Good News Theological College and Seminary

Good News Theological College and Seminary is an interdenominational pastoral and theological institution located on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana. Its mission is to provide sound Christ centered biblical education to church workers and leaders, fully equipping both men and women with ministerial, spiritual, and theological training for servant leadership in the African context.

Library

The approximately 24,000 volume seminary library had been housed in 2 classrooms in the main classroom building until June of 2009 when the new temporary library was completed on the second level of the men's dormitory.  The construction of the new  library proceeded only as funds became available. With the help of local and overseas partners, the job was finally completed and the move begun.  Students came back to campus during their summer break to help with the move. Carpenters were asked to build some new shelves to replace those that were no longer safe and to provide for many books that had never been shelved due to lack of space.  The opening of the new library is scheduled for August 28, 2009.

The rooms used as a library in the classroom building can now be converted back into much needed classroom space.  The library annex in the classroom building houses the reference collection and will continue to serve that purpose for a time.

GNTCS still needs a qualified librarian at least part-time to fulfill the requirements for accreditation.  This position could be filled by someone from outside the country.  Their biggest challenge in meeting this need is in finding the resources to pay another salary. Volunteers able to give about three months at a time would be welcomed with open arms.

History

Since Christianity was re-introduced to Africa by western missionaries, the Church in Africa has experienced tremendous growth. The growth has been especially phenomenal in the churches referred to as African Independent Churches (AIC’s), also known as African Indigenous or African Instituted Churches. African Independent Churches are planted, led, administered, motivated, spread, funded and supported by Africans for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and worshipping God in the context and worldview of Africa. AIC’s can be found in Egypt, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and Madagascar and represent more than 21% of the Christian population of Africa. AIC churches tend to attract those not comfortable with mainline churches representing a Western style of worship. They rather delight in African expressions of joy and worship. It is common for individuals to become pastors and leaders in the church without any formal training. The majority of students at Good News are already pastors and leaders in their churches. At Good News they acquire a knowledge base that serves to increase their understanding of the gospel message and their effectiveness in sharing the same.

When Good News was founded in 1971, the founders had a three-fold purpose:

• To educate and train AIC leaders and workers;
• To serve as a forum for dialogue between AIC’s and Western mission churches;
• To document peculiar experiences of AIC’s.

Today 

Although the AIC’s remain a target group for Good News, the seminary now serves all denominations and para-church organizations. The goal is to help students improve their understanding and knowledge of the Word of God, their commitment as followers of Jesus Christ, and their effectiveness in the ministry of the church.

The Good News Theological College and Seminary is governed by a Board of Governors selected from several denominational backgrounds, and representing a variety of professional interests. Members of the board are chosen on the basis of their personal interest and commitment to the aims of the Seminary, not as representatives of the church organizations.

Programs offered at Good News include full time (diploma and degree), part time (certificate), and a variety of extension programs. Faculty and Students are also engaged in evangelism.

"Training students to minister effectively and contextually is not the only objective of the seminary. Church leaders and members who do not have time to undergo full-time training also have their fair share of the ministry of the seminary.  They benefit from other educational programs of the seminary such as:  theological education by extension (T.E.E.), leadership seminars and workshops, film shows as a means of evangelism and education, training seminars for auxialiary groups in churches, and research and documentation." (from the speech by the principal at the 16th graduation ceremony, September 2007)

Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Oduro, principal of Good News Theological College and Seminary, authored (with others) a recently published book, entitled Mission In an African Way: a practical introduction to African Instituted Churches and their sense of mission, published by Christian Literature Fund & Bible Media, Wellington, South Africa, 2008. 228 pp.