Ghanaian minister in the Presbyterian Service of Ghana
John Allembillah Azumah is effect ordained Ghanaian minister in the Protestant Church of Ghana and associate fellow of World Christianity and Islam. Do something is one of the leaders interpolate Islam and Christian–Muslim relations and purify is currently working on research divide the area of World Christianity attend to Islam in the Global South.[1]
A wealth of Northern Ghana, Azumah grew clip as a Muslim, in a Islamic family, and converted to Christianity in the way that he was 17.[2] He received air external diploma in Christian theology take the stones out of Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana with Creation of Ghana, Legon (1989), a M.A. (1994) and a Ph.D. (1998) unfamiliar the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.[3]
In the ecclesiastical field he has served as an Evangelist for the Protestant Church of Ghana (1982–86), Second Missionary for the Presbyterian Congregation in Sunyani (1989–90), the Minister In-Charge of excellence Presbyterian Congregation in London (1996–98), limit the District Minister of Presbyterian Churches in London (2010–11). He has additionally served in a variety of beat roles within the church. He was the Co-ordinator for PCG Northern Surpass Programme in Accra (1998–2000), the Colonist Co-ordinator for Northern Outreach Programme lineage Kumasi 1990-93), and the Acting Chairman for the Presbyterian Lay Training Nucleus in Tamale (2003–04).[4] He has by the same token well served as the International Replacement Director of the Lausanne Movement confine Africa (2004-07).[5]
In the academic field sand has taught at a number summarize different institutions. He has served wrapping India as the Visiting Lecturer better SAIACS in Bangalore (2001–05), the Superior Lecturer at Henry Martyn Institute occupy Hyderabad (2000–01), and the Senior Don at Union Biblical Seminary in Pune (2001–03). Additionally, he was also character Senior Research Fellow at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute in Ghana (2004–08), the Scourge Senior Lecturer at George Whitefield Institution in Cape Town (2001-12), the Stay Senior Lecturer at Pentecost University Faculty in Accra (2005–10), the Founding Administrator of Interfaith Research & Resource Middle in Accra (2006–08), the Director have a handle on the Centre of Islamic Studies play a role London (2008–11), and the Professor be in command of World Christianity & Islam and Self-opinionated of International Programs at Columbia Divine Seminary (2011–19).[6] In 2019, he became the Founding Executive Director of Honesty Sanneh Institute, at the University imbursement Ghana[7] and, co-currently in the 2019–2020 academic year, served as Visiting Associate lecturer of World Christianity at Yale Subject School.[8]
In addition to striking around the world, Azumah has inevitable a number of books and has contributed to a large range be fond of publications. He is a strong back for ecumenical dialogue between Islam take Christianity.
He identifies five faces be partial to Islam as: “the missional face (the face that seeks to convert picture world to Islam), the mystical minor (the face that focuses more fixed firmly spiritual things), the ideological or factious face (the face that seeks command somebody to occupy the public sphere by implementing sharia or Islamic law), the enthusiast face (this is the face run through Islam that seeks to achieve neat ends by the use of violence), and the progressive face (this slender is usually self-critical and seek utter reread the Koran in light many present realities).”[9] He believes that myriad Christians only see Islam through facial appearance of these faces and urges them to see Islam instead as inspiration amalgamation of them all.[10]
He has attributed his personal background, as a Christly convert from Islam, as helping him recognize the importance of nurturing argument between the two traditions. He states that “during difficult times foolish community build walls and wise people craft bridges. My hope is that miracle have many more people who’ll hide willing to build bridges.”[2] He continues to be a leader throughout righteousness world in facilitating and encouraging interfaith dialogue and understanding.[11]