
after continuous medical treatment in a medical facility
in an Area, the Area Head may arrange for the patient to
be transferred to Pentecost Hospital, Madina as the first
point of call.
16. In such cases, a letter to this effect, on the Church’s letter
head, addressed to the Medical Administrator of the
Pentecost Hospital, Madina, shall be signed and stamped
by the Area Head and a copy sent to the Head Office.
17. When the sick Minister/staff, spouse or eligible children
pay hospital bills, those in the Areas are to claim for
refund at the Area Office, while those in the Head Office
are to claim from the Head Office.
18. Records are to be kept at the Area Offices of all medical
expenses on Ministers/staff, their spouses and children
within the Area. Monthly returns of such expenses shall
be forwarded to the Headquarters along with tithes.
Additionally, Area Heads shall be required to submit
cumulative medical reports to the Head Office every six
months, on a form provided for the purpose.
19. The Finance Manager’s office shall also keep records of
medical expenses on Ministers/staff, their spouses and
children at the Headquarters.
20. Ministers and staff must notify the office by filling the
approved forms through their Area/Department Heads
when they marry, when they make new babies or when any
of their eligible children attains age 23. This is to formally
register their spouses and children, as unregistered
spouses and children shall not be covered by this policy.
21. Management is not likely to accept any excuses for non-
compliance of the medical policy. However, localities
that may have extreme and peculiar implementation
challenges are to seek guidance/clearance from the
Head Office.
17.2 For the avoidance of any doubt, the Church shall not be
responsible for the medical treatment arising from the
following:
1. Treatment at massaging, chiropractic, acupuncture,
pranic healing and allied centres, “Computer Clinics”,
herbal clinics, and other unorthodox medical facilities.
The only exception is the Centre for Scientific Research
into Plant Medicine, Akuapim Mampong
2. Infertility Treatment
3. Performance enhancing drugs – e.g. Viagra, Lucozade,
etc.
4. Biological/legally adopted children over 23 years old
5. Frames of lenses for spouse and child dependants.
The Church will only pay a specified amount for frames,
reviewable every year.
6. Drugs purchased without prescription issued, signed and
stamped by a qualified medical practitioner.
7. Fixing of dentures, except necessitated by injuries
sustained while at work, in which case normal dentures
(as opposed to very expensive ones preferred by the
patient) shall be paid for by the Church.
8. Food Supplements – e.g. GNLD, Tianshi etc. products.
18.0 ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES (ARS)
Infertility is a serious social problem not only for the affected
couples, but their extended families at large. Various methods
are adopted in some cultures to address the issue. Modern
technology has offered many couples the opportunity to have
children. The whole Assisted Reproductive Service (ARS)
package is fraught with a number of cultural, ethical and legal
issues. The most challenging aspect of the ARS is the issue
of surrogate or third party involvement where for medical
reasons a woman may have to rely on another woman’s womb
or a man may want to rely on another man’s sperm in order
for the service to be provided.
In Ghana, there are no separate laws which govern the ARS.
Once a Hospital is legally registered, ARS is considered as
part and parcel of the services which may be provided to
the public. There are potentially serious legal, ethical, social,
psychological and even spiritual implications when ARS is
associated with a third party procedure. Quite ironically,
Scripture does not shed sufficient light on ARS; neither does
it offer direct reference to surrogacy in order to authoritatively
guide the Church in endorsing or rejecting surrogacy. Since
the Bible does not provide sufficient information about ARS,
the Church recommends that:
18.1 Needy couples may seek ARS provided the eggs and sperms
come from the couple themselves. The Church fundamentally
believes that physical intimacy between a husband and wife
remains the biblical means of producing children.
18.2 Members of the Church should be encouraged through
counselling to seek the face of the Lord before taking the
decision to access ARS.
18.3 The Church discourages its members from accessing
surrogacy services or third party methods in the ARS. In other
words, the Church does not encourage its female members to
donate or sell their eggs to needy couples. Female members
of the Church are also discouraged from offering themselves
as surrogate mothers.
Similarly, the Church does not encourage its male members
to donate or sell their sperms to needy couples. Often times
there are serious social, ethical, psychological and even
spiritual consequences that emanate from using these
services. It must be noted that there have been cases where
needy couples seeking other means to produce a child
out of husband/ wife relations have resulted in disastrous
ramifications as was the case of Abraham and Sarah and
their servant, Hagar (Gen. 16).
18.4 No health facility of the Church should adopt the surrogate or
third party methods in the ARS. The three main methods of the
ARS – the Intra Uterine Insemination, the In Vitro Fertilisation
(IVF), the Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Infection (ICSI) and other
new technology may be applied provided a third party shall
not be involved.
18.5 Every embryo created between a husband and a wife should
be implanted. No embryo or fertilized egg should be discarded
or destroyed since the Church believes that human life starts
during the fertilization stage. Any destroyed or discarded
embryo means a human life has been destroyed. That would
be tantamount to abortion, which is biblically unacceptable
(Gen. 9:6; Ex. 20:13). Accordingly, whenever freezing becomes
necessary, the wife’s eggs and the husband’s sperms should
be frozen separately.
18.6 ARS should be broad enough to find out couples’ coping
systems and strengthen these systems. Although some of
these coping mechanisms are maladaptive, they nevertheless
show us how these women are keeping their “mental health
together”. Ministers of the Church should be trained to be
more effective in handling the subject of ARS.
18.7 In some cases, it would be desirable for needy couples to
consider the viable and God-honouring option of adoption
(Jam. 1:27).
18.8 Even though the Church does not approve of surrogacy or third
party methods in the ARS, it is recommended that, babies
born out of surrogacy should not be discriminated against
in the Church. They should be accorded the same rights and
privileges like all others including dedication.
18.9 The Church, in collaboration with other religious ecumenical
bodies should dialogue with the Legislative wing of
Government to develop a legal framework for the potentially
volatile issues associated with ARS. Such a proactive measure
would minimise the legal battle that could arise from some
ARS cases.
19.0 FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MINISTERS AND
THEIR SPOUSES
19.1 General Guidelines on Funerals
a. Fixing of Date for the Funeral of Deceased Ministers and
Ministers’ Wives: In the unfortunate event of the death
of a Minister or a Minister’s wife, the funeral should be
performed within three (3) to four (4) weeks.
b. Burial Place of Pastors and Pastors’ Wives: In the event
of the death of a Minister or his spouse (whether in active
service or otherwise), the following shall apply:
c. The Minister or his spouse shall be buried at the duty
stations. However, whenever a bereaved family insists
on taking the body of their deceased relative to their
hometown, the Church will agree to their demand so as
to avoid conflict with the family. The Church would agree
to their demand on condition that the funeral and burial
service would be held at the same place.
d. As a measure to cut down fuel cost, depreciation, lost
man-hours and other Ministerial pressures with regard
to funerals and other social functions, the following shall
apply:
i. The affected Area participates fully. All other Areas send
delegations with their donations.
ii. Where a Minister or Minister’s wife dies, all Ministers
and their wives in the affected political region should
attend the funeral in full. Ministers in other Areas who
are related to the deceased also attend but with the
permission of their Area Heads. Former stations of the
deceased Minister/Minister’s wife are encouraged to be
represented.
iii. Ministers who are not able to attend, due to this directive,
are not regarded as non-sympathisers.
iv. Food is prepared for only sympathisers from distant
places and not for those close by or within the town.
19.2 Funeral Expenses for Ministers and their Spouses (Funeral
Grants)
a. A Headquarters subsidy of GH¢2,000.00 would be paid
to cover the funerals of Ministers and Ministers’ wives.
This reviewable amount shall cover the cost of the
grave space, cost of the coffin, Undertaker’s charges,
Hearse charges and mortuary charges for a period as
may be determined by the Church from time to time. In
addition, 1,000 copies of brochures would be printed by
the Pentecost Press Limited and the cost borne by the
Headquarters.The number of pages of the brochure shall
not exceed 24.
b. The Headquarters does not print or provide funeral
posters.
c. All other expenses shall be borne by the Area concerned
and billed against the funeral expenses.
19.3 Wake-keeping: There is no wake-keeping.
19.4 One-Week funeral celebration: The Church does not involve
itself in one- week funeral celebration.
19.5 Duration: Burial and memorial services should not last more
than three hours.
19.6 Wreaths: Laying of wreaths is discouraged as much as
possible.
19.7 “T” Shirts/Pictures/Special cloth: Printing of funeral “T”
Shirts, special cloth and photographs of the deceased is
discouraged.
19.8 File Past: The practice of allowing mourners to file past the
corpse before the official beginning of the programme is

encouraged and maintained. This means other mourners
shall do file past as soon as the undertaker has finished
preparing the corpse for viewing, so that the file past on the
programme is reserved for the clergy (Ministers and their
wives) and, where applicable, government and traditional
authority representatives and family/widow/widower.
19.9 Form of Service
1. Prayer is said in the open before file past.
2. Prayer of thanksgiving is said at the memorial and burial
service instead of worship.
3. Normal offering is taken.
4. Tributes shall not be made to address the dead; Where
statements are made directly to the dead as though living.
5. The service shall not be more than three hours in duration.
19.10 Benefits to Deceased Ministers
Benefits payable by the Church to deceased Ministers
are made to their wives and children who are deemed as
beneficiaries of the Minister.
All unpaid benefits and salary due shall be paid to the estate
of the deceased Minister
Ministers are advised to endeavour to prepare their ‘Wills’ or
satisfy the extended family with properties they would want to
give to them while they are alive.
Ministers’ wives who die intestate (i.e. without a ‘Will’) shall
also be inherited by the husband and children.
On the death of a Minister, his spouse shall be continuously
paid a specified monthly widow’s allowance till her death.

20.0 CALLING OF OFFICERS
The calling of an Elder or Officer is not the sole responsibility
of the Pastor. Before an Elder or Officer is called, the Pastor
in charge of the Assembly/District first consults the Local
Presbytery before such ‘qualified’ candidates appear before
the District/Area Vetting Committee.
The Church accepts the New Testament practice of ‘Laying on
of hands’ instead of using anointing oil during ordination of
Ministers or officers.
Their duties are as follows:
20.1 Elders
1. They are responsible for leading the Church in prayer and
for teaching the unadulterated Word of God.
2. They are “custodians of the faith”, that is, they guard
jealously the fundamental doctrines of the Church, in
order that no unscriptural teachings may be passed on by
them or others to the saints.
3. They have the responsibility of visiting the sick and
afflicted saints. They are to know all members in the
Church and, if possible, visit them in their homes from
time to time (in large assemblies, say twice a year).
4. In the absence of the Minister, they administer the Lord’s
Supper on the Lord’s Day.
5. They see to it that spiritual and moral discipline is kept
in the Church. They help settle differences amongst the
saints. They report the misconduct of sinning members
to the Minister, who will suspend unrepentant sinning
members from membership.
6. In the absence of the Minister, they are to conduct Church
services, tarry meetings, open-air services, naming or
christening ceremonies.

7. They are responsible for the acquisition of plots of lands
and other properties for the local Church and report such
acquisitions to the District Minister or Area Deacon.
8. They are responsible for the burial of deceased members
in the absence of a Minister.
9. They see to the maintenance of Church discipline (1 Cor.
6:1-3; Tit. 1:13).
10. They are to be punctual during Church services.
11. They are to be approachable but firm and fair.
12. They are to read and study the Bible so as to receive
rhema for the members.
13. They see to it that tithes/offerings and other designated
funds are paid on time to the appropriate quarters.
14. They are to ensure that all policies and guidelines of the
Church are duly implemented in their locals
20.2 Presiding Elder
1. The Presiding Elder is the one who, whilst being himself
actively engaged in fulfilling the above duties, is
responsible to see that the other Elders, Deacons and
Deaconesses are carrying out their duties in a proper
manner.
2. In the absence of the Minister, he takes the chair at
Church services, open-air meetings, tarry meetings,
elders’ meetings.
3. The Presiding Elder, however, is not superior in authority
to the other elders; their divine calling is the same.
4. Presiding Elders are to be reviewed every two years for
change, or re-elected by the Local Presbytery and the
District Minister, for further terms.

20.3 Deacons
1. They are responsible for keeping and marking the Church
Register. Anyone absent more than twice amongst the
women is to be reported to the responsible Deaconess.
Anyone absent more than twice amongst the men is to be
reported to the Minister or Elders.
2. They are responsible for all material arrangements
connected with open-air gatherings, e.g. arrangement of
benches, attending to the lighting system, etc.
3. They are responsible for arranging the benches in the
Church before week-day gatherings, and taking care
of and inspecting regularly all property in the building
belonging to the Church, e.g. notice board, tambourines,
etc. The responsible deacon draws up an inventory of all
Church properties and updates it regularly.
4. Deacons are ever on the alert to see that everyone is well
seated and they are very active in making all preparations
that are necessary in the Church prior to weddings,
funerals, dedications, etc., so that the guests and others
may feel at home.
5. As with Deacons of old, it is expected that Deacons will
engage themselves in spiritual duties as often as the
occasion arises. They may be called upon to preach or
teach from time to time or lead the chorus (singing) at the
beginning of meetings.
6. Deacons distribute tracts at open-air gatherings, when
these are available.
7. When conventions are held locally, Deacons see to it that
material preparations are fully made for the event.
8. At water baptismal services, Deacons are responsible
for seeing that all the needs of the male candidates are
adequately met both before and after immersion.

9. Deacons may, from time to time, be called upon to perform
other duties not specifically mentioned in this book.
10. Deacons serve at the Lord’s Table (Acts 6:1-6).
20.4 Deaconesses
1. Deaconesses are responsible for doing much of the
visiting, especially amongst the sisters, and taking every
opportunity to visit the sick, backsliders, etc.
2. Preparation of the Lord’s Table is the responsibility of the
Deaconesses; a programme should be prepared to share
the laying and clearing of the table each Sabbath morning
among the Deaconesses. They are also to prepare to
Minister the Gospel as the occasion arises and are
scheduled to give this ministry in the various assemblies
from time to time.
3. They direct and instruct female converts who surrender
to Christ. When female converts come to the front, a
Deaconess should guide each of them carefully and
lovingly to make sure that the converts understand the
steps they are taking; after that, the converts are called
to make open confession of Christ.
4. At water baptismal services, the Deaconesses see to it
that the needs of the female converts, both before and
after immersion, are adequately catered for. Deaconesses
advise female converts on what they should wear, and
see to it that no unseemly conduct takes place, especially
after immersion.
5. During conventions held locally Deaconesses are included
in committees set up to arrange for boarding, lodgings,
etc.
6. At open-air gatherings, the Deaconesses are active in
visiting the houses in the vicinity and distributing tracts
when these are available.

7. The needs of the sisters in the Assembly are prayerfully
watched over by the Deaconesses; they impart much
instruction to female members on such subjects as
dedication of infants, marriage (problems), unseemly
conduct, etc.
8. They encourage those who come to them with problems,
using the word of God.
9. They support actively the local as well as the District
Women’s Ministry work.
10. They serve in the Mission House from time to time,
especially when the house plays host to visitors during
rallies, retreats, conventions and other occasions.
11. They mobilise young women/ladies periodically to work at
the Mission House.
20.5 Appointment of Ministry Leaders
1. All Ministry leaders and their assistants at the Area and
District levels shall be appointed by the Area and District
presbyteries on the recommendation of Area and District
Executive Committees respectively. In the case of Local
Ministry leaders, they shall be appointed by the Local
Presbytery.
2. The term of office of a Ministry leader at both the Area
and District levels shall be three (3) years and two (2)
years for the Local Ministry leader. District Ministers
should notify their Area or National Heads for necessary
guidance before and after reviews. Such reviews must be
reported in both the half-year and annual reports.
3. Procedure: The District Minister/Area Head, in
consultation with the District Executives Committee/Area
Executive Committee shall present one person to the
District/Area presbytery for ratification.

20.6 Inactive and Non-Performing Officers
Inactive and non-performing officers are increasing in the
Church. There is, therefore, the need for proper assessment
and thorough observation of potential leaders.
It is not enough to add up numbers to the existing leadership.
The Church needs leaders who have the right attitude,
character and commitment to articulate and envision the
right things to do.
20.7 Mandatory Review of Reviewable Appointments
Every reviewable officer or appointment is reviewed when due.
There is either re-election or re-appointment as is determined
by the respective authority, from the Local to National level.
20.8 Transfers of Officers
Arbitrary transfer of officers from one Assembly to another
must be discouraged. District Ministers must seek the
approval of their Area Heads before effecting any transfer of
officers.
20.9 Number Of Elders For An Assembly
This is determined by the District Executive Committee with
approval from the Area Executive Committee. However, in
fairly large assemblies, the General Council has decided
that the maximum number of Elders must not exceed ten
(10). Medium assemblies should be seven (7) and small
assemblies, five (5).
Elders on transfer from other Districts are not overlooked
but utilized even though they do not immediately sit on
the platform. Elders who relocate are also assigned to the
Assemblies in the District so that their giftings are put to
proper use.

20.10 Ordination of Officers
Proposed officers, who have gone through the vetting
processes successfully, shall be required to go through a
mandatory training, before the ordination and should be
made to fill the officers’ declaration forms, which captures
the main duties of officers. On the day of ordination, they are
to come along with the forms and be made to reaffirm. This
may help such officers to know and to perform their expected
duties judiciously. Copies of the completed forms are to be
placed on file at the District and Area levels.
20.11 Retirement of Local Officers
It is the practice of the Church that Officers retire at 65 years
and are given a fitting farewell.
20.12 Service Awards
It is the Church’s practice that all Officers who complete their
terms of office meritoriously be given special awards like
Certificate of Service and/ or a citation, etc.
20.13 Lay Leaders/Officers’ Training
Lay Leaders and Officers are given a level of functional
Bible Training in order to be able to teach Church members
effectively.
20.14 Levying of Church Officers
Church officers are not to be levied as a way of raising funds
for Church projects and for the acquisition of Church assets,
including musical instruments and vehicles. People should be
made to feel free to give according to their individual financial
abilities.

21.0 PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTING AND REVIEWING OF
OFFICERS
21.1 Appointments
Appointment of Ministers and lay-leaders into various forms
of leadership, such as Directors and membership of Com-
mittees in the Church is done by the Executive Council and
ratified by the General Council. At the Regional/Area levels,
appointments are done by the Regional/Area Presbyteries on
the recommendation of the Regional/ Area Executive Commit-
tee. The District level shall be done by the District Presbytery
on the recommendation of the District Executive Committee.
21.2 Area Deacon
One qualified Elder shall be nominated by the Area Executive
Committee and all other Ministers in the Area to be voted
upon by the Area Presbytery. The candidate so nominated
shall be elected by two-thirds (2/3) majority votes of members
present and voting.
The Area Deacon shall hold office for four (4) years and may
be reviewed for further terms.
21.3 Procedure
The Area Head in consultation with the Area Executive
Committee shall present the reviewed Area Deacon to the
Area Presbytery to be voted upon, if his work is found to be
satisfactory. He shall win by the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of
the members present and voting.
21.4 District Finance Committee Chairman
The District Ministershall in consultation with the District
Executive Committee, nominate a qualified Elder to be voted
upon by the District Presbytery.
The candidate so nominated shall be elected by two-thirds
(2/3) majority of the members present and voting. His term of
office shall be three (3) years and may be reviewed for further
terms.
21.5 Procedure
The District Minister in consultation with the Area Head, and
the District Executive Committee shall present the reviewed
officer, whose work is found to be satisfactory, to the District
Presbytery to be voted upon. He shall win by the votes of two-
thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting.
21.6 Presiding Elder
The District Minister shall present one of the elders to be
voted upon by the Local Presbytery to preside over a Local
Assembly and the local presbytery in the absence of the
District Minister. Where this is not applicable, the District
Minister in consultation with the District Executive Committee
and approved by the Area Head shall transfer an Elder to
preside at a Local Assembly.
The term of office of a Presiding Elder shall be two years and
may be reviewed for further terms.
21.7 Procedure
The District Minister in consultation with the Area Head, and
the District Executive Committee shall present the reviewed
Presiding Elder, whose work is found to be satisfactory, to the
Local Assembly to be voted upon. He shall win by a simple
majority of the presbytery.

22.0 SOME OTHER OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR
AREAS, DISTRICTS, LOCAL ASSEMBLIES AND
MINISTRIES
22.1 Area Offices
1. The Head Office will always employ an Accounts Officer,
a Driver and a Secretary for the Area. The Area must,
therefore, seek written clearance from the Head Office
(with justification) before engaging additional staff. Where
an Area has more than the required number of non-Head
Office staff, it should find a peaceful way of reducing their
number.
2. Areas that have a bus and a pick-up must employ only
one full-time driver.
3. The Area may employ the following staff on full-time
basis: Three (3) Security Guards – for the Area office and
the Area mission house; One (1) cleaner who doubles as
errand boy/girl at the Area Office. In all employments,
Area Heads must liaise with the Head Office regarding
procedure to be followed, salary and service conditions,
income tax, SSNIT etc.
4. Where available, the services of Registered Security
Companies may be contracted by the Area to supply
guards for the Mission Houses and church buildings in the
Area. Districts and local Assemblies will then reimburse
the Area with their respective shares of the cost thereof.
Such an arrangement will enable the Area to negotiate
for a reasonable and acceptable deal with the security
company, which will benefit the local Assemblies and the
Districts. It will also lead to a better security coordination
throughout the Areas and reduce the number of persons
directly employed by the local Assemblies and Districts.

5. Head Office staff in the Area Offices are to be treated
in accordance with their conditions of service. The
Head Office pays their salaries, while the Area Offices
are required to pay their travelling and transport (T&T)
expenses to and from work (if any). If the Areas decides
to motivate their staff by doing more for them, they are at
liberty to do so.
6. Rather than seeing such a gesture as part of their
regular salaries, Area staff must acknowledge that it is
only a privilege which can be reduced or even scrapped
altogether. They should, therefore, not take offence if
their expectations are not met.
7. The Area Office may accept and honour invitations for
foundation stone laying and dedication coming from
locals and Districts within the political region in which the
Area is situated. Any ‘outside’ invitations to the Area may
be ignored.
8. Committee sittings must not attract any allowances. It is
highly recommended that the Area shows its appreciation
to Committee members at the end of the year.
9. Ministries within the Area should not make any donations
on their own without prior authorization by the Area Head.
Their incomes and expenses must all pass through the
financial books of the Area.
10. Area Offices should not grant loans to Area Heads and
Head Office staff in the Area Offices, except when the
Head Office confirms that payment of loans approved for
them has delayed. In that case, the Area may advance the
amount of the loan to them, pending the release of funds
by the Head Office.
11. The Area should not fund the Area Head’s unofficial
travels, whether local or foreign by way of fuel or air

tickets. Area Heads must separate their private travels
from those directly connected with their work as Heads
in the Area.
12. The Area should not fund, or even contribute in any way to
birthday celebration by the Area Head, his wife or children.
Such celebrations should remain a purely private affair.
13. Retirement packages for retiring Pastors must not be
given/taken in any form in advance. The package must
be given on the eve of the day of the retirement service.
22.2 District Offices
1. The District Executive Committee must first draw up the
selection procedure to be followed, and determine the
salary, fringe benefits (if any) and other service conditions
to be offered before any recruitment is made. The Head
Office may be contacted through the Area Head for
assistance if that is deemed necessary.
2. Where there is the need (to be established by the
Area Head, based on the number of Assemblies, total
membership, level of tithes, activities etc.), a full-time
District Clerk may be employed.
3. One (1) Security Guard may be employed for the Mission
House.
4. No Driver is to be employed for the District Pastor, except
where the Pastor has a medical condition that makes him
unable to drive. In such a case, the facts must first be
explained to the Area Head and his prior written approval
obtained. The appointment of such a Driver must be
tied to the Pastor’s stay in the District. In other words, if
a Driver is employed by a District because of a medical
condition of a District Pastor, that Driver may have to be
relieved of his services when that Pastor is transferred
from the District.

5. If the District has a bus then, one part-time Driver may be
employed to see to its upkeep.
6. Donations may be made to identifiable persons during
special occasions. These should, however, not be such
as to put undue pressure on the finances of the District,
and by extension, the local Assemblies under the District.
Districts are urged to give what their finances can
conveniently support.
7. The District should not fund the District Pastor’s unofficial
travels, whether local or foreign by way of fuel or air
tickets. Pastors must separate their private travels from
those directly connected with their work as Pastors in the
District or Area.
8. Additional fuel support given to Pastors should not be paid
as a routine allowance. Pastors on official trips should
either obtain accountable imprest for fuel or buy fuel and
claim a refund on their return. Any accountable imprest
obtained must be properly accounted for, supported in all
cases by relevant receipts.
9. Committee sittings do not attract any allowances.
Marriage Committees must not take anything from would-
be couples who come before them. The District may,
however, show its appreciation to committee members at
the end of the year.
10. The District should not fund, or even contribute to, the
Pastor’s birthday celebration or those of his wife or
children. Such celebrations should remain a purely
private affair.
11. Pastors, Officers and Members are not to take loans from
the District’s funds. They are rather encouraged to form
and join credit unions where, if necessary, they may take
loans from.

12. By virtue of being an employee of the District, the District
Clerk may be granted a loan by the District. The District
Executive Committee must take into account the salary
of the Clerk and the convenient monthly deductions that
can be made to arrive at the amount of loan to be granted.
Ideally, the monthly deduction should not leave him/ her
with less than 50% of the take-home salary.
13. Special programmes may be organized by all members of
the entire District to raise funds for specific projects such
as the acquisition of assets. These programmes must
however fall within the three allocated weeks in a year
14. Mission houses and Church buildings must be equipped
with fire extinguishers and insured against fire.
15. To avoid undue pressure, donor-fatigue and harassment
of persons perceived to be wealthy, and a sense of
discrimination against those perceived as financially
not well-endowed, “Sponsors Meetings” at which only
certain people are invited to sponsor certain projects and
programmes of the District, must be discouraged.
16. While individuals are welcome to voluntarily make
donations in cash or in kind to the District as and when
the Holy Spirit leads them, all fund-raising activities must
be carried out by the entire membership of the District
and not selected sponsors.
17. During fund-raising, Districts must strictly comply with
existing policies on how this must be done to avoid
sanctions.
18. Retirement packages for retiring Pastors must not be
given/taken in any form in advance. The package must
be given on the eve of the day of the retirement service.

22.3 Local Assemblies
1. May employ only one (1) Security Guard on full-time basis.
2. Not permitted to employ a Secretary or an Accounts Clerk.
The local Secretary and the Financial Secretary should
be able to perform all official secretarial and accounting
duties.
3. Cleaning of the church buildings should be done by
Deacons and Deaconesses in the Assembly.
4. Local Assemblies that have buses may appoint one (1)
Driver on part-time basis to be responsible for the upkeep
of the bus.
5. Speakers sent from within the District (per the Speakers’
Plan) may be given money to cover their travelling and
transport (T&T) expenses. Such amounts should come
from the freewill offering and not from any designated
fund.
6. Pastors who visit Assemblies within their Districts must
not be paid T&T during such visits. Gifts may be given to
the Pastor at any other time.
7. Donations on the occasion of church building/mission
house dedication, foundation stone laying, retirement of
officers etc. should be limited to the Area. Funds for the
purpose must come from the local fund only.
8. Financial support, such as T&T and other genuine
reimbursements to officers and members in the course
of their service to the Assembly must come from the local
fund. Unauthorized payments, such as sitting allowance,
must not be made to ministers, officers and members.
9. Expenses on land or church building documentation
must come from the Local Development Fund (LDF) or
funds raised locally for the purpose. However, part of the
Headquarters grant may be used to support.
22.4 Directorates of Ministries
1. Head Office staff in the Directorates is to be treated in
accordance with their conditions of service. The Head
Office pays their salaries as well as their travelling and
transport (T&T) expenses to and from work. The staff
should not expect any farewell donation when they are
transferred from the Directorates.
2. Ministry Directorates should not give loans to ministers,
Head Office staff and Committee members.
3. End-of-year honorarium to be paid to Committee members
must be in accordance with rates determined by the Head
Office.
4. Travelling and Transport (T&T) paid to Committee
members must be reasonable and based on the distances
members cover.
5. Should a Committee member attend different meetings
during one trip, only one T&T must be paid.
6. The regular fuel allowance paid to Ministry Directors is
in respect of normal town running. Additional fuel would
be supplied by Head Office for official trips outside Accra.
7. Clear approval by Head Office is required before a Ministry
purchases an additional vehicle. Once purchased,
the emoluments of the additional Driver, fuel and
maintenance cost etc. on the vehicle shall be borne by
the Ministry.
8. Support to the Deputy Director and Secretary of the
Ministry must be paid quarterly, and the quantum must
be discussed with the Head Office.

9. All kinds of donations and farewell packages must be
given in consultation with and approval of the Head
Office. It must not be given/taken in any form in advance.
The Ministry Directors cannot determine the package. It
must be left to the appointing authority i.e. the Executive
Council.
10. Ministries must hold prior consultations with Head Office
before entering into any co-operation/agreement with
any para-Church organization, government department
or agency.
11. Ministries on their own should not contract any loans.
12. To avoid complications with taxation arising out of the sale
of fabrics, the sales should be accounted for separately
and tax on profits paid accordingly, with quarterly reports
thereon to the Head Office.
13. The Ministry should not fund, or even contribute, to
celebration of the Director’s birthday, or those of his
wife/her husband or children. Such celebrations should
remain a purely private affair.
14. The Head Office must be consulted before any additional
staffs are recruited.

23.0 CHURCH SERVICE
Church services are held on the Lord’s Day (Sunday). There
are also evening services on Wednesdays for cell group Bible
studies and Fridays for teaching and prayers. Friday mornings
are also reserved for fasting and intercessory prayer, healing
and Holy Spirit baptism in all assemblies. There are also
evening meetings for Ministries on approved meeting days.
Services may also be held whenever necessary.
Ministers must ensure that appropriate messages should be
preached to suit all occasions. In addition, conscious effort
should be made to keep to time in all Church programmes.
Time must not be spent waiting for people to be present
before services are started. In the same vein, programmes
should not be unduly prolonged.
23.1 Purpose:
a. To deepen the spiritual lives of the saints;
b. To study the Word of God;
c. To pray for the needs and healing of believers and
unbelievers;
d. To propagate the gospel of Christ;
e. To share fellowship among believers.
23.2 Duration of Church Service
Normal Sunday services do not exceed three (3) hours.
Announcements should be made as concise and precise as
possible and unimportant items which prolong services cut off.
As much as possible, conductors should avoid commenting
on every item on the programme of service. It is expected that
the person who chairs the meeting controls and conducts the
service. Conductors play the intermediary role of assisting the
Chairperson to steer the affairs of the service.

23.3 Introduction of Functionaries/Dignitaries
Conductors of meetings/services should introduce and
address dignitaries and functionaries with modesty and
decency to avoid over-elaborations and embarrassments.
Long introductions couched in flowery language should be
avoided as much as possible. The conductor who is assigned
to do the introductions should be permitted to introduce all
dignitaries present.
23.4 Visitors to our Church Service
Special interest should be shown in all visitors to our Church
services and programmes because such people are potential
Church members. Conscious efforts should be made to retain
some of such people in the Church.
23.5 Respecting the use of other Languages in the Church
The use of the Twi language is dominant in some places
where other languages prevail. This practice may make
our worshipping session foreign and unattractive to such
neglected language users. Where such language speakers
exist in considerable numbers, interpretation should be
encouraged to ensure that no one is sidelined linguistically.
23.6 Role of Deacons and Deaconesses
Deacons and Deaconesses must be recognised and made to
function in their roles. Ushers should not be seen as having
taken over the duties of deacons and deaconesses. Other
officers must be made to play their normal roles.
23.7 Public Reading of Scripture
Ministers and Officers are to encourage public reading of the
Scriptures during Church services to facilitate familiarity with
the Scriptures. The situation whereby everybody is singing
without testimonies and Bible reading is not healthy.

23.8 Emergency Local/District Officers’ Meeting
The situation whereby officers are made to wait after every
Sunday service for meetings is discouraged. Local and
District Officers’ meetings are to be held once a month at the
convenience of the Local Assembly or District.
23.9 Wedding Programmes
Punctuality at and during weddings and other programmes
should be observed. Couples are to be educated to desist
from keeping Church members waiting for their arrival.
23.10 Church Attendance by Ministers
Ministers and their families are obliged to attend evening
services. “Do not neglect the house of the LORD”(Neh. 10:39)
and “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the
habit of doing…” (Heb.10:25).
23.11 Prayer Meetings
It is incumbent on all Ministers to organise fasting and prayer
meetings for their people in order to meet their spiritual
needs. It is not right for Ministers to arrange all-night services
and other prayer meetings and then refuse to participate in
the meetings themselves.
23.12 Worship
a. Musical instruments are played with the singing of songs
but laid down during the prayer of adoration.
b. Shutting of Church doors during worship is discouraged.
However, late-comers are politely directed to sit on
the back pews until the end of the worship (prayer of
adoration). A reasonable period of silence before the
close of the worship session is encouraged.
c. The practice of greeting on the platform whilst service is
in progress should be discouraged.

23.13 Modesty in Dressing
Both males and females should dress modestly.
23.14 Singing Groups
Singing groups are encouraged to sing Pentecostal songs
rather than merely entertaining with non-Pentecostal songs.
The number of singing groups is determined by the size of
the District or the Assembly. Uniforms used by such singing
groups should be decent.
23.15 Production of Songs of The Church of Pentecost
One of the treasured heritages of the Church is its songs.
The Church has the responsibility to maintain the purity and
integrity of its songs.
It must be the responsibility of all to educate the Church
public on the correct use of the Church’s songs. Below are
the measures for Ministers’ compliance and education:
a. Any person who intends to produce the Church’s songs
should contact the National Music Committee for proper
lyrics of the songs, tunes and other directives.
b. When in doubt about a song one is using, the Pentecost
Hymnal can be consulted.
23.16 Seating Arrangement
The Minister and the Elders should occupy local platforms
in order to bring some decorum to the Church as a body.
Instances where instrumentalists, for instance, occupy the
platform throughout Church services should be discouraged.
Ministry/Committee Leaders may assume the platform when
they have special weeks/activities. However, for special
programmes that demand open platform, the arrangement
shall be made to suit the occasion.

23.17 Registration with the Registrar General’s Department
For the purpose of legal functions such as wedding, it will be
worthwhile if all Church buildings, offices and mission houses
are properly registered. To accord Ministers the necessary
decorum associated with the vocation, all Ministers, excluding
Overseers, are to be registered and gazetted.
23.18 Launching of Musical Cassettes/Books
Launching of cassettes, books and other paraphernalia by
individuals at Church premises during normal Church services
should not be encouraged.
23.19 Tithe payment by newly created assemblies

24.0 CHAIRING A MEETING
24.1 Pray and Plan the service before you attend
1. How do you want the meeting to go
2. Selection of speakers
3. Make room for the Holy Spirit
4. Selection of Songs
5. Make your own time allocation
6. Pray about the meeting
24.2 Be at the service ahead of time and relax
24.3 Begin the service on time
24.4 Pay attention to what goes on in the service
24.5 Your role during the church service:
1. You hold the key to the Spirit-led church service
2. Do not get up ‘by heart
3. Do not talk on the platform, unless it is very important
4. Pay attention and catch the Spirit
5. Follow the Spirit and keep the service lively
6. Adjust the time
7. Correct false doctrine, bad testimonies, and false/faulty
prophecies
8. Help sharpen scattered preaching for easier understanding
9. Don’t spend too much time on good preaching, you can
give highlight on main points. Not every preaching needs
long prayer after the message; do the right thing at the
end, either one person prays or you give encouragement.
Then next item on the programme can be introduced.

24.6 Avoid talking always on offertory. Make it short
24.7 Make announcement brief. When you intend to speak on an i
ssue, let the secretary skip it.
24.8 Close on time
1. Put down your action plan till we meet again
2. What do you plan to do?
3. How will you do that?
4. Who do you need to help you?

25.0 HOW TO SETTLE CASES
25.1 Introduction
1. One of the most difficult aspects of the pastor’s job is
settlement of cases
2. Types of cases: husband and wife, issues brought by a
person, or issues between pastor and presbytery
3. Plan how to settle the case
4. Where it should take place; and how; who to speak first,
the message you will preach, or the passage you will use
25.2 Message/ Scripture to be read
1. Message or passage to be read: Very important at this
stage to reassure them to be certain that you have a clear
motive.
2. Maintain neutrality (Do not take side). Already there
would be tension and fear of manipulation. Present the
message in such a way that the people will believe that
you have not taken sides already.
3. Type of Message
The message may be upon the love of God; God preparing us
to be transformed into the image of Christ; unity within the
body of Christ; the devil’s schemes to destroy God’s people;
the need for justice in the house of God. The message must
be short and precise.
25.3 Welcome or Introduction of the case at hand
1. Introduce the executive, committee, or mediating team.
2. Ask each group representative to introduce their team if
more than one.
3. Allay fears: Allay their fear in order that people feel
comfortable to participate in and trust the process. Allay
the fears that men are always right or the elderly person/

senior is always right. Allay the fear of women that always
pastors will support husbands; allay the fear of elders
and the presbytery that always pastors will support other
pastors and allay the fears of members that always
pastors will support elders or officers.
4. Outline the process that you (all of you) will use to handle
the case. Discuss, recording or not; use of mobile etc.
Inform them that you are only assisting them to find a
solution to the unfortunate issue at hand.
5. Stress on the importance of settling the case instead of
taking it up. “The more it goes up the more you lose your
freedom as individual”.
6. You are not there to dictate
7. Inform them that you will have to give anyone the chance
before he/ she can speak
8. Everyone will have to take instruction from you, and to
address you.
9. Describe the process of handling the case: For example:
a. Each person/party will explain the situation from their
perspective while the other party listens – without
interruption
b. After one has spoken, the other will have the opportunity
to present his/her case
c. Help them to listen to each other properly, for example, for
the first time
d. After this, anyone of them may ask a question for
clarification.
e. Then hearing may begin

25.4 Your role during the case presentation
1. You will have to summarise briefly and kindly help each
party to reflect on facts, feelings, interests and needs.
2. You may need to re-state or re-phrase something that
someone has said for clarity purpose. Often you may have
to take away the negative aspect, and put it in a positive
way.
3. You may ask, or invite other parties to ask questions to
clarify various points.
4. You must identify and write down key issues
5. You must act firmly on interruptions
25.5 Your role after presentations
By writing down and paying attention to key issues raised:
1. You must find out common grounds: efforts each one
has made to settle the issue; frustrations; commitments,
love for each other or the Lord; where there has been
understanding
2. Ask of what can be done
3. You can break and consult if necessary
4. If you need to go and come back, you can do it.
5. Find possible solutions
6. You must state clearly what you have decided to do: who
will do what, and how; when to do; and where?
7. If confession or apology needs to be done, let them do it.
8. Pieces of advice
9. Close with Prayers
10. Make a follow up

26.0 CHURCH PRACTICES
26.1 Naming of Children
a. Even though children may be named during Sunday
morning services and offering taken for them, that should
be done on a Sunday morning when there is no second
offering so that the church is not compelled to take a third
offering
b. This ceremony is held in the Church, the home or any
convenient place, as is determined by the Local Presbytery.
c. Children born out of wedlock are not officially christened
at Church but are dedicated later.
d. Free-will donations are given at the ceremony provided it
does not constitute a third offering.
e. Elders are allowed to officiate the naming of children.
f. Fathers of the children are to be present or represented
in the naming ceremony.
26.2 Dedication of Children
a. This takes place in the Church premises.
b. As a rule, only Ministers officiate the dedication of
children.
c. Records of dedicated children should be kept by Presiding
Elders.
26.3 Water Baptism
1. Converts are baptised as soon as possible. Baptism is
administered upon the testimony of the convert, that is,
the convert confessing Christ openly after this manner.
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God; I accept that He
died for my sins and He resurrected for my justification,
and because of that I accept Him as my Lord and personal
Saviour.

2. Regular or monthly baptismal services are encouraged in
all Districts.
3. Candidates are immersed once in water in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew
28:19).
4. Baptismal Certificates are issued immediately or
thereafter.
5. The right-hand of fellowship is extended after taking
genuine converts through systematic new convert classes.
6. Water baptism is done by Ministers only
26.4 Church Membership Registers for Each Assembly
a. Ministers are to ensure that all assemblies, however
small, open Membership Registers. These registers,
which are to be updated every six months by the
presbytery, will ensure the maintenance of better records
within the Church. These registers could be purchased at
the Headquarters.
b. Computerisation of this register has many advantages for
the Local Assembly.
26.5 Assets Register
Every Assembly, District, Area, Ministry, Board, and Committee
should have a book in which all properties of the Church are
entered. The Register contains a list of items purchased with
dates, cost, serial number and, where applicable, name of
donor. Copies of this register are kept at the Local, District
and Area Offices.
26.6 Breaking of Bread or Lord’s Supper
1. There is usually, no clapping and dancing until after the
communion. It is a commemorative occasion.
2. It is held solemnly at least monthly in all Assemblies.
3. Left-over bread (emblem) is disposed off.

4. Hand-shaking after communion is optional.
5. Giving of the right-hand of fellowship takes place before
the celebration.
6. Members take the emblems (bread) personally.
7. Members partaking of the communion come to the table
instead of it being taken to them in their seats, except
where this is not possible.
8. The Lord’s Supper sacrament is celebrated on the first
Sunday of each month. However, it is also celebrated on
a convenient day and time fixed by the Minister. It is not
necessarily tied to tithing day.
26.7 Reports from the Ministries
a. Ministries are to report half-yearly to their Directors.
b. Ministers are to ensure that all ministries are fully
operational.

27.0 MARRIAGE
Before the marriage is blessed, announcements shall be
made before the congregation on three consecutive Sundays,
until the specified date becomes due.
27.1 HIV/AIDS Test and Marriage
No policy in The Church of Pentecost compels prospective
couples to undergo HIV/AIDS tests as a necessary condition
for recognition, acceptance and blessing of marriage.
Ministers, Presiding Elders, Marriage Committees only advise
the would-be couple to undergo the HIV/AIDS test in their own
interest. Should the couple agree to undergo the test, pre and
post test counselling should be arranged for them.
27.2 Weddings
1. All weddings in the Church are made as simple as
possible. Ministers and Church leaders must ensure
that donations, gifts and offerings collected at wedding
ceremonies get to the couple in a safe manner.
2. Holding of wedding ceremonies on Sundays is
discouraged. Weddings may be performed on any day of
the week except Sunday. The reason is that, weddings
that are conducted on Sundays usually disrupt the normal
Church service.
3. Only visitors and specially invited guests are refreshed
after the wedding service.
4. Banns (of Marriage) are raised.
5. Old and new marriages in the Church are registered at the
Law Court/Metropolitan/Municipal/District Councils.Also
in the church by the Marriage Officer (The gazette and
trained Minister of the Church)
6. Vows are pronounced by both bride and bridegroom.

7. Veil: Those to wear the veil include:
a. First-time marriage couples
b. Widows
NB: The veil is to be removed immediately after the father gives
the bride to the bridegroom and before the vows.
8. Rings: Two rings are exchanged.
9. Marriage Certificates:
a. Ordinance Certificates are signed by two representatives
each of both the Bride and Bridegroom.
b. Church Certificates are signed by one representative each
of both Bride and Bridegroom and two representatives
from the Church.
27.3 Blessing of Marriages
1. Existing customary marriages are regularized into
ordinance at the Law Court/Metropolitan/Municipal/
Distrcit Councils, also by a Marriage Officer (The gazette
and trained Minister of the church) and blessed later
at the Mission House or at Church Hall. (Whichever is
registered for marriages)
2. No veil is used for existing marriages.
3. Mass blessing of existing marriages is encouraged.
27.4 Expression of Gratitude
Going round from place to place to express thanks after
wedding, funeral, farewell services, etc., is not encouraged.
27.5 Status of the Polygamist/Second Wife
They are excluded from being given the right-hand of
fellowship, giving testimonies, or becoming officers of the
Church.

27.6 Family Planning for the Married Couple
The Church accepts the service of a qualified medical
practitioner in this Area. However, the Church is opposed to
any method that promotes immorality and termination of life.
27.7 Issuance of Church Certificate
All Church certificates, comprising Marriage, Baptismal and
Dedication certificates are duly stamped and signed by the
Officiating Minister and entered into a record book with dates.
Such Official documents are kept securely.
27.8 Issuance of Identity Cards
1. Transferred members and officers are accepted into
membership after producing identity and personal record
cards.
2. All identity cards of the Church issued to members and
officers are stamped and signed by the Ministers of the
Church at the respective District or Area of the holder.

28.0 CHURCH FINANCE
28.1 Tithes and Offerings
This is the Church’s main source of income. The Bible
commands all believers to give one-tenth of their income
towards the promotion of God’s Kingdom. It is the duty of
Ministers and Officers to pay their tithes faithfully and to teach
members to do same.
All tithes paid at the local assemblies are sent to the District
Office at the end of every month, and they are compiled on a
District Accounts Sheet and sent to the Area Office for onward
submission to the Head Office.
28.2 Development Funds
1. Local Development Fund (LDF) is 10% of total net tithes
received at the Local Assembly. This is taken from the
tithes after allowable expenses have been deducted at
the end of the month for projects and administration.
2. District Development Fund (DDF) is 10% of the total
net tithes received from the Local Assemblies. This is
taken from the tithes after allowable expenses have
been deducted at the end of the month for projects and
administration.
3. Area Development Fund (ADF) is 10% of the total net
tithes received from the Districts. This is taken from the
tithes after allowable expenses have been deducted at
the end of the month for projects and administration.
28.3 Accelerated Infrastructural Development Fund (AIDF)
The Areas are to deduct 10% of the net tithes coming to
them as AIDF. The AIDF deducted should be disbursed
monthly to finance the construction of Mission Houses and
Church buildings. The Areas should submit monthly returns
on the disbursement of the AIDF to Headquarters, using the

AIDF report form. The beneficiary Districts and Assemblies
should submit returns on the use of the fund together with
the supporting receipts to the Areas within three (3) months.
The returns from the beneficiaries are to be forwarded to
Headquarters.
28.4 Requests for Financial Assistance from the Head Office
All applicants seeking financial assistance from the Head
Office should provide adequate information to enable Head
Office/Finance Board take informed decisions.
28.5 Fund-Raising
1. The Local Ministries run their normal Ministry programmes
on the specific days assigned them.
2. Offerings taken during week-long programmes, together
with proceeds from normal Local Ministry programmes,
is to be distributed at 50% to the Local, and 50% of the
cumulated local proceeds to be kept at the District level,
50% of the cumulated District proceeds to be kept in
Areas and 50% of the cumulated Area proceeds be sent
to the Headquarters.
3. No Ministry targets are given at any level.
4. No levies should be imposed by any Ministry on members.
5. Only one offering is to be taken during Ministry
programmes.
6. Appeals made during services, in support of visitation to
Leaders and Pastors in their presence are discouraged,
as these are very embarrassing, particularly when visitors
are in attendance.
7. Existing general directives on mode of offerings are
adhered to at all levels. For example, calling up people
to offer specific sums of money beginning from larger
to lower amounts, etc., is unacceptable in the Church.
People should be encouraged to give willingly and not
under compulsion.
8. Tithes are to be taken every Sunday as usual.
9. No monthly payments should be made by Local Assemblies
into any District Fund. This has the tendency to encourage
unapproved deductions from tithes at the local level in
order to meet demands for monthly contributions to the
District Fund.
10. Missions Offerings are to be taken on the first Sunday of
every month as usual.
11. During conventions, only one offering will be taken in
each session/ service, except on Sunday when tithes will
be taken in addition.
12. Tithes taken during convention Sundays are added to the
tithes of the local or District in which the convention is
taking place.
13. Free-will Offerings should remain free indeed; that is,
without compulsion.
14. The offering bowl should be kept at its usual place for
anyone with thanksgiving or free-will offering to offer.
Those who may want to give any offering during singing
may give without compulsion.
15. No announcements are to be made for Free-will Offerings.
16. There should be not more than two (2) offerings on
Sundays (i.e. either tithes and any other designated
offering or tithes and Local Fund).
17. Only one offering is taken during an evening service or
prayer meeting.
18. Child-naming, funeral donation on behalf of the Local
Assembly shall be given from the Local Fund

19. The Local Assemblies are run with:
a. LDF, which is taken at the end of the month and shown on
the Tithes Sheet. The LDF may be used for administration
and projects;
b. Offerings from local services/programmes, and
c. Any special offering the Local Assembly may take for her
needs.
20. Districts are run from:
a. DDF, which is taken at the end of the month and shown on
the Tithes Sheet. The DDF may be used for administration
and projects
b. the three approved offerings that the District may take
during the year, and
c. District Prayer meeting offerings.
21. Areas are run from:
a.. ADF, which is taken at the end of the month and shown on
the Tithes Sheet. The ADF may be used for administration
and projects;
b. The approved three offerings that the Area may take
during the year through Area programmes, and
c. Area Prayer meetings.
28.6 Contracting Loans in the Church
28.6.1 Loans From Banks
Areas, Districts and Assemblies are not to contract loans in
the name of the Church towards development projects within
the Church as this act is not in consonance with the spirit of
our covenant with the Lord.
There should be no hiding behind individuals, who contract
loans for Areas, Districts and Assemblies in their names.

Individual Ministers, however, are permitted to contract
personal loans from the banks. These loans should, however,
be judiciously serviced in order not to drag the name of the
Church into disrepute. All should, however, be guided by the
Church’s principles and covenant with the Lord.
The Executive Council will not take kindly to any Minister
whose mismanagement of a loan contracted blemishes the
Church.
Head Office will, however, continue to assist Ministers with
loans for building and salary advances. This assistance will,
however be given within the limitations of the budget.
28.6.2 Loans From Individual Members
Loans obtained from individual members to finance projects
are not allowed since many Assemblies could be indebted to
some of their own members and thereby cause dissatisfaction
within the rank and file of their congregations. Donations are
accepted from members only if they give them out of their
own volition.
28.6.3 Loans For Foreign Travels
Ministers are to desist from taking loans to embark on foreign
travels or buying air-tickets on credit from travel agencies.
They should as well desist from soliciting for funds during
their external travels.
28.7 Deductions at Source
Deductions made after offerings before the balance is
recorded in the accounting books are discouraged. Rather,
the total offering is entered in the books before the required
deductions are made. This shows the proper state of the
accounts.

28.8 Misappropriation of Funds
Whenever an Officer misappropriates Church funds, the Area
Deacon reports the matter to the Area Head for investigation
and appropriate action to be taken.
In the case of a Minister, a report is submitted to the Chairman
of the Church for action. In the case of the Area Deacon, the
Area Executive Committee takes the necessary action in
consultation with the Chairman of the Church.
28.9 Financial Returns
It is an offence to hold designated funds intended for
Headquarters for more than one month.
28.10 Purchase of Vehicles by District Ministers/Overseers
All District Ministers should consult their respective Area
Heads for the requisite approval before purchasing District
vehicles. Arbitrary replacement of vehicles every two to
three years is discouraged. Area Heads must also ensure
that strong and durable vehicles are procured. Ministers are
discouraged from buying expensive 4-Wheel Drive vehicles
and other costly vehicles that are difficult and expensive to
run and maintain. Ministers within towns and cities with good
roads are encouraged to use saloon cars.
Districts which would want to use vehicles apart from saloon
cars may consider others like KIA Sportage, Suziki Vitara,
Toyota RAV 4, or any of the vehicles in that range.
28.11 Printing of Brochures
All official brochures (retirement/funeral) printed at the
expense of the Head Office are first sent to the Head Office in
draft before being forwarded to the Press.

28.12 Transport Expenses for Widows of Departed Ministers
All widows of departed Ministers are paid their travelling
expenses and allowances to and from conventions and rallies,
etc. Such allowances are paid by the host District, Area or
Ministry.
28.13 Establishment of Scholarship Schemes
The Headquarters has instituted a scholarship scheme to
sponsor needy children. Areas, Districts and Ministries are
encouraged to establish scholarship schemes to cater for
needy but brilliant children. Individual members of the Church
who are sponsoring needy children are to be encouraged to
continue. (See Appendix D)

29.0 FINANCIAL GUIDELINES FOR MINISTERS
The following is an excerpt of vital financial policy Areas that
may be useful to Ministers
29.1 Keeping of Cash
It is the policy of the Church for every Assembly to keep
Banking Account. Where it is not possible, the Local Presbytery
may appoint a member of good standing as a treasurer. The
recording of the funds will, however, be done by the Financial
Secretary.
29.1.1 Procedure
For the appointment of such a member to keep their cash, a
meeting of the Presbytery must be convened and a quorum,
as prescribed by the Church’s constitution, must be formed
for this purpose.
Prior approval of the Presbytery is required before any change
of procedures can be effected.
29.2 Opening of Account
It is necessary to obtain prior approval before any Bank and/
or Securities account is opened. Approval shall be sought as
follows:
Head Office - Seek approval from the Chairman
Area - Seek approval from the General
Secretary
District - Seek approval from the Area Head
Local - Seek approval from the District
Minister
No Bank account and/or Securities account shall be opened
without following the approval requirements set out above.
29.2.1 Areas
The Area Deacon or the Area Secretary or one nominated
Elder will sign, counter-signed by the Area Head and in case

of emergency the Chairman. The Chairman shall therefore, be
a Principal Signatory to all Area accounts. In all cases the Area
Deacon must be consulted before cheques are signed.
29.2.2 District
The District Financial Chairman or the District Secretary or
one nominated Elder/Deacon will sign, counter-signed by the
District Minister and in case of emergency, the Area Head.
The Area Head shall be a Principal Signatory to all District
accounts.
In all cases the District Financial Chairman should be
consulted.
29.2.3 Local
The Local Financial Secretary or the Local Secretary or one
nominated Elder/Deacon will sign, counter-signed by the
Presiding Elder or the District Minister. The District Minister
shall be Principal Signatory to all Local Assemblies’ accounts
In all cases the Local Financial Chairman should be consulted.
29.2.4 Procedure for Opening of Accounts
1. For the purpose of opening an account, Locals will inform
the Districts, Districts the Area, and the Area will inform
Headquarters, setting forth the type and purpose of the
Account along with the name of the Institution and the
reason it was selected to hold the Account.
2. If District/Area/Headquarters is in agreement with the
request they will endorse it.
29.2.5 Changes in the form of accounts
If the Area/District/Local wishes to change the form of
account with a Bank, they need to inform the appropriate
levels, stating the reason.

29.2.6 Closure
Local/District/Area will inform the appropriate level, stating
the reasons for which they wish to discontinue a banking
relationship.
29.3 Authority Limits
The General Policy of the Church on Cash Authority Limits is
set forth below:
Up to GH¢5000 - Local Presbytery
Up to GH¢10,000 - District Pastor
Up to GH¢40,000 - District Executive Committee
Up to GH¢100,000 - Financial Manager/Area
Head
Up to GH¢120,000 - Finance / Admin Director
Up to GH¢500,000 - Area Executive Committee
Up to GH¢500,000 - General Secretary / IMD
Up to GH¢1000,000 - Chairman
Above GH¢1000,000 - The Executive Council
It shall be reviewed periodically
29.4 Petty Cash

1. Definition: All funds maintained outside the Banking
System used to pay minor operating expenses.
2. Policy
The respective Area, District and Local Finance Committees
should keep Imprest fixed by them in consultation with
the Area and District Executive and Local Committees.
No one payment out of petty cash should exceed an
amount fixed by the respective committees. All payments
above the fixed amounts should be by cheque.

a. The Area Accounts Person will apply for Cash Imprest for
the Area Office from the Area Head
b. The District Financial Chairman or District Secretary will
apply for Cash Imprest for the District Office from the
District Minister.
c. The Local Treasurer will apply for Cash Imprest for the
Local Assembly from the Presiding Elder.
d. Request for Petty Cash should be made by completing a
Petty Cash Reimbursement form for authorisation.
29.5 Loans and Advances
29.5.1 Building Loan
It is the policy of the Church to grant interest free Loans to
Ministers, subject to the availability of funds, for the purpose of
purchasing a building or acquiring a building. The application
so submitted must be supported with the necessary drawings
and documentations. The Church may also guarantee such
loans contracted by employees from the banks, provided
loans are contracted within the required limits.
a. Procedure
b. An applicant would apply on a form prescribed by the
Church, through the Area Head.
c. The Area Head will endorse the application to the Finance/
Admin. Director along with a synopsis of the applicant
covering his tenure, position, salary, etc. The Finance/
Administration Director will evaluate the application and
recommend it, if he is satisfied, to the General Secretary
for approval and thereafter send it to the Finance
Department for payment.

29.6 Income
29.6.1 Tithes and Offerings
Tithes and Offerings in each month should be between the
first day of the Church’s Calendar month and the last day of
the Church’s Calendar month inclusive.
For example, the first month’s Tithes and Offerings for the
year 2000 should include receipts made from 8th January
through 4th February, 2000.
Tithing Procedure
a. At the Local Assembly Level
1. After tithes has been taken it should be counted
immediately and announced to the congregation on the
following Sunday.
2. Teachings and Bible Study on Tithes and Offerings:
Teaching and Bible Study on the topic of tithes and
offerings should be intensified so that members would
not be misled by the false teachings against tithing
through the media and at the market places. Ministers
are required to organise systematic teachings on the
subject at least once every quarter.
3. Tithes of travelling members: During Communion week,
members who may be travelling or cannot come to service
on Sunday should be encouraged to wrap up their tithes
and offerings and pay them during the evening services or
in the next Sunday morning service. Where tithes are sent
through other members, the delivery of such tithes (not
the amount) should be announced to the congregation
when it is being offered. All absentee members’ tithes
so remitted and announced to the Assembly should be
receipted.

4. Tithes Counters: Counters of tithes should be changed
at least once every three months. The reviewed list of
counters should be sent to the District Minister who
should compile a comprehensive list for the District and
send a copy to the Area Head
Free-will offerings received by the Local Assemblies
should be used to help meet some of their local and
welfare needs.
5. Tithe of new local assemblies created from existing
assemblies with membership transferred from the
existing assemblies shall not enjoy the six months tithe
exemption, like the entirely new local assembly with newly
converted members which is exempted from paying tithes
for six months.
b. At the District Level
Ministers and Chairmen of the District Finance Committee
should cause to be compiled every month the local tithes
yield which should be read in the Assemblies on one Sunday
in each month before the next tithing day. A District Tithes
Evaluation and Monitoring Team should be formed to
effectively monitor the recording of tithes and related issues.
The monitoring team should be responsible to the District
Minister. Its functions are as follows:
To ensure:
1. That tithing procedures are followed.
2. That the Local Assemblies keep and maintain proper
books of accounts
3. That deductions from the tithes are those authorised by
the Church Executive body and specified on the tithes
statement sheet and the DAS, e.g. electricity and water
bills, communion expenses, rent of place of worship
(where applicable).

4. That the tithes should be counted in the presence of all
Elders, Deacons and Deaconess who attended Church,
after which the Chairman of the Local Finance Committee
and the Presiding Elder shall sign the daily offerings book.
The Local Financial Secretary shall fill in the Bank Pay-in-
slip and the money lodged in the bank the following day. A
Bank statement should be obtained every month for bank
reconciliation purposes.
5. Local Assemblies should be issued with Tithes Record
Sheets.
c At the Area Level
1. Area Zonal Checkers (otherwise called Area Tithes
Evaluation and Monitoring Team) should be appointed
who should visit Local Assemblies at random to check
their accounts and tithes. The team should comprise all
Chairmen of the District Tithes Evaluation and Monitoring
Team with the Area Deacon as its Chairman. The team
shall be responsible to the Area Head.
2. Area Heads should devise means of explaining to their
Presbyteries how the tithes are disbursed to enable them
appreciate the uses to which the tithes are put.
3. Area Heads should also publish once a month a composite
District tithes performance for the attention of the District
Ministers, their Executive Committee members and their
Presbytery.
4. Tithes targets should be used in preparing the annual
budget at reasonable levels. Economic indicators such as
inflationary levels, interest rates, unemployment, actual
Tithe performance, as well as growth of membership of
the Church, are taken into account.

5. All business ventures of the Church should tithe annually
on their earnings. This should be quite apart from payment
of dividends where applicable.
6. The Finance Board shall give annual budgetary targets to
the Ministries, but the Ministries should not pass these
on to the Areas, Districts and local Assemblies. A Ministry
that organizes a national rally or convention, however,
shall be given a specified target to contribute to the
Central Fund.
7. Convention Proceeds would be shared as follows: 50%
Christmas Conventions proceeds to be retained by the
Districts and remaining 50% sent to the Area Office. 50%
of total proceeds received at Area Office to be sent to the
Headquarters, while the Area retains the remaining 50%.
. For Easter Conventions, the Area retains 50% of
the proceeds and sends the remaining 50% to the
Headquarters.
8. A consolidated Headquarters grants would be disbursed
monthly to all the Areas to streamline and accelerate
infrastructural development in the Church. Request for
this grant should be made on the Headquarters Grant
Request Form and addressed to the General Secretary.
9. A statement on the use of the grant (with supporting
receipts) should be sent to the Headquarters within three
months of receiving.

30.0 CROWDED PROGRAMMEMES
30.1 Weeks and other activities
a. PENSIONS programme will now be organized on Sunday
only.
b. PENTSOS DAY shall continue to be organized at the area
level.
30.2 Ministry Weeks: Ministry weeks shall be organized as
follows:
1. Ministry weeks will now be held biennially (every two
years) with two ministries every year on rotational basis.
However, the Children’s week shall continue to be held
annually. The ministry directorate will decide whether to
use the week for convention or normal weeklong activities.
2. Area Heads are to ensure that all the ministries meet
at least twice every month at the local level without
interference.
3. Area Heads are at liberty to reschedule dates for all
Ministry Week-long programmes to suit their Areas’
convenience.
30.3 The allocated weeks for Areas and Districts
It has been noted that, apart from the approved three weeks,
some ministers are still not sure of what actually constitutes
another week-long programme. For the avoidance of doubt,
the following guidelines shall apply:
1. Weekly prayer meetings held on Fridays or any other day
by districts and locals is acceptable.
2. Periodic all-night prayer meetings or evangelistic outreach
programmes such as crusades and rallies, which do not
end with a special fundraising on Sunday morning, are
acceptable.

3. Communion week could be used for teachings at the
local/district level
4. Monthly District Speakers’ Plan
Ministers should make detailed Speakers’ Plan by
indicating names of speakers on the plan with ministry
days fixed. The weeks and others could be written as
footnotes. Ministers should personally take responsibility
Ministers are encouraged to take their messages and
ministry to the people; locals and districts/zones for
Pastors and Heads respectively. These are not weeks
once the proceeds are not brought to the seat of the
minister. However, any other programme that involves all
the local assemblies in a district or all districts/zones in
an area shall be considered as a weeklong programme.

31.0 GUIDELINES FOR REGIONAL COORDINATING
COMMITTEES
31.1 Guidelines
1. There shall be a Regional Coordinating Committee in each
of the Church’s designated Regions in Ghana comprising
all Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Area Heads in the
Region.
2. As much as possible, the Executive Council shall ensure
that every Church of Pentecost designated Region of the
Church in Ghana has an Executive Council member as
Regional Coordinator.
3. Provided that where there is more than one Executive
Council member in the Region, the Executive Council
shall appoint one of them as the Coordinator subject to
yearly reviews.
4. Where there is no Executive Council member serving as
Area Head in a Region, the Executive Council shall appoint
one of the Area Heads in that Region as Coordinator. The
appointment is subject to annual review and a Coordinator
may serve for further terms.
5. The Committee shall appoint one of the Area Heads in the
Region as Secretary.
6. The Regional Coordinating Committee may co-opt any
person(s) to its meetings.
31.2 Functions
1. It shall receive annual and half-year reports from Areas
within the Region, discuss the reports and present
a composite Regional report to the General Council
through the Chairman’s office with a copy to the General
Secretary’s office.

2. Make recommendations on intra-regional transfers of
ministers to the Executive Council for consideration.
3. Discuss recommendations for upgrading to overseership
and callings to the pastorate from the Areas and present
report to the Executive Council for consideration.
4. Investigate matters that may be referred to it by the
Executive Council or an Area Head in the Region and
make appropriate recommendations.
5. Receive, discuss and act on all memos coming out from
the Region and report on the memos to the Executive
Council.
6. Coordinate activities of ‘Head Office Ministers’ such as
PENSA Travelling Secretaries within the Region.
7. Perform any other functions that may be assigned to it by
the General Council or the Executive Council.
31.3 The Regional Coordinating Committee must also take note
of the following:
1. No Regional administrative structures should be
established.
2. No Regional programmes and welfare packages are to be
organized. These should be limited to the Areas, Districts,
Assemblies and Ministries, as the case may be.
3. All confidential reports from the Areas would still go to the
Chairman’s Office with a copy to the General Secretary’s
office.
4. The Committee shall encourage free discussions at
meetings.
5. The Coordinators should not lord it over the other Area
Heads.

6. The Regional Coordinating Committee must endeavour,
at all cost, to build consensus on all matters.
7. Areas would have to contribute financially to support all
Regional meetings.

32.0 PRAYER CENTRES
32.1 Name
A Prayer “Camp” shall be called “PENTECOST PRAYER
CENTRE” with the name of place of location indicated. For
example “PENTECOST PRAYER CENTRE McCarthy HILL”
32.2 Relationship To The Church
1. The Church of Pentecost expects its local congregations
to serve as prayer houses. However, prayer centres that
conform to the laid down biblical practices of the church
are, and will be recognised. These are led by ordained
officers of the church.
2. Two types of prayer centres are recognised: Residential
and Non- Residential.
3. No new prayer centres are to be started without the
prior knowledge and written permission of the Executive
Council.
4. No Local or District level prayers being organized shall be
turned into prayer centres. It should remain a District or
local prayer.
5. Prayer centres that are being operated on individually-
owned lands are to be regularised within a period of six
months; otherwise such centres may be dissociated from
the church.
6. Area Heads will from time to time assign Ministers to
officially minister at these centres. The centre leader and
the assigned minister should work together in leading the
session. Presiding elders (not necessarily centre leaders)
shall preside in assemblies where prayer centres are
operated. Visiting ministers to prayer centres must be
accorded the recognition due them and allowed to play
their ministerial roles.

7. Centre leaders are expected to attend all church meetings
including presbytery meetings, conventions and rallies in
their respective assemblies, districts and areas. Pastors
may include prayer centre leaders when drawing up their
programmes.
8. Prayer centre leaders should be permitted and
encouraged to use their gifts when and where necessary
during church gatherings.
The period of main prayer meeting at all prayer centres
shall be regulated by the area head. In addition, the
camp/centre may hold their normal weekly meetings
ONCE in a week.
10. Regular teaching seminars shall be organised by
area heads/ pastors/National Prayer Centres Review
Committee for centre leaders so that activities at the
Centres are done along biblical lines.
11. The use of titles such as prophet or prophetess is to be
discouraged. The approved title such as elder, deacon or
deaconess should be maintained. Calling to the office of a
prophet or prophetess is the prerogative of the Executive
Council and the General Council.
32.3 Practices at the Centre
1. The practices at the centre shall follow normal Pentecostal
service pattern as accepted in the church.
2. Registration at the centres should be without fees.
Offerings are to be taken to meet overhead costs such as
electricity and water.
3. Residential attendants to the centre must be requested
to sign in and out.

4. There shall be no specially prescribed attire such as white
or red for leaders or attendants. Dresses won should be
normal and decent.
5. Restrictions placed on women during their menstrual
period, the non-usage of shoes, and the practice of
handshakes as a means of impartation are not acceptable.
Kneeling before the leader should be discouraged.
Special stools or chairs designed and reserved solely for
the leaders are not allowed.
32.4 Doctrine
1. Biblical methods of healing must be applied. The church
frowns on the chaining of people perceived to be mentally
challenged or alleged to be demon-possessed. Care
should be taken so that the mentally challenged are NOT
chained under any circumstance. Violent persons are to
be taken to the hospital.
2. Unbiblical gestures such as shooting, caning, bombing,
hooting, clapping as a means of slapping the devil,
stamping, and blasting of Satan, should not be practised.
3. The promotion and selling of prayer aids such as ‘blessed
water’, ‘anointing oil’, candles, ‘Florida water’, porridge,
salt, lime and other food items are not allowed.
4. Biblical teachings and instructions on fasting and prayers
should be maintained. It is the leaders who are supposed
to fast often. The sick should not be forced or coerced to
fast. The practice where people fast on behalf of others
for a fee or gift is unacceptable.
5. The sale or supply of medicine or herbs by centre leaders
to counselee should not be used as regular substitute or
aid to divine healing.

6. When demonic spirits manifest themselves they should
not be encouraged to speak but rebuked and cast out
instantly (Mark 1:21ff). Manifestation of ancestral spirits
or the spirits of the dead also should not be encouraged
but rebuked and cast out.
7. A testimony of atrocities taken from the demon-possessed,
in written form and published or audio/video recording is
not allowed.
8. Medical cases should be referred to medical practitioners
where necessary. There must be vehicles at residential
centres to rush medical cases to hospital.
9. As the practice in the Church is, new converts are baptised
by ministers only. Prayer centre leaders or their assistants
who are not ministers of the church are not to baptise
new converts at the centres.
10. Divinatory consultation and providing people with secret
knowledge through this means is forbidden.
32.5 Government
There should be a management committee with the District
Pastor as Chairman and the Area Head as an ex-officio
member. It is the responsibility of the committee to see to it
that all guidelines for prayer centres are implemented.
1. Regular meetings of this committee are to be held as
regards the welfare of the centre and centre leaders. The
committee shall hold regular meetings to discuss and
handle welfare issues of the centre and that of its leaders
2. The committees are to submit Half-yearly and Full-year
reports to their respective area heads to be embodied in
the area’s report to the Chairman.
3. Members with healing gifts should operate within the
church instead of operating unapproved prayer centres.

4. In the event of the death of the leader, the Area Head
in consultation with the management committee will
appoint a qualified officer to lead. In the case where no
such leader could be found the camp shall be closed.
32.6 Environment
1. Proper accommodation such as chalets and good
sleeping facilities should be provided for people who
attend residential prayer centres.
2. The centre should provide good sanitary condition, a
place of convenience and should ensure environmental
cleanliness.
3. The centre should be accessible to good drinking water
and food where necessary.
4. Without these facilities a residential centre must be
closed down. It can only operate as a non-residential
centre.
5. Management committee shall ensure that the residential
centre gets these facilities before operating as such.
6. The counselee must be interviewed and separated out
according to type of disease they carry.
32.7 Control and Accountability
1. The Financial Policy of the Church of Pentecost shall be
applied in all financial matters. The use of Daily offering
Books, Payment Vouchers, Receipts, money counters, etc
should all apply.
2. Prayer centres/camps which does not operate with
an assembly there SHALL NOT take tithes and MO. All
attendants, camp assistants and the leaders should
attend their normal local assemblies on Sundays and
also pay their tithes and MO there.

3. Books for recording accounts must be kept and made
available for audit in accordance with church regulation.
4. The management committee shall put in place a finance
committee to streamline income and expenditure at each
centre. Personal gifts to centre leaders are to be excluded
from these controls.
5. Prayer centres that host local assemblies at the centre
should endeavour to follow normal church service
financial protocols. Local offering, tithes and missions’
offerings, as well as all other designated funds should go
to the appropriate quarters.Monthly Reports which include
souls won converts baptised, maximum attendance,
spectacular events and Statements of account shall be
submitted to the District Pastors.
6. The area and district executive are to visit the centre
regularly to ensure that it is conforming to our pattern of
worship, doctrine, and discipline.
7. The church (through the centre management committee
and area executive) is to assist financially when and
where necessary with projects at the centre.
8. A prayer centre operating in the name of the church
should at no point be considered a personal possession
of anyone.
9. All properties belonging to the prayer centre leader should
be duly documented and clearly separated from the
centre or church’s assets. All properties/assets acquired
by the prayer centres (especially land) shall be registered
in the name of the church with the right of administration
to the church’s board of trustees.
10. It shall be expected of all prayer centre leaders to fulfil all
the qualities required of an officer according to 1Timothy
3:1-7.

11. The leader and his or her assistants must be matured,
spirit-filled and baptised in the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3-4).
12. No person should travel from one area or district to
another with the view of opening a prayer centre.
13. Prayer centre leaders cannot ordain others to qualify
them to start their own centres elsewhere.
32.8 Discipline
The prayer centre shall be subject to the Constitution, Rules
and Conduct of The Church of Pentecost.
32.9 Recognition
Prayer centres that conform to the prescribed guidelines shall
be issued with Certificate of Recognition by the Executive
Council duly signed by the Chairman and the General
Secretary. The certificate shall be reviewed every four years.
Similarly centres that persistently refuse to comply with the
guidelines shall be blacklisted and may not be recognised by
the church.

33.0 CHURCH PROJECTS
33.1 Acquisition, Building Design Considerations and Construction
of Mission Houses, Church Buildings and Other Facilities
The high amounts spent on projects and property acquisition
call for the need to harmonize the processes of land acquisition,
design, construction and procurement of infrastructural
projects to secure a judicious and efficient use of Church
resources. These are guidelines for the management of
infrastructural projects:
1. Justification for the Project
There shall be enough justification before the
commencement of a project.
2. The project scope and objectives should be clearly
stated and discussed at the Executive Committee and/or
Presbytery levels.
33.2 Land Acquisition:
Steps to be taken when acquiring a piece of land
33.2.1 Before payment:
a. Demand the Site Plan or Cadastral Plan of the very land
offered.
b. Verify that the Site/Cadastral Plan is duly certified by a
Licensed Surveyor and approved by the Regional Surveyor
c. Conduct an official search by writing an application with
an attached Site Plan to the Lands Commission or Land
Title Registry as the case may be, to ascertain the true
owner of the land. Find out from land owners in the
community if the proposed seller is the true owner of the
land.
d. Refer Search Report to Estate Committees/Legal person/
Estate Officers for interpretation and advice.

e. Inspect Document/Indenture (if any) and ascertain
interest of Grantor/Seller in land. In particular, take
careful note of the unexpired term on the lease.
f. Send the Site/Cadastral Plan to the Town and Country
Planning Department of the Metropolitan/Municipal/
District Assembly (MMDA) to verify whether the intended
development conforms to the land use plan of the Area
g. Contact current owner as revealed by the Search Report
for proof of his/her existence and deal with him/her
directly so as not to fall prey to a fraudster.
h. Never pay for land until the above steps have been
followed.
i. Abandon purchase if Search Report indicates that the
said land belongs to the Government.
j. Ignore vendors/sellers who, in spite of what the Search
Report states, attempt to persuade you of their title or
ownership.
k. Deal with official or Licensed Land Surveyors only when in
need of a Site Plan or when determining land boundaries
or location.
l. Scrutinize land documents carefully for forged or fictitious
documents prepared in the names of real owners who
are ignorant of the sale of the land or property involved by
following the steps enumerated above.
m. The Pastor, the Presiding Elder, the Estate Committee
Chairman or designated officers of the Church should
make payment for the land.
n. Where part payments are made, there should be a
document which indicates when the remaining payment
will be made and the Church should ensure that
subsequent payments are made within the given period.

o. Receipts should be duly signed by relevant parties and
their witnesses.
p. Whenever you encounter any difficulty, please contact
the Estate Officers in Kumasi, Takoradi, the Head Office,
Accra or any other Area/city where Estate Officers are
stationed.
33.2.2 After Payment for Land
a. Preparation of Document/Indenture
This involves the preparation of a document that conveys
title to the buyer.
b. This document should be prepared by a Lawyer.
c. The names of two Trustees of The Church of Pentecost
shall appear as signatories.
d. A person who is not a Trustee of The Church of Pentecost
must not sign the Document/Indenture.
e. In all cases, please contact the Estate Officers in Kumasi,
Takoradi, the Head Office, Accra or any other Area/city
where Estate Officers are stationed.
33.2.3 Pre-Contract Stage:
The Church executes small, medium and large-sized projects.
Pre-contract activities include all activities up to and including
the signing of the contract. For medium to large-sized projects,
the following processes shall apply:
a. Choosing Consultants (Architects, Engineers, Quantity
Surveyors, Valuation and Estate Surveyors, etc)
b. Designing
c. Tendering
d. Signing of Contract

33.2.4 Design Brief /Requirements:
a. The Estate Committee should advise on the need to
obtain the services of a competent Architect/experienced
Draughtsman.
b. The services of professional Architects / Draughtsmen
and Engineers may be obtained at the Works Department
of the Metropolitan/ Municipal/District Assemblies
(MMDAs).
c. With the assistance of the Architect, discuss the project
brief (requirements) with the Area Head/District Ministers
and the Church Presbytery.
33.3 Church Building Projects
33.3.1 For Church building projects, agree on the following:
a. The seating capacity of the chapel
b. The seating space for Pastor/Elders, Deacons/
Deaconesses, Instrumentalists etc.
c. Storage Area for equipment,
d. Toilet facilities,
e. Children/teens meeting places and facilities
f. Nursing mothers’ rooms
g. Facilities for the physically challenged
h. Ancillary facilities like offices, wash-rooms, etc.
33.3.2. The following must be considered:
a. Building designs should make maximum use of natural
ventilation and natural lighting.
b. Window openings should be wide and high enough to
facilitate natural ventilation and lighting.

c. Aluminium-framed glazed sliding windows that restrict
adequate flow and circulation of air in the main hall of the
Church auditorium are not recommended. In particular,
windows that permit only one half (or 50%) of the opening
to receive natural flow of air are not recommended.
33.4 Mission Houses
For Mission Houses, agree with the Area Head, the District
Minister and the Presbytery on the number of bedrooms to
be provided.
33.4.1 Typical design brief for Mission Houses is stated below:
a. Living room
b. Kitchen
c. Storage rooms
d. Garage
e. Guest rooms
f. Library/Study/Prayer room
g. Master bedroom
h. Bedrooms
i. Family Areas
33.4.2 The following must be noted:
a. As much as possible, Mission Houses should not be
located close to Church buildings.
b. The Design must separate the private Areas such as
bedrooms, master bedrooms, family Areas from public
Areas like living-room and garage to achieve adequate
privacy.
c. It is advised that the number of rooms in a Mission House
should be of an average, five (5) rooms excluding one
room to serve as study/ library /prayer room.

d. Building designs should make maximum use of natural
ventilation and natural lighting.
e. Window openings should be wide and high enough to
facilitate natural ventilation and lighting.
f. Sliding doors and windows are not good in this part of
our world due to the weather condition. Therefore, Church
buildings and mission houses may not be constructed
with such doors and windows. However, if any Church
building has sliding doors and windows, they may not be
changed.
g. Windows that have been glazed with reflective glass shall
not be used on Mission House projects because they
compromise security and privacy during the night.
h. In large cities and urban centers, double occupancy
mission houses should be encouraged.
i. Designs for District Mission Houses should be cleared
with the Area Executive Committee with the assistance
of the Area Estate Committee. Similarly designs for Area
Mission Houses should be cleared with the Chairman of
The Church of Pentecost.
33.5 Site Survey
The Estate Committee will hand over the site to an Architect/
experienced Draughtsman/Builder to enable him carry out
a thorough site survey of any existing buildings on the site,
boundary fences and other enclosures, and any known
encroachments, underground services, rights of way, and
other relevant matters.

33.5.1 The Estate Committee/Architect would be guided by the
following:
a. Access to the site. It is important to ensure that vehicular
access to the site is good.
b. Levels and contours-elevated sites are generally
preferable to low- lying ones, being drier and easier to
drain.
c. Surface characteristics e.g. rock outcrops, etc.
d. Location and species of existing trees
e. Surface water flow on or around the site and the water
table
f. Existing underground services
g Subsoil characteristics (can it be used for construction,
back fill, base course, etc.?)
h. Existing structures adjacent to site and closeness of their
foundations to boundary line.
33.6 Sketch Design
An Architect/experienced Draughtsman will provide initial
design sketches based on the brief/requirement.
33.6.1 The Estate Committee should ensure that the Sketch Design
is thoroughly discussed with the Area Head, District Minister
and the Executive Committee/ Presbytery, depending on the
level of the project.
33.7.2 The Estate Committee should ensure that the Architect/
Draughtsman makes all the necessary changes to the sketch
before approval is given for the Working Drawings to be
produced.

33.6.2.1 Working Drawings
The Estate Committee should inspect the following Drawings:
a. Site Plan
b Block Plan
c. Foundation Plan
d Ground Floor Plans
e Sections
f Elevations
g Door & Window Schedule
h Electrical/Plumbing layout drawings
i Detailed drawings-showing critical construction detail of
roof, windows etc.
33.6.2.2 Structural Drawings
Structural drawings to be inspected are:
a. Foundation drawings
b. Column & Beams details
c. Floor slab details
d. Staircase and roof details
e. Structural Drawings should be produced by Structural
Engineers.
33.7 Landscape Design/Horticultural Works
Care should be taken in the selection of plants/flowers to be
used for the Horticultural works.
Some plants, example, Ceylon Sago or Queen sago palm
(common name) also called Cycascircinalis (scientific name)
are said to emit an odour that irritates the respiratory tract

of sensitive individuals causing a rawness and cough among
others. Consequently, advice should be sought from experts
in the selection of plants and flowers for horticultural works.
33.8 Obtain information about the cost of the Project–The
Quantity Surveyor
For the cost of the project, a Quantity Surveyor should be
contacted. Additionally, he/she will provide assistance in
Tender Documentation where necessary.
33.9 Development or Building Permit
a. Building Jacket should be purchased from the MMDAs.
b The Building Jacket must be filled and stamped by the
Architect/ Engineer.
c The drawings must be stamped by the Architects and
Engineers.
d Where required Fire and Environmental Impact
Assessment Report should be submitted.
33.10 Procurement of Works
33.10.1 Methods to be adopted on Typical Projects
a. Simple Works - Renovation/Minor Rehabilitation/Minor
Improvement
b. Invite a minimum of 2 Contractors/Tradesmen to inspect
the work and submit Cost Estimates (Quotations).
c. Get qualified persons (i.e. Quantity Surveyor or Experienced
Builder or Engineer) to examine the estimates and give
advice.
33.10.2 For Medium/Large-sized Projects
a. Open Competitive Tendering: Under this method,
the Client, acting on his own or through his Agents
(Consultants), invites Tenders/Bids from any interested
Contractor/Supplier. The Invitation may be through the

mass media or any other appropriate public notice. The
Tenderer’s Tender or]Bid is usually based on Tender/Bid
Documents for a non-refundable fee.
b. The Bidders complete the Bid Documents in accordance
with the Instructions to Bidders and submit them to the
Client (Church) at a Time, Date and Venue stated in the
Bid Documents.
c. The Client (Church)’s Consultants then evaluate the
Bids and advise the Client on the best (most qualified
Contractor/Supplier/Bidder) for the Works.
d. Selective Competitive Tendering (based on Priced Bill of
Quantities)
e. A number of suitable contractors are selected by the
Area/District/ Local Assembly to participate in a tender
for the works.
f. The suitable contractors must have been classified by
Ministry of Works and Housing.
g. Where in doubt concerning the foregoing 2 paragraphs,
seek the assistance of the Estate Committee or Projects,
Development and Estate Department of the Head Office
in Accra.
h. Tenders received are evaluated and a selection is made
of the most suitable Contractor. (An expert should be
consulted in this Area.)
i. Contract Documentation should be done by an expert.
j. The contract is signed and work commences.
k. NB: Do not enter into Oral Contracts because they may
lead to disputes, which may embarrass the Church. Refer
to Appendix 1 for Sample Contract/Agreement that may
be used on simple contracts.

33.11 Supervision/Monitoring of Projects
a. The Estate Committee shall supervise all projects.
b Visits shall be paid to the site as and when necessary.
c At the foundation stage visits by the Estate Committees
shall be as frequent as possible.
d The Estate Committee shall ensure that the works are
carried out according to the drawings and specifications
at all stages of the works.
The following shall not be permitted on any project:
i. Changing of reinforcement bar diameter and quantity
without consulting the Structural Engineer or the Architect
ii. Changing concrete mix proportions (e.g. 1:2:4-20mm
aggregates to 1:3:6-40mm aggregates).
iii. Inadequate lapping and cover of iron rods. iv Improper
anchoring of roofing members.
v. Inadequate slope for roofing. (The minimum slope shall
be 30 degrees).
vi. The practice of carrying out block work and concrete work
in superstructure before laying oversight concrete.
vii. All Projects should adhere to the following good practices:
viii Approved filling material shall be used and shall be
well compacted in layers before laying oversight concrete
ix. The use of concrete mixers and vibrators.
x. Locally available construction materials may be used
under the supervision of the Engineer or Architect.
xi. Formwork for columns and beams constructed should be
firm and strong.

33.12 Supervision/Monitoring of Roofing works
33.12.1 Church Buildings
a. Church buildings present a peculiar challenge because
they are generally long-span structures.
b. Before roofing, the Estate Committee shall ensure that
the columns have been constructed according to the
architectural designs and specifications
c. Columns that are not properly aligned should be re-
aligned/re- constructed.
d. The roof truss (timber or fabricated steel) should be
designed by a Structural Engineer and constructed by an
experienced fabricator and Roofing Contractor
e. Minimum gauge of roofing sheets (panels) should be
0.5mm
f. The use of long-span roofing sheets/panels is highly
recommended. g A minimum slope of 30 degrees shall
be maintained for roofing works.
h. Parapet (“secret”) roofs are not recommended for chapel
building projects.
33.12.2 Mission Houses
Parapet (“secret”) roofs should be constructed as monolithic
elements and not as a reinforced concrete cantilever slab
with block work up stand.
33.13 Site Meetings

a. Site meetings shall be held regularly
b. Stakeholder meetings shall be held periodically as
necessary.

33.14 Reporting
The Project Supervisor shall prepare and submit periodic
reports to the Area Executive Committee/District Executive
Committee and Local Presbytery as the case may be.
33.15 Major Changes in On-going Projects (Variation Orders)
Major changes intended on on-going projects should receive
prior written approval from the following persons/bodies:
Item Level of Project Approving Authority
1 Local Assembly: Area Head assisted by Area Estate
Commitee
2 District Level: Area Head assisted by Area Estate Committee
3 Area Level : The Chairman of the Church & the National
Estate Committee
33.16 Payment for works in Progress
1. Payment for work done should always be based on
certification by the Project Supervisor (Estate Committee).
2. The certification should be based on compliance with the
Specifications and Drawings.
3. The Project Supervisor should ensure that retention
money is withheld in accordance with the Conditions of
Contract.
33.17 Introduction of Changes in Existing/Completed Buildings
Generally, the making of changes on existing/completed
buildings is not encouraged because of the:
1. Potential effect of the changes on the structural integrity
of the building;
2. Possibility of prohibitive cost implications of the changes.

3. However, if any such change is considered very necessary
by an Area, District or Local Assembly, then prior written
approval should be obtained from the following persons/
bodies:
Item Level of Project Approving Authority
1 Local Assembly: Area Head assisted by Area Estate Committee
2 District Level: Area Head assisted by Area Estate Committee
3 Area Level: The Chairman of the Church
33.18 Dispute Resolution
1. In the event of a dispute, the Project Supervisor (the Estate
Committee) should endeavour to resolve it amicably.
2. The Project Supervisor should act in an impartial manner
in the resolution of disputes.

34.0 SOME IMPORTANT CHURCH EVENTS
34.1 Sod-cutting Ceremonies
34.1.1 The following activities shall precede a Sod-cutting
ceremony:
1. Ensuring that the land has been properly acquired without
encumbrances
2. Completing architectural and structural design drawings
3. Acquiring building permits, (where applicable)
4. Preparing preliminary Cost Estimates. (approximate
estimates)
5. Securing initial funds for project commencement
6. Signing of contracts
7. The date of the Sod-cutting ceremony should be recorded
and preserved and a tree planted to commemorate the
occasion.Sod- cutting is done to mark the beginning of a
project.
34.2 Foundation Stone Laying/Dedication Ceremony:
Church buildings are dedicated on completion.
34.3 Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony
The essence of this ceremony is to commemorate when the
foundation of the building was laid. Accordingly, the ceremony
may take place when the building works are at the window
level.
34.4 Dedication Ceremony
1. A dedication ceremony shall take place when the building
works is complete;
2. Specifically, the following elements should be complete:
Floors, windows, doors, built-in fittings, electrical and
plumbing installations, ceiling, finishing and painting

3. Before the ceremony, it should be ensured that the Fire
Plan has been fully implemented.
4. Plaques for dedication and foundation stone are to have
“The Church of Pentecost” written on top, followed by the
usual “To the glory of God…”
34.5 Maintenance of the Facility
1. Estate Committees shall carry out periodic inspections of
the facility (mission houses, church buildings, etc)
2. The Committee shall compile a schedule of all noticeable
defects that need rectification
3. Appropriate steps shall be taken to rectify these defects.
4. Electrical Installations (including cabling and fittings) that
are 10 years or older should be assessed by an Electrical
Engineer/ competent Technician who will advise the
Church accordingly.
5. In addition to the above, the Estate Committee shall carry
out Planned Maintenance of the facility
6. The movable properties in the Mission House and chapel
shall be labelled appropriately.
34.6 Technical Experts/Advisors
Locals, Districts and Areas are advised to engage the services
of technical personnel to supervise building projects and
acquisition of other Church- related equipment in their Areas
in order to avoid shoddy work and acquisition of inferior
equipment which result in early high maintenance cost or
waste in the system.
34.7 Fire Fighting Equipment
To ensure the Church’s preparedness to confront the
challenges of unforeseen fire outbreaks that may affect any of
its facilities, Area Heads should ensure that Mission Houses,

Church offices, Church buildings, etc., are provided with fire
extinguishers.
34.8 Indentures and Disposal of Landed Properties
1. This is the sole mandate of the Church’s Trustees.
All indentures ready to be signed by the Trustees are
forwarded to the Head Office with a covering letter from
the Area Head. No landed property of the Church is
disposed of without reference to the Head Office and the
Trustees of the Church.
2. Area Heads are to compile and keep all original copies
of documents covering landed property in their Area.
Districts/Assemblies are to keep photocopies of those
documents.
3. Area/District Projections: Area Heads should consult
the National Estate Committee before undertaking Area
projects.
4. Districts are to consult their Area Heads before
undertaking District projects. Area Heads are to institute
monitoring mechanisms.
34.9.1 Sharing Of Properties Between ‘Mother’ and ‘Daughter’
District/Areas
In the event of the creation of new Districts a well-constituted
and appropriate committee shall be set up to ensure that
demarcation and sharing of properties are done in a fair and
equitable manner.
In the event of the creation of new Areas, the Regional
Coordinating Committees will see to the sharing of all property
involved. In situations where the Chairman of the Regional
Coordinating Committee happens to be the Area Head of the
affected Area, the Chairman of the Church would appoint an
independent Apostle or Prophet to oversee the sharing of

property.
This is to forestall a situation in which newly-created Districts/
Areas complain of unfair distribution in such procedures.
34.9.2 Developing Local Assemblies
Areas must endeavour to channel more resources towards
the development of the local Assemblies. In line with this, the
splitting of Assemblies into smaller Church fragments whiles
the mother Assemblies have not completed their buildings is
to be discouraged. This is, however, not to deter the opening
of new Assemblies especially in fast growing or developing
communities/towns/cities. In such cases the opening of new
Assemblies may continue, even though the mother Assembly
might not have completed their chapels.
34.9.3 Protection of Church Lands
It is the responsibility of respective Ministers to ensure
that appropriate fencing of all landed Church property with
appropriate and economical fencing material is done to
forestall encroachment on Church lands. The Minister is also
to ensure that legal documentation on Church lands are
obtained and kept securely. Copies of documents covering
landed properties are to be kept at the Area Office.
34.9.4 Erection of Sign Posts for All Assemblies
Every Assembly must erect a sign post to offer directions to
its location. Area Heads are to ensure that this is done within
their respective Areas. The approved design should be used
for all Church of Pentecost sign posts.
34.9.5 Proper Disposal of Items That Are No Longer Needed
Church items such as unserviceable PA Systems that need
to be disposed off are to be done in a transparent manner,
by a properly constituted Assets Disposal Committee and
indicated in the assets register.

APPENDIX A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made on the day of , 20 ,
by and between
Hereinafter called the Contractor and , hereinafter
called the Owner
WITNESSETH that the Contractor and the Owner for the considerations
named agree as follows:
SCOPE OF WORK
The contractor shall furnish all materials and perform all of the work
on the property at
Work Performed
Contract Price
The Owner shall pay the contractor for material and labour to be
performed under the sum of
Progress Payments
Payments of Contract Price shall be made as follows:
Time for Completion
The whole of the works shall be performed and completed in
weeks/months
Date for Commencement: Date for completion:
Signed this day of , 20
**AREA HEAD or AREA ESTATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

CONTRACTOR
Witness
Witness

**Area Level Project: To be signed by Area Head or Estate
Committee Chairman
District Level Project: To be signed by District Minister or District
Est. Comm.Chairman
Local Level Project: To be signed by District Pastor or Presiding
Elder

APPENDIX B
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST - GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICIAL
POLICY REGARDING MINISTERIAL EDUCATION AND AWARD OF
ACADEMIC DEGREES AND HONOURS
Recognizing the fact that quality ministerial education plays a
significant role in the growth and development of the Church, Ministers
are being encouraged to upgrade themselves academically. We are
sure this will enable them perform better to meet the demands of the
contemporary society.
Ministers are, however, cautioned that there are many unaccredited
institutions around misusing academic titles and honours. Accordingly,
Ministers should be sufficiently informed about the possibility of
becoming victims of such unaccredited institutions.
In pursuit of its responsibility to safeguard the image of the Church,
the Executive Council, acting on the recommendations of the Church’s
Credentials Committee, as a matter of policy, directs that:
1. The Credential Committee is the official clearing house of
the Church on matters relating to higher education and
accreditation for ministers.
2. Ministers desiring to pursue higher theological or ministerial
education should first contact the Credential Committee for
advice and guidance.
3. No sponsorship will be offered by the Church to any minis-
ter whose programme of study has not been approved by the
Executive Council on the recommendation of the Credentials
Committee.
4. Ministers, who acquire degrees from institutions that are not
appropriately accredited, will not have the degree recognized
by the Church.
5. Non-recognition of the degree means that the Church would
not use the titles or epithets against the recipient’s name in
official communication and documents.

6. Any claim of acquisition of a higher degree shall be thoroughly
investigated through the agency of the Credentials Committee
before it is accepted by the Church. The main reason is to help
our ministers have good and reputable institutions to equip
them for effective ministry.
7. Awarding institutions of honorary degrees need to seek clear-
ance from the Church before conferring the titles on the can-
didates.
8. Any certificate that is earned or awarded must be cleared by
the Accreditation Committee before it is used to avoid possi-
ble embarrassment.
When a Minister completes a course of study, he must first write
to notify the office of the General Secretary attaching a notarised
photocopy of the certificate that has been awarded to him. The
certificate so presented is then forwarded to the Church’s Credentials
Committee for verification and clearance or otherwise. If the certificate
is cleared, the Chairman will then publish the award in a circular. It is
then that the minister involved can use the title, especially if it is a
Doctoral certificate.

APPENDIX C
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST- GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
GUIDELINES ON DISCIPLINE AND RESTORATION
1.0 MODES AND FORMS OF DISCIPLINE
Public Rebuke, Suspension, Interdiction, Downgrading,
Dismissal, Termination of Appointment, Excommunication,
etc.
2.0 PUBLIC REBUKE
Public Rebuke which is one of the modes of discipline
practiced by the Church is Biblical and it should be used
in circumstances where it would be adequate instead of a
suspension.
2.1 PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC REBUKE
(a) It should be done at the appropriate forum:
i. The National Level (National Executive Council)
ii. Area Level (Area Executive Committee, Area
Presbytery or Area Pastorate)
iii. District Level (District Executive Committee or
District Presbytery)
iv. Local Level (Presbytery or Congregation).
(b) The status of the offender should determine the forum to
be employed for the rebuke.
(c) In order to know the level of public knowledge of the
offence, Pastors and leaders should ascertain if it is in
public knowledge or not before deciding on the forum.
(d) Public Rebuke should serve as a final warning and a more
severe disciplinary measure taken should the offender
persist in that particular wrong-doing.

(e) In addition to the above, where an offence is not yet in
public domain and the offender confides in the leader or
Pastor and shows genuine repentance, the person could
be counselled to withdraw from partaking the Lord’s
Supper for some time.
3.0 SUSPENSION
An officer or member may be suspended from a lead role in
the Church’s programme and activities such as part-taking
the Communion, leading prayers/choruses, playing church
instrument, etc. The implication is that the offender is
suspended from spiritual fellowship with the brethren.
3.1 GUIDELINES FOR SUSPENSION
(a) Since suspension is a serious measure which calls for
the revoking of all appointments and offices held in
the Church, it is important to allow time for thorough
investigations to be carried out to establish the truth and
facts of the matter before suspending an offender.
(b) The practice of suspending for specific periods should be
discontinued. Suspension should be indefinite until there
is evidence of repentance.
(c) All disciplinary processes and proceedings should be
documented.
(d) The offender should be given a fair hearing.
(e) Ideally the offender should be made aware of the
decisions before they are made public.
(f) As much as possible, the offender should be taken through
a pre- discipline counselling ling in order to appreciate the
disciplinary measure being applied.

(g) The Minister in charge should be aware of the facts of
case and where possible meet the offender personally
before taking the decision.
(h) Where possible, the announcement of the suspension
should be done in the presence of the offender. However,
the announcement could be done in the absence of the
offender if the circumstances necessitate it.
(i) The circular letter issued on the case to inform the
Church public should be signed by the Chairman where
the offender is a national figure. Where the offender is
an Area level figure or Officer the circular letter should be
signed by the Area Head. Where the affected person is a
member it should be signed by the District Minister.
(j) The practice where specific seats are marked for
suspended persons should be discouraged.
(k) Announcement or pronouncement of the suspension
should not be done to ridicule or humiliate the person
but should be done in an atmosphere of prayer, love,
forgiveness and concern.
4.0 INTERDICTION
Interdiction is not an end in itself as a disciplinary measure.
It is employed as an interim measure to relieve a person from
his/her functions, pending investigations to establish the
facts of a matter that may require disciplinary action.
4.1 GUIDELINES FOR INTERDICTION
(a) The period for interdiction should not exceed three
(3) months. Unless the period is extended, the body
responsible for the investigation should submit its report
and recommendation for the appropriate action to be
taken.
(b) If a person is cleared he/she resumes his or her functions.

(c) Officers are to be interdicted by the District Minister in
consultation with the Area Head. However, in the absence
of the Area Head, the Minister can interdict an Officer if
the offence has the potential to mar the reputation of the
Church and the Office. He should later inform the Area
Head of the action taken.
5.0 TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT AND DOWNGRADING
Depending on the intensity of the offence committed, a
Minister may be Dismissed or his appointment may be
Terminated or. On the other hand, he may be Downgraded.
6.0 CONDUCT OF DISMISSED/TERMINATED MINISTERS
Dismissed Ministers whose cases warrant suspension should
be officially suspended and be restored into fellowship by the
Executive Council when appropriate.
(a) Dismissed Ministers should be encouraged to continue in
fellowship with the brethren.
(b) Where appropriate, dismissed Ministers could be brought
into leadership position, Elder, Deacon or any other lay
Officer position in the Church.
(c) Dismissed Ministers’ wives who were already Deaconesses
should function as Deaconesses.
(d) Ifnot privy to her husband’s offences, those who were not
Deaconesses could be called and ordained as Deaconess
based on merit.
(e) Dismissed Ministers should be offered a counselling
opportunity and be helped to come into repentance.
(f) Other Ministers should be encouraged to visit and share
fellowship with them.
(g) The Church should endeavour to educate its members to
see the dismissed Minister not as an outcast but still a
member of the Church.

7.0 EX-COMMUNICATION
If an ex-communicated member repents and wants to come
back to the Church, he/she must personally initiate the
process at the local level. The Presiding Elder should then
inform the District Minister, who will, in turn, inform the Area
Head, The person should go through the membership process
again; i.e., attend membership class and the Right Hand of
Fellowship should be extended to the person.
8.0 RESTORATION
8.1 DISTINCTION BETWEEN RESTORATION AND RE-
INSTATEMENT
Restoration should be used for the process of bringing back
a disciplined offender into fellowship. Re-instatement is
bringing a person back to his or her former Office.
Discipline is not complete without Restoration. Restoration as
a component of discipline has to be given attention.
8.2 SUGGESTED RESTORATION PROCESS
8.2.1 Counselling
A Counsellor or a mature Christian should be assigned to the
person under discipline to counsel him or her. In much the
same way mature people are assigned to support the person
to undergo a grief process to facilitate their healing.
8.2.2 The Place of the Restored
As part of the restoration process, a Minister or an Officer
could be called into a position of leadership. However, these
factors should be considered:
(a) If the person exhibits commitment to the Church and its
activities.
(b) The need to explore the readiness of the congregation to
accept the person back into leadership.
(c) lf necessary, the restored person may be asked to serve
in another Assembly or location.

9.0 SUGGESTIONS
(a) Discipline should be demystified. The congregation should
be made aware that discipline is a mark of the Church
of Jesus Christ. The congregation should be made aware
of the process of disciplining its leaders and members.
The best time to prepare the congregation on issues of
discipline should be when there is none at hand.
(b) The congregation should be encouraged to support the
person undergoing discipline and not to shun him/her.
(c) Discipline should be done based on facts. Therefore,
the disciplining authority should investigate the issues
thoroughly before making public statements. It should
not be based on information coming through gossip, word
of one informant or based on an individual’s sentiment
against the offender.
(d) A clause should be inserted into the Constitution to give
the Executive Council the power to apply other sanctions
not provided for in the Constitution, as provided for in the
Ministerial Handbook (Article 12 {e} sub iii on page 57).
(e) The most cardinal principle of any disciplinary process
is the Right of the accused person to be heard. It is,
therefore, essential that the person knows clearly of what
he/she is being accused. Every opportunity should be
given to the person to speak for himself/herself, call any
witness, seek the appropriate advice and cross-examine
anyone who testifies against him or her. Members being
offered the Right Hand of Fellowship should be made to
give a commitment to the Constitution and Rules and
Conduct of the Church.

APPENDIX D
PENTECOST EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME (PESS)
GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Rationale
The acquisition of appropriate knowledge and skills based especially
on Christian principles is the surest way of unearthing God-given
talents for responsible and productive adulthood. Poverty should
not be a barrier to acquiring the right education. As a caring Church
which is committed to playing its role in nation building, efforts shall
be made to support brilliant but needy people to realize their dreams
in education. Pentecost Educational Scholarship Scheme (PESS) is
being established to respond to the growing needs of brilliant but
needy people within the Church. The Scheme shall also serve as a
vehicle of evangelism. Once established, efforts shall be made to
ensure its sustainability.
1. Levels of the Pentecost Education Scholarship Scheme
The establishment of the Scheme at the Headquarters shall
not in any way supplant the existing Schemes at the Church’s
Local, District and Area levels. The Scheme at the Headquar-
ters of the Church is rather to supplement the efforts of the
Church at the other levels. It is expected that the following
Guidelines shall provide sound framework for the effective
administration of the Education Scholarship Scheme at the
other levels of the Church.
2. Governance of the Scheme
As a social intervention programme, the Pentecost Education-
al Scholarship Scheme shall be administered as part of the
social services package of each of the administrative Regions
of Ghana. The Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) shall
coordinate the process by performing these specific tasks:
• Receive all applications in the administrative Region.
• Screen all the applications using the guidelines provided
for the PESS.

• Select the most qualified (one) person from the Region to
be awarded the Scholarship.
• Submit report on the selection process and details of the
student recommended for the Scholarship to the General
Secretary of the Church for the award letter to be issued.
3. The Educational Level of the Headquarters PESS
The Headquarters PESS shall be for Tertiary Level Education
only.The PESS at the Local, District and Area levels may there-
fore, concentrate more on Basic and Secondary Education. It
has been realized that some individuals, families and groups
in the Church have over the years been supporting brilliant
but needy students. This generous gesture shall be nurtured
and actively encouraged. As much as possible, information on
such “private” Scholarship Scheme should be captured by the
District PENTSOS Committees and the Area PENTSOS Boards
for onward transmission to the PENTSOS National Board
through the respective Area Heads.
4. Courses to be supported
All courses may be supported by the Scheme provided the
applicant qualifies in all other areas stated in the qualification
criteria. Priority shall however, be given to applicants whose
courses have high market value and consequently easy entry
into the employment market. Such courses include but are
not restricted to:
• Medicine
• Nursing and Midwifery.
• Engineering
• Accounts
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

b. Only courses with regular School fees shall be consid-
ered for the Scholarship. Fee-paying courses shall not be
considered for Scholarship.
c. Only Undergraduate Courses shall be sponsored un-
der the PESS. Exceptions shall however, be given to profes-
sional courses such as Medicine whose Undergraduate and
Postgraduate parts are integrated.
d. Regions, where for a particular academic year, no student
applies for an undergraduate course, applications for a
regular (non Executive type) Masters Course may be con-
sidered.
5. Transparency
In order to engender transparency in the administration of
the PESS, the Regional Coordinating Council shall devise all
means possible to ensure that the existence and operation
of the PESS are well publicized in all Local Assemblies of the
Church.
6. Orientation for all Awardees
An orientation not lasting more than a day shall be organized
for all awardees prior to the commencement of their courses.
Facilitation of the orientation shall be jointly planned by the
PENTSOS and the Youth Directors. The cost of the orientation
shall be part of the Budget of the Scholarship. The purpose of
the orientation is to lead Christ-like lives in School and to be
successful in their academic pursuits.
7. Submission of Academic Reports and School Fees
Payment Receipts
All beneficiary students shall within two (2) weeks on receipt
of their academic performance reports and School Fees
payment receipts submit the same to the RCC.

8. Mode of selecting beneficiaries of the Scholarship
i. Beneficiary must have applied in writing to the Regional
Coordinating Council (RCC) of the Church for financial as-
sistance.
ii. Beneficiary must have shown interest in academic work.
iii. Beneficiary must be financially needy.
iv. Beneficiary must have obtained admission to a tertiary
educational institution.
v. Beneficiary must have been recommended by the
Presiding Elder of the Local Assembly where the
applicants worships and the District Pastor, endorsed by
the Area Head and approved by the RCC.
vi. Where necessary, beneficiary must have passed a Special
Selection Examination organized by the RCC.
vii. Beneficiary must have completed an Application and
Social Enquiry Forms of the PESS.
viii. Beneficiary must have been assessed medically by a
recognized Medical Doctor on his/her state of health and
found to be fit to study without significant interruptions.
The cost of the medical test shall be borne by the
applicant. The Medical test is to be done by a qualified
Medical Doctor in any Church (Mission) or Government
Hospital. The sealed medical report should be submitted
to the Chairman of the RCC.
9. Coverage and Limits of the Scholarship
• The level of need as assessed by the PESS Committee
and availability of funds shall determine the coverage or
limit of scholarship a beneficiary shall receive.

• The scholarship shall cover only tuition fee. The limit
shall be Two Thousand, Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS
2,500.00) per beneficiary each academic year. This figure
may be adjusted for inflation.
The PESS funded by the Area, District and Local Assembly
levels of the Church shall be guided by the following:
• Emphasis shall be placed on Basic and Secondary
Education in the award of Scholarships.
• Scholarships to qualified brilliant but needy students in
Tertiary Educational Institutions may be considered when
funds are available.
• Skills training geared towards the economic empowerment
of the student shall be given equal attention in the award
of scholarships.
• The Scholarship shall cover only official School Fees.
• Other costs such as books, stationery, boarding and
lodging may be considered in only special cases and
when the Local Assembly, District and Area offering the
Scholarship has the means to do so.
• Special selection examination may be conducted where
necessary and appropriate.
10. Duration of the Scholarship
• As long as the Student’s academic performance is good.
• In spite of persistent counseling as a result of non-
performance by a beneficiary, the RCC reserves the
right to withdraw the sponsorship. ITI PENSA Travelling
Secretaries are encouraged to monitor the sponsored
students and also initiate appropriate counseling
remedies for those in needs.

• As long as the Student’s lifestyle is in accordance with
Christian Ethics and the School’s Regulations.
• As long as Funds are available.

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THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST

1.0 The Covenant 9

3.0 Core Practices 15

4.0 Full Time Ministry 20

5.0 Code of Conduct 30

6.0 Ministerial Ethics 35

7.0 Other Ministerial Dos and Don’ts 37

8.0 Reviewed Ministerial Welfare Practices 39

9.0 Operational Guidelines for Ministers’ Transfers and

10.0 Resignation/Termination of Appointment 60

11.0 Hand-over Notes 61

12.0 Pension Scheme 62

13.0 Other Regulations concerning Ministers 72

15.0 Channels of Communication 85

16.0 Management of Prophecy 89

17.0 Medical Treatment 91

18.0 Assisted Reproductive Services (ARS) 96

19.0 Funeral Arrangements for Ministers and their Spouses 99

21.0 Procedure for Appointing and Reviewing of Ofﬁcers 109

22.0 Some Operational Guidelines for Areas, Districts,

Local Assemblies and Ministries 111

23.0 Church Service 119

24.0 Chairing a Meeting 124

25.0 How to Settle Cases 126

26.0 Church Practices 129

27.0 Marriage 132

28.0 Church Finance 135

29.0 Financial Guidelines for Ministers 142

30.0 Crowded Programmemes 150

31.0 Guidelines for Regional Coordinating Committees 152

32.0 Prayer Centres 155

33.0 Church Projects 162

34.0 Some Important Church Events 176

1.2 The Church’s Part

3.5 Ministry of The Holy Spirit

8.4 Support and Gifts given from Church Funds to Ministers

12.9 Ministers’ Children Educational Support

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