New Study Abroad: Ghana w/ Dr. Clark

Dr. Jawanza Clark has launched a new study abroad program at MC. Its called: The Christian Experience in Ghana: Race and Religion in Africa." The pilot program runs this summer (and there is room for a few more students).

Dr. Clark says, "its the first trip of its kind (from what I've been told) and it represents our efforts to diversify our study abroad opportunities for students. The program will give students on-the-ground understanding of the experience of Christianity as a colonial religion and its impact on the religious experience of Ghanaians. We will pay particular attention to African Independent Churches (as opposed to European missionary churches) and the effort to merge Christianity with traditional African spirituality.

There will be some difficult and challenging aspects of this trip, such as our visits to two slave dungeons, Elmina and Cape Coast. Perhaps one of the most fascinating part of the trip will be our visit to Etherean Mission Church, an African Independent Church that is a bit controversial for rejecting aspects of traditional Christian doctrine and embracing much of traditional African religion. The students will attend a service and get a chance to talk to the founder and pastor after service."

The program will also give students a chance to take in the natural beauty of Ghana through trips to beaches and Kakum National Park.