ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN LAY COUNSELLING IN A CONGREGATIONAL SETTING

THE CASE OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST IN ACCRA, GHANA

Abstract

Lay counselling has become an integral component of pastoral care within Pentecostal churches in Ghana, yet the ethical dimensions of this practice remain underexplored. This study examined the ethical dilemmas faced by lay counsellors in congregational settings, the approaches they employ to resolve these dilemmas, and the resources they draw upon in ethical decision-making. Using a qualitative case study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen participants comprising lay counsellors, pastors, and professional counsellors associated with the Church of Pentecost in Accra, Ghana. Thematic analysis revealed four major ethical dilemmas: confidentiality and privacy challenges, competence and training limitations, dual relationships and boundary issues, and tensions between faith and professional ethics. Counsellors employed strategies including reliance on spiritual resources, consultation and referral, confidentiality through discretion, and improvisation with available resources. Resources utilised included spiritual tools, professional and academic materials, peer and pastoral networks, and institutional training. The findings contribute to the limited empirical literature on lay counselling ethics in Ghanaian Pentecostal contexts and have implications for church policies, training programmes, and the development of ethical guidelines for congregational counselling.