The Apostolic Church-Ghana has introduced a major change to its marriage rites, banning the “kiss the bride” ritual during wedding ceremonies in a move aimed at preserving what it describes as cultural and spiritual values.
The decision was approved by the Church’s Council of Apostles and Prophets and later adopted by delegates at its sixth General Council Meeting, held at the TAC Conference Centre in Fafraha, Accra.
Explaining the directive, the Church’s President, Apostle Samuel Kwadwo Ami-Narh, said it was intended to address growing excesses in modern wedding practices, some of which, he noted, are inconsistent with the Church’s beliefs.
According to an official statement, “The Council of Apostles and Prophets has decided to expunge the ‘you may kiss the bride’ aspect from our wedding ceremonies owing to its inappropriateness within our cultural setting.”
While the practice may be acceptable in some Western contexts, the statement added, it does not align with the values upheld by the Church. The Council also cautioned against inappropriate pre-wedding photoshoots, urging couples to avoid what it termed “awkward and immoral” displays often shared on social media.
Apostle Ami-Narh stressed that marriage should be treated with dignity and reverence, and that Christian values must be upheld even before couples approach the altar.
He described the directive as part of broader efforts to ensure the sanctity of marriage is not compromised by external influences.
The announcement drew strong approval from conference delegates, who responded with applause and voiced support for the move, particularly in light of what they see as rising social media-driven trends among young people.
In a related development, the General Council elected three new members to the Church’s Executive in line with its revised 2025 Constitution.
Apostle Samuel Obeng Manteaw was re-elected to another four-year term, while Pastor Enock Atutornu and Pastor Dr Abraham Narh were elected to replace outgoing members.
The eleven-member Executive, as provided for under the Constitution, includes key leadership figures such as the President, Vice-President, General Secretary, and Missions Directors, alongside elected Apostles and Senior Ministers.
The Church commended the peaceful conduct of the elections, expressed appreciation to outgoing executives for their service, and congratulated the newly elected leaders on their appointments.
