One of the greatest crises facing the African Church today is the issue of fake ministry titles and meaningless degrees. Many leaders across Africa are so obsessed with their made-up titles and fake theological qualifications, yet alarmingly unconcerned with theological integrity. Everywhere we hear about this Apostle and that Prophet, some or other kind of Reverend and Doctor Pastors. Yet those titles are usually nothing more than a self-appointment or were awarded by a bogus ministry academy.
Many across Africa are obsessed with made-up titles and fake theological qualifications.
This isn’t a minor problem in the African church. It’s a crisis that we need to deal with. Where character and education qualifications are dismissed as unimportant, compromise follows. So the church cannot keep quiet. And it’s to that end that I’ve written this article, to offer some practical suggestions on what the church might do to curb this problem and guard its theological integrity. Below are three suggestions to tackle the ever-growing abundance of fake ministry titles and false ministry qualifications in Africa.
1. Establish Clearer Standards for Ordination
Churches and denominations should create and enforce clear, transparent criteria for ministry, titles and ordination.
Without claiming my own denomination is better than any other, BUSA is a good example of what I’m talking about. As an ordained minister of BUSA, I didn’t wake up one day and call myself a Reverend. No. I went through a rigorous training process. Sensing God’s call into ministry by God, I informed my local church eldership. The elders, together with the entire congregation, then confirmed my call through interviews and character assessment. My church then sent me to an accredited Baptist seminary, where I was formally trained for four years. Following my theological training came two years of ministry probation. During that time, I had an older mentor who reported to our national council about my progress. Only after that did I receive the status of a fully accredited minister, after which I was called to pastor a church.
We must get beyond the pretence of titles.
This isn’t the only way. Nor is it the best for everyone. Formal education is expensive. Credible theological institutions are few and far between. Churches aren’t always willing to financially invest in training up future ministry workers. But none of those challenges are an excuse to do away with some kind of formal process and theological accountability, the testing of character and call. These challenges also raise the need for local churches to perhaps partner with others and develop training programs. Whatever the way forward, we must establish clearer standards for those going into ministry, getting beyond the pretence of titles.
2. Expose and Confront False Credentials
The church must not be afraid to confront false ministry credentials with boldness tempered by grace. There’s no shortage of verses in scripture that call the church to oppose error. God calls on his people to hold each other accountable, meaning we must both rebuke and admit our sins. How else do we explain Jesus’ detailed discipline process (Mathew 18:15-20)? Our Lord expects his people to confront error and sin. Of course, the aim is always to win your brother and sister over (Matthew 18:15).
God calls on his people to hold each other accountable.
Consider Galatians 6:1. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Hear Proverbs 29:11. “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” Taken together with Jesus’ instructions, we cannot keep quiet in the face of theological error or pastoral malpractice and abuse. Thus, we shouldn’t remain quiet about fake ministry titles and dubious qualifications or character. We must instead lovingly confront fly-by-night colleges and churches, while also educating our congregations about their dangers.
3. Cultivate a Preference for Character Over Titles
Those in ministry are called to be men of good character, not titles (1 Timothy 3:1-7). A. W. Tozer says this about character, “As excellence of art is beauty, so the excellence of mankind is moral character.” Such excellence isn’t tied to titles or fame, bulging wallets or having your name up in lights. It’s seen in the pursuit of godliness and humility, kindness and integrity.
A fancy ministry title that tells you nothing about their character.
Character doesn’t mean you’re without sin. King David is described as a man of good character (1 Samuel 13:14), despite his well documented sins (Psalm 51). God restores those he redeems, meaning we are simultaneously new and being renewed. In other words, character is developed and seen over time. Fundamental to the development of character is reading God’s word, prayer, and actively imitating Christ. Therefore, the church must insist that spiritual authority cannot be bought or inherited. It doesn’t come simply by the endorsement of some other public figure. Furthermore, just because someone has a fancy ministry title, that tells you nothing about their character.
This Is a Matter of Credibility, and Therefore Christian Witness
The misuse of lofty-sounding ministry titles and the proliferation of fake theological degrees represent a serious threat to the integrity and credibility of African churches. This crisis undermines both the authenticity of ministry and the trust of congregations. To restore and preserve theological integrity, the church must take deliberate steps: establishing rigorous and transparent ordination standards; confronting false credentials with grace; and fostering a culture that values character over ministry titles.
True spiritual leadership isn’t measured by self-given designations.
True spiritual leadership isn’t measured by self-given designations, but by a life of integrity, accountability, and Christlike character. By reclaiming these biblical values, the church can stand as a credible witness in a world desperate for truth.
