The new Methodist priests before their ordination
THE Methodist Church of Ghana has welcomed 58 new priests to its ecclesial ranks with a call on them not to dirty the ministry of Christ with petty interests.
The Presiding Bishop, Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo admonished the new priests not to be abusive of people’s rights and insensitive to their needs, but show mercy to bring hope to the downtrodden and comfort to those who suffer.
Delivering a sermon at the special service attended by other bishops and ministers of the church, Bishop Boafo reminded them of their duties as ministers of Christ to be people of prayer and sacrifice so that their examples may help rebuild the house of Go.
According to him, the church is now held in low regard by many people who consider it to be irrelevant to the contemporary society because of the show of insensitivity by leaders of the church.
“You are going into a society that is pervasive and looks down upon the church; a society that has tagged the church as going into excesses and contemplates of regulations. Be different and remember your identity as a Methodist Minister.”
“Your first task is to call people to repentance for restoration which translates into fruitfulness as priesthood is not a business association or a group, but a ministry of saving lost souls anchored on Christ’s mission,” the Presiding Bishop told the new priest.
He said the Lord wishes for his ministers to preach against sin and ills in society, and that they should not be seen condoning and conniving with corruption and other sinful deeds.
He urged the priests to always have before their eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve and to seek out and save what was lost.
With overflowing joy, hundreds of the faithful and family members pressed into the Wesley Cathedral in Kumasi cathedral to witness Bishop Paul Kwabena Boafo ordain the candidates into the order of the priesthood.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi