Assemblies of God Bans Use of Honorary Doctor Titles by Clergy
The Assemblies of God Church in Ghana has formally instructed its clergy to refrain from using honorary doctorate titles—such as “Dr.”—during official or public functions. The directive, issued via a circular dated July 11, 2025, follows a resolution passed by the church’s Executive Presbytery in May 2024. This move aligns with regulations issued by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), which does not recognize honorary doctorates—whether from accredited or unaccredited institutions—as equivalent to earned academic degrees. Under the directive, pastors who hold honorary degrees are explicitly barred from appending “Dr.” to their names. Clergy with earned academic degrees—be it bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D.—must submit their certificates to GTEC for verification before being formally recognized by the church. The Assemblies of God warned that non-compliance with the directive or GTEC’s requirements could lead to disciplinary action, including suspension from office. To […]