Lead Pastor of Revival Outreach Church and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, has shared his views on how the modern church should handle the christening of children born out of wedlock.

Speaking on Behind The Pulpit with MzGee, Professor Okoe Amartey reflected on how churches historically treated such situations and how attitudes have gradually evolved.

According to him, many churches in the past adopted strict disciplinary measures against parents who had children outside marriage.

Some congregations barred the parents from church activities, publicly reprimanded them, or even relegated them to the back of the church during services.

However, these practices have largely faded, particularly with the rise of charismatic churches that tend to adopt more compassionate approaches.

The growing acceptance of christening children born out of wedlock, along with what some perceive as leniency towards other sins, has led critics to argue that the church may now be condoning immoral behaviour.

Responding to these concerns, Professor Okoe Amartey emphasised that church leaders are human and should approach such situations with empathy rather than judgment.

“First of all, you don’t want to encourage it or make it appear as something others should emulate. At the same time, you want to accept the person and remind them of what the Bible teaches,” he said.

He explained that some churches choose a balanced approach by agreeing to christen the child but doing so privately rather than publicly.

“Some churches will accept to christen the child but may choose not to do it openly. The idea is that you don’t want to be seen as encouraging the act, even though that may not be your intention. At the same time, the child is innocent,” he noted.

Professor Okoe Amartey added that empathy should guide the church’s response in such circumstances.

“You have to empathise,” he said.

Watch the interview below:



ID/BAI

Children of a popular pastor identified as victims of the tragic Tema helicopter crash



Meet the 6 Akufo-Addo ministers under investigation by Mahama government