Methodist Church Ghana ordains 75 ministers
The Methodist Church Ghana has ordained 75 ministers into the ministry of the church upon the successful completion of a three-year probation after their commissioning.
They were examined and found to be of sound learning and of devout life who had been received into the full connexion of the church.
They were ordained by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Professor Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region last Sunday.
The Presiding Bishop was supported by the Lay President of the church, Kwasi Attah-Antwi; the Administrative Bishop, Rt Rev. Dr William A. Mpere-Gyekye, past and serving bishops of the church and members across the 24 dioceses that make up the church's connexion.
Tasks
Most Rev. Asamoah-Gyadu said it would be their task as ambassadors on behalf of Christ to preach the gospel by word and deed, to baptise, confirm and to preside at the celebration of the sacrament of Christ's body and blood.
They are also to lead God's people in worship and prayer, care for them in sickness and in health, and equip them for service.
He urged the ordinands to have God as their pattern; seek and serve His sheep that were scattered abroad, for whom He laid down His life in order that they might be saved through Christ.
"See that no member of Christ's flock suffers hurt through your neglect. Never cease from your work of love until you have done all in your power to bring them to full obedience in Christ," the presiding bishop added.
Demands
Most Rev. Asamoah-Gyadu expressed the confidence of the church in them to wholly serve God's service, devoting to Him all their powers of mind and spirit, and also sharing with His people in their common witness to the world.
In administering their vows to them, he asked the ordinands whether they would submit themselves as ministers in the church of Jesus Christ, to those whom the church would appoint to have authority over them; to be diligent in prayers and in the reading of the Holy Scripture and to frame and fashion themselves and their families according to the doctrine of Christ, and make both themselves and their families wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ.
The presiding bishop further prayed that God should give them patience and skills in teaching, wisdom in giving counsel, and loyalty in working with others.
Rationale
In his sermon, Most Rev. Asamoah-Gyadu explained that ministers in the church were ordained because they had gone through a prescribed period of training and were, therefore, considered worthy of being agents of the church.
He also explained that they were ordained to the word and sacrament to preach God's word and administer the means of grace by providing leadership to God's people and setting examples for the flock of Christ.
Most Rev. Asamoah-Gyadu, whose sermon was titled, "The move of the spirit”, and subtitled; Revival, renewal and restoration”, said the Christian ministry today had profaned the name of God by idolising power and material things.
"We are more interested in making public impressions, and sometimes we glorify sheer vanity to the neglect of working to honour the sacred name and ministry to which we have been called," he said.
