Attempts to bring renewal and growth in the church are leading to the introduction of some contemporary ways of dressing to services on special occasions, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye has observed, advising that there is the need for all to manage trendy church fashion.
Speaking at the just‑ended March General Assembly Council at the Presbyterian Women’s Centre, Abokobi, the Moderator cautioned that while God looks at the state of the heart rather than outward adornment, certain practices risk sending wrong signals about the sanctity of worship.
“I am mindful of the fact that God is interested in the state of our hearts and not necessarily our outward adornment. One however wonders whether some of these trends are helpful to our ethos as a Church,” he said.
He cited examples of ministers dressing in ways that mimic traditional priests during services and posting such images on social media, as well as videos of men dressing like women and vice versa during youth celebrations.
“For example, on Heritage Sunday, one Minister was happy to dress like a traditional priest to church and post the same on social media. With the coming celebration of Youth and Students Week, I have also seen videos of men who dress like women and vice versa to church. When these do happen, they send wrong signals,” he noted.
While acknowledging that such practices may be intended as fun or a way to de‑stress, the Moderator stressed that they raise serious questions about the sanctity of worship. “I believe it is meant to be fun and to de‑stress but raises issues of the sanctity of worship service and the need to manage our desire for fun,” he said.
He urged church leadership to take a proactive role in guiding congregations. “I call on leadership to discuss and educate, so that as a Reformed Church we do not slide into a state of popular worship that is not focused on God but on the emotional expectations of members,” he advised.
