Koforidua Anglican Diocese ordains 4 ministers

Four newly trained reverend ministers were ordained into the priesthood of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church last Sunday.

They are Rev. Father Samuel Dankwa Benefo, Rev. Father Noel Yaw Dethan, Rev. Father Emmanuel Kofi Amaakye and Rev. Father Divine Kwesi Tetteh.

While Rev. Fr. Benefo, Rev. Fr. Dethan were trained at the St. Nicholas Theological Seminary in Cape Coast and affiliated to the University of Cape Coast, Rev. Fr. Tetteh and Rev. Fr. Amaakye were trained at the Diocesan Ministerial Education Centre in Koforidua.

Hundreds of church members attended the ordination, which was presided over by the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the church, Rt Rev. Felix Odei Annancy.

God’s calling

Rt Rev. Annancy stated that the four had been called by God for a purpose and that each of them had a peculiar skill and gift that should be imparted to the congregation.

He said their first duty was to love Jesus Christ and be committed and rely on Him for guidance in dealing with their members, adding that they should not discriminate against any member of the church.

The Koforidua Bishop indicated that although Christians were said to constitute 70 per cent of Ghana's population, their lifestyles did not go well with the messages and teachings received from their various congregations.

Societal vices

The situation, he stated, had led to societal vices such as corruption, drug abuse, intake of tramadol, marijuana and "red" and urged the newly ordained priests to preach the gospel to transform lifestyles to conform with Christian teachings.

Rt Rev. Annancy also told the four new priests to lead lives that would reflect that of Jesus Christ, and asked them to be humble and serve with humility.

Equal treatment

He further asked the priests to treat the rich and the poor in their congregations equally in terms of visitations and sickness.

The Dean of the St. Peter Anglican Cathedral, Very Rev. Samael Parddy, who was highly elated about the ordination, advised the four reverend ministers to see their elevation as God's calling but not a profit-making venture because they would be made to account for their stewardship.

Later, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Rev. Father Samuel Dankwa Benefo, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, assured the Bishop and the entire congregation that they would serve the church with humility and respect for all and sundry.

Writer's email 
haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh