Criticise bad policies - Lecturer urges clergy
The clergy have been advised not to shower praises on governments but be bold to criticise bad policies and offer constructive advice. A Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Stephen Baffour Adjei, said this when he addressed pastoral graduands from the Bethesda Centre of Evangelism and Bible Training School at Anomawobi in the Central Region.
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The graduands are from Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Kenya.
Dr Adjei reminded the clergy of their noble duty to proclaim the Gospel and save the perishing, stressing that they must live above reproach.
Clarion call
He stated that when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assumed office, the clergy made a clarion call to be responsible citizens of Ghana and not mere spectators. “This call, I believe, is also a call to the clergy to teach and preach messages that can help transform the attitude of congregants to active citizens who will not only be interested in what Ghana can do for them, but to show maximum interest in what they can do for mother Ghana,” he stated.
Dr Adjei posited that the clergy could not continue with the practice of finding their voice to pray for peace for the nation only during national elections.
“While it is commendable to preach for a peaceful political atmosphere for national development, it is equally important to be vociferous and decisive about economic mismanagement, corruption and bad policies,” he noted.
Key role
Dr Adjei asked the clergy to note that they had a key role to play in the national effort to forge political tolerance and unity in Ghana. He charged the clergy to use their pulpits to reject all forms of hatred and violence in the name of religion.
He said their civic duties and responsibilities should not be limited to paying taxes and voting in national elections or taking part in a national census or communal labour.
“We also owe a duty to our God and our citizenship to expose the religions, blind leaders and preachers who have vowed to make an industry out of the ministry of Jesus Christ.
“Let me remind you that it is not enough to point out errors, but most essential to expose the very technique by which such error is made as truth,’’ he said.
The lecturer also admonished the graduands to be obedient and faithful to their call, saying; “As they graduate today from this institution to begin their work as steelyards of Christ, the snares of the devil are subtle, deliberate and subliminal.
The devil is never tired in his work, he is always on duty. But as Christians, believers and ministers of the Gospel, we owe it a moral duty to defend our faith through daily personal sacrifices and lifestyles worth emulating.’’
Dr Adjei charged the graduands to be careful of the innumerable self–acclaimed men of God who had made it their duty to preach and practise “dirty theology”.
Beacons of light
The Director of Bethesda Centre of Evangelism and Bible Training Centre, Mrs Sharma Welty, said she was grateful that students who had graduated from the school some years ago had excelled and become beacons of light to many.
On behalf of the graduands, Mr Joshua Karim expressed gratitude to the director, lecturers and staff of the centre for the invaluable lessons they had given them.
The Chief of Anomawobi, Nai Okpeh Okai, thanked the director of the centre for establishing the centre and appealed for more schools to be centred in the area.