Friday, May 8, 2009

Accra Methodist Diocese holds 48th Synod

THE 48th Synod of the Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church opened yesterday with a call on Christians to be in the forefront in the campaign against social vices in the country.
The four-day synod, on the theme, "Challenges of Evangelism and Discipleship in the Accra Diocese", will discuss policies and programmes towards increasing the membership of the church.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, who made the call, said they could achieve that objective through “reaching out to the world with the word of God”.
He said evangelism had become important at a time there was a global crisis which appeared to suggest the last days of the world.
Furthermore, he said evangelism had become crucial in view of the increasing rate of crime, coupled with the fact that mankind had become lovers of worldly things, particularly money.
Mr Ashitey, therefore, appealed to the leadership of the Church to use the pulpit to re-orient the character of the members, particularly the youth of the church, towards adopting the lifestyle of Christ.
"Let us use our Sunday schools to teach the youth, who are particularly vulnerable, the ethics of honest living and that success in life will only come through hard work," he added.
He commended the church for the role it played in the form of prayers, among others, during the 2008 elections, which brought the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Prof Atta Mills to power.
Mr Ashitey asked the Church to continue to partner the central government to curb the challenges in the environment and sanitation sector, road accident, anti-social activities and prostitution in the country.
In his address, the Bishop of the Accra Diocese, Rt Rev Abraham Tagoe, bemoaned the increasing number of cases of corruption in the country even among Christians, noting that it was sad to hear that that act had found its way into the Church.
Rev Tagoe said it was important for the Christian to seek wealth, but "this must done in the right way as to depict the Christ in you," he added.
He mentioned that the recent acts of Internet fraud, particularly the one referred to as "sakawa" among the youth, must be discouraged to protect the youth from untimely death as seen in recent times.
Touching on the political situation in the country, the bishop said that there was too much antagonism among political parties and their leaders, particularly between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Rev Tagoe said that situation was not in the best interest of the nation and the unity that Ghanaians yearned for daily in their prayers.
Rev Tagoe told the congregation that the six-per cent growth chalked up by the church in Accra in the year under review was not the best, hence the need for a deliberate effort to address it.
He attributed the unimpressive growth in the church to ineffective follow-up to individuals who came to visit the church. "Available records in this connection is rather poor; we need dedicated men and women to constantly be in touch with those who come to visit and monitor them to offer help, if need be".
He called on the pastors of the church to focus more on evangelism outreach programmes rather than revival meeting which had always been an internal programme.
"When alter calls are made during these revival meetings, it is mostly the same church members who come forward and this practise does not add to the membership of the church,” he said.
There were fraternal greetings from sister churches.

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