Kingsley Fletcher

Kingsley Fletcher

Kingsley A. Fletcher (April 1, 1956(1956-04-01)) is a North Carolina preacher and author, and the Suapolor ("pathfinder" or "waymaker")^[1] of the Se (Shai) Traditional Area in the Dangme West District of Ghana, West Africa, where he carries the title "Drolor Bosso Adamtey I".^[2][3]

Professional activities

Fletcher is the founding pastor of Life Community Church in Durham, North Carolina^[4][5] and founder of Kingsley Fletcher Ministries,^[6] a "vast conglomerate" of evangelical and commercial activity.^[7] Prior to starting his church in Durham, he was a Christian missionary in France, England, and Mexico. In Durham, he also founded the North Carolina Bible College.^[8] In Dodowo, Ghana, he helped to establish an education center in collaboration with the North Carolina Central University, which is based in Durham.^[3]

He is a speaker and consultant in the areas of international relations, resource mobilization, conflict resolution, social justice, leadership, globalization, and African economic development.^[9][10] Fletcher's speaking engagements include a presentation at the 2009 World Congress of Families in Amsterdam,^[11] and he attended the Oxford Round Table.^[12]

In late 2009-early 2010 the name of the ministry was changed to Life International, and the title "church" (which had been a staple in the previous names, Miracle Life Church and Life Community Church) was dropped. ^[13]

Public life

Fletcher is the Suapolor of the ethnic Shai (Se) people. He uses the titles "His Royal Majesty Drolor Bosso Adamtey I", "Nene Adamtey I" or "King Adamtey I", in relation to this role,^[12][14][15] and he was given the honorary title of "Noyam Matse" (development chief) in 1999. Although Ghana is a democratic republic, traditional chiefs and kings still perform a role in many regional areas.^[16]

Nevertheless, a Mexican newspaper, El Siglo de Torreon, took the view that his claim to be "King Adamtey I" was "only the myth of his personality".^[7] Other Mexican newspapers publicized the claims of El Siglo de Torreon, including the assertion that the local governor had been deceived into thinking that Fletcher was a king when in fact Ghana is a republic that does not allow royalty.^[17][18]

He was knighted in Malta in 2009 by the self-styled order Knights Hospitallers of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem.^[12][15] As a traditional African ruler, Fletcher became the third highest ranking knight in the order.^[12] Nevertheless, there was controversy when a mass planned to commemorate the event was cancelled after the Sovereign Military Order of Malta informed the church rector that the organization that had knighted Fletcher was a "false order", distinct from the real "Knights of Malta".^[19]

Publications

Fletcher has written several books, including I Have Seen the Kingdom,^[20] When Kings Pray and Fast, A Place Called There, and The Power and Influence of a Woman. His most recent book, Who Says You Can't?, was released in January 2009.

References

1. ^ Bonner, Paul (17 July 2006). "NCCU will send students to Ghana". The Herald-Sun: p. A1. 
2. ^ Ibrahim, Casmel (17 July 2008). "Africa's 'Silicon Valley' to be created in Ghana". The Statesman. http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=1&newsid=6784. Retrieved 26 September 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "DANGBE WEST : New education centre established.". ghanadistricts.com. http://www.ghanadistricts.com/news/?read=5835. 
4. ^ "Durham Church Supports Hiring Retirees", WRAL.com, 13 June 1998
5. ^ Samiha Khanna, "Services Held for 2 Victims", The News and Observer (Durham), 26 November 2005
6. ^ Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, "Ghanaian in Knighthood Muddle", Ghana Business News, 27 February 2009
7. ^ ^{a b} Miguel Ángel Granados Chapa, "El Gober Precioso y el falso rey", El Siglo de Torreon, 3 November 2006
8. ^ Flo Johnston, "Gift keeps on giving; Minister applies talents to build congregation", The Herald-Sun (Durham NC), p. B1, 7 February 1998
9. ^ "Culture affects Africa's development - Fletcher", Ghana News Agency, 23 June 2002
10. ^ "Tiene Puebla visita real", El Porvenir, 26 October 2006
11. ^ "Speakers". World Congress of Families V. http://www.worldcongress.nl/en/speakers/. Retrieved 27 September 2009. 
12. ^ ^{a b c d} Childress, Gregory (22 February 2990). "Durham pastor, Ghanan king set to be knighted". The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina). 
13. ^ http://www.lifeinternational.us/
14. ^ "Se Leadership & Governance". Se Ghana. http://seghana.com/seleadership.php. Retrieved 28 September 2009. 
15. ^ ^{a b} Dogbevi, Emmanuel K. (1 March 2009). "Ghanaian knighted in controversial knighthood in Malta". Ghana Business News. http://ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/03/01/ghanaian-knighted-in-controversial-knighthood-in-malta/. Retrieved 28 September 2009. 
16. ^ Schwartzman, Paul (19 September 2009). "DC secretary by day, Ghanian royalty by night". Washington Examiner. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/dc_secretary_by_day_ghanian_royalty_by_night-59807262.html. Retrieved 28 September 2009. 
17. ^ Juan Pablo Proal, "Acepta gobierno de Puebla que mintió sobre actividades de Marín en Alemania", Proceso, 16 February 2007
18. ^ Martín Hernández y Ernesto Aroche, "Marín guarda silencio sobre su inexistente reunión con la alcaldesa de Frankfurt", La Jornada de Oriente, 19 February 2007
19. ^ Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, "Ghanaian knighted in controversial knighthood in Malta", Ghana Business News, 1 March 2009
20. ^ John T. McCann, "One man's opinions spark new thoughts on society", The Herald-Sun (Durham NC), p. B1, 1 August 1998

External links

• Life International Web site
• Se (Shai) Traditional Area Web site

Persondata
Name	Fletcher, Kingsley
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Date of birth	1 April 1956
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Date of death
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