Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

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Samuel Koranteng-Pipim is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian. As of 2008 he is the Director of Public Campus Ministries for the Michigan Conference. His office is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he ministers to students, faculty, and staff at the University of Michigan. He speaks extensively at events for youth, students, and young professionals and also sits on the Board of Directors for the Generation of Youth for Christ organization.

1 Biography
2 Influence and Writings
3 Beliefs
4 Publications
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Biography

Pipim was born in Ghana, West Africa. He holds a degree in engineering from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, where he subsequently served as a research and teaching assistant. Having been a leader in a non-denominational, charismatic movement, Pipim later became a Seventh-day Adventist, joining a church he terms "the most biblically-consistent, Evangelical Protestant denomination."^[1] After accepting the call to the gospel ministry, he served the Central Ghana conference as its Coordinator of Campus Ministries. He later pursued a ministerial training at Andrews University, Michigan. In 1998 he received a PhD in systematic theology, specializing in biblical authority and interpretation and ecclesiology. His doctoral dissertation was titled "The Role of the Holy Spirit in Biblical Interpretation: A Study in the Writings of James I. Packer."

[edit] Influence and Writings

Pipim’s apologetic writings, notably his well-publicized book Receiving the Word (1996), have distinguished him as a conservative theologian. ^[2] In 2007 one Adventist historian listed Pipim among the 20 “most influential Adventists in America,” explaining that Pipim’s “books and global speaking ministry have provided a strong argument for the maintenance of traditional, conservative Adventism. He is the singular force behind the successful General Youth Conference ministry which has led to a revival of conservative movement among Adventist young people, especially in North America, linking those in formerly disenfranchised independent ministries to the mainstream.” ^[3]

Besides youth and young professionals Pipim’s conservative influence also extends to church leadership circles. Between 1995 and 2000, he served as a member of the General Conference's Biblical Research Institute Committee (BRICOM), the highest theological body of his church. Pipim’s name is listed as one of the denominational theologians who reviewed the scholarly articles contained in the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology [2000], which is volume 12 of the "Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary" series. Pipim has served as a delegate to five General Conference sessions (1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005), the most authoritative convocation of his church. At these General Conference sessions, he has spoken passionately on issues affecting the identity, message, and mission of the church.

[edit] Beliefs

In his writings, Pipim has questioned what he describes as progressive changes, or "liberal" beliefs and attitudes, in the Seventh-day Adventist church. His form of questioning includes such methods as the labeling of those who share his "conservative" positions as "Bible Believers," in contrast to "liberals" and "moderates," whom he terms respectively, "Bible Rejectors" and "Bible-Doubters."^[4] His criticism extends to certain Seventh-day Adventist theologians whom he finds to be "liberal";^[5] Alden Thompson's examination of Pipim's Receiving the Word reveals that "[t]he footnotes label some 66 Adventist scholars, authors, administrators as being on the wrong side of the [liberal/conservative] divide."^[6]

Pipim takes stances on issues such as Biblical inspiration,^[7] homosexuality,^[8] women's ordination,^[9] racism,^[10] worship and church growth,^[11] creation and evolution,^[12] prayer warriors and other prayer ministries,^[13] and divorce and remarriage.^[14]