CHURCHES URGED TO HLP BRING PEACE TO BAWKU (PAGE 22, NOV 30, 2010)

THE outgoing Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has reiterated his call on churches to partner the government in the search for permanent peace in the Bawku Municipality and other conflict areas of the country.
He stated that the absence of peace was a disincentive for rapid progress and development of the country, and therefore, stressed the need for the church to play a leading role in mediation efforts to bring lasting peace.
The PCG Moderator gave the advice during a special erection and induction church service of the new Upper Presbytery of the PCG at Bolgatanga.
The new presbytery, which is the 16th presbytery of the PCG, was carved out of the Northern Presbytery to enhance the effective administration and evangelism mission of the PCG in the northern part of the country.
Districts comprising the new presbytery are Bawku, Sandema, Garu, Wa, Gambaga and Bolgatanga, which is the head station of the presbytery.
The service also saw the induction of the chairperson of the new presbytery, Rev. Esmond W. Nagba, and other officers of the presbytery, including Rev. Martin Lamisi Sebire, the Presbytery Clerk, and Mr Solomon Atigah, the Presbytery Lay Representative of the General Assembly Council.
In a sermon, Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso said the erection of the Upper Presbytery reinforces the need to break the large presbyteries of the church into small units to afford effective management, evangelism and church growth.
He urged all members of the church to participate actively in the evangelism efforts of the church in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
“I am sure you are aware of the responsibilities of the presbytery, the task you have gladly accepted to shoulder. You must work together to build a strong presbytery that will be spiritually and financially viable,” the Moderator said.
On behalf of the general assembly of the PCG, the Moderator presented a new four-wheel pick up vehicle for the use of the chairperson to facilitate work in the presbytery.
The Chairperson of the newly created Upper Presbytery, Rev. Esmond Nagba, promised to offer a type of leadership that would re-brand and reposition the presbytery to another level.
He, however, called for total support and collaboration if that was to be achieved.
Rev. Nagba reminded the congregation that the Ghanaian society was looking to the church to give the right kind of leadership.
He, therefore, tasked them to condemn all negative tendencies in leadership and governance, and uphold acts that would enhance the image of the church in Christian witness.
Present at the service were the immediate past Moderator of the PCG, Very Rev. Dr Sam Prempeh, the Moderator elect of the PCG, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, the Clerk of General Assembly, Rev. Herbert Opong, the Northern Presbytery Chairperson, Rev. Dr Martin Bugri Nabor, the Clerk of the Northern Presbytery, Rev. Jacob Kojo Wandusim and some presbytery chairpersons.