Speak out on national issues – Bishop Asante urges clergy

Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana has urged the clergy to be bold and speak out on national issues since they were part of the country.

Most Rev Professor Asante said this when delivering the sermon at the induction of Right Reverend Kofi Asare-Bediako as Bishop of Sunyani Diocese at the Wesley Cathedral in Sunyani at the weekend.

Most Rev Asante noted there were injustices in the political realm and the church would always be called upon to react and help resolve issues.

He advised the clergy to exhibit humility, sense and sensibility when dealing in national issues, stating that there would be no need to politicize certain issues if the welfare of the people was the concern of political leadership.

“Stand up and be counted. Don’t compromise the Word of God – if they can lead the nation, Jesus must be in their hearts”, the Presiding Bishop said.

Most Rev Asante said the Bible and the Methodist Constitution and Orders must be the guide of the clergy and cautioned against the twisting of their contents or provisions “to suit your constitutionality”.

He advised the new Bishop to be humble and to remember that he had been called to be the servant of the people, not their Lord.

“Even if the people should call you Lord remember that your Lordship is nothing short of servant lordship”, the Presiding Bishop said.

Most Rev Asante charged the clergy not to lose focus in their charge to help their congregations in their spiritual development because their success or failure in stewardship would be measured.

The new Sunyani Bishop holds a diploma in theology from University of Ghana/ Trinity Seminary, BA Hons – Sociology with theology, University of Ghana and MSc in Development and Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He is currently pursuing doctoral Studies with the Vision International University, California, USA.

Source: GNA